Locations · Brooklyn
2-hour photo shoot
Cobblestones, red-brick warehouses, the river and two famous bridges, all within a short walk. Here is exactly how we spend your two hours.
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Why DUMBO
DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Nineteenth-century warehouses line its Belgian-block streets, the Manhattan Bridge frames the Empire State Building at the end of Washington Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge rises right over your head.
Few places pack so many backdrops into such a small area. In two hours you get gritty industrial streets, an open waterfront with the Manhattan skyline, a 1922 carousel in a glass pavilion, and the most famous bridge walk in the world. Every photo looks different.
Meeting point
Subway exit at Jay St & York St.
Session
5 locations, 1–2 outfits.
On foot
Easy pace, short walks.
Best light
Start time set when you book.
From a recent session on this route
The route
The five stops
Washington St & Water St · 5 min walk from the F
“Authentic industrial New York: cobblestone streets and dramatic red-brick framing.”
We go here first. It is the shot everyone wants, and it gets busier by the hour. With an early call time, sunrise gives you the cobblestones almost to yourself, with no crowd in your frame.
25 min.
Foot of Main St · 3 min walk downhill
“Rocky waterfront meets sleek city skyline.”
The tiered stone seating and pebbled shoreline give us water in the foreground, with the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges on either side. It is wide and open, a great contrast to the tight brick streets.
20 min.
Brooklyn Bridge Park · short walk west along the water
“Whimsical, classic and cinematic.”
The vintage carousel sits inside a jewel-box glass pavilion. Shooting through the glass mixes reflections of the skyline with the colorful carousel lights. This is also the easy spot for an outfit change.
Under the Manhattan Bridge · Pearl St & Anchorage Pl
“Gritty, cavernous and intensely urban.”
Back inland to the massive stone arch that anchors the bridge overpass. The wide cobblestone plaza, exposed Belgian blocks and steel tracks overhead give a completely different texture, perfect for dramatic, high-contrast portraits.
15 min.
Stairs at Washington St & Prospect St
“Soaring cables, geometric symmetry and panoramic views.”
We finish by climbing up to the walkway and heading out just far enough to stand on the wooden planks with the Gothic stone arches behind you. The suspension cables create leading lines with incredible depth.
20 min.
Pro tips
Footwear
DUMBO's historic Belgian-block streets are gorgeous but very uneven. Walk in sneakers and switch to heels or dress shoes only when the camera starts clicking.
Timing
Can't do sunrise? Aim for the last two hours of daylight. The sun drops behind the Manhattan skyline and casts a warm, soft glow across the waterfront.
Permits
Personal portrait sessions with light, handheld gear generally don't need a permit. If you want a tripod, big setup or crew, I check Brooklyn Bridge Park's permit rules before the shoot.
Two hours, five iconic spots, and a meeting point one subway stop from Manhattan. Pick your date and I'll send your start time.
Book this photo session