Maria and Aniz’s love story has a bit of that swept away feeling. They decided that they wanted their Central Park engagement photos to reflect that with some cinematic touches. This sunrise engagement session documents their love in the park’s most beautiful locations as well as the Met.

Beautiful Central Park Engagement Photos

To give Maria and Aniz’s engagement photos a cinematic feel, we picked a time when the light would be beautiful and the crowds would be minimal. That meant a sunrise session in early spring. I can hardly believe how quiet Central park was. We had so many prime locations practically to ourselves.

Since the crowds were at a minimum, we could work on a more cinematic scale in these Central Park engagement photos than we could otherwise. I was able to take wide photos from a distance. This gave lots of context with the stunning architecture and landscaping in the park. 

I also got the chance to play with cool lines in the compositions. I love all the photos of Maria and Aniz walking up the steps near Bethesda Arcade. It looks like they have this whole big world all to themselves.

The light changed subtly throughout this session. It started low and diffuse since we met up right after sunrise. Slowly, as the sun got higher, it cast gold on the stonework of the bridges and pathways. The morning sun brings so much warmth to these photos.

My Favorite Photo Locations in Central Park 

Central Park is so big that you’ll want to have a few destinations in mind for your engagement session. Here are some of my favorite locations to take photos.

Bethesda Terrace

Bethesda Terrace is a classic spot for Central Park engagement photos. The area has two levels. A stone terrace has steps leading down to a brick plaza with arches around it. You get a little European moment in the middle of Manhattan. 

Bethesda Fountain

This fountain is part of Bethesda Terrace. The water shimmered in the early morning sun during Maria and Aniz’s session. As an iconic location in Central Park, the fountain makes a great backdrop for engagement photos.

The Lake

The Lake connects Bethesda Terrace to other parts of Central Park. You can rent boats here or walk the path around the water. The Manhattan skyline towers above the trees for an amazing contrast of city and nature.

Would you like more location inspiration for your Central Park engagement photos? Also check out this blog post with dreamy photos at Bethesda Terrace and Bow Bridge.

A Nostalgic Visit to the Met 

New York City has always played a starring role in Maria and Aniz’s relationship. On their first date, they went to the Met. They were so taken with each other that they spent hours talking in the museum. The time flew by without them realizing until the museum closed. It only seemed fitting to include the Met on our engagement session itinerary.

Fortunately, the Met sits right on the edge of Central Park. It’s only about a three quarters of a mile walk from The Lake. I loved how easy it was to add the Met to our itinerary. These photos add a lot of variety to the gallery in addition to Maria and Aniz’s Central Park engagement photos. 

Unlike a lot of museums, the Met has the most incredible natural light. In some wings, it pours in through skylights and tall windows to illuminate classical architecture and statuary. Walking through the galleries with Maria and Aniz felt a bit like we’d landed in Greece.

The architecture casts interesting shadows and makes composition a lot of fun. This portion of the engagement session felt more editorial than the earlier ones. I loved working with the doorways, columns, and tiles in these photos. They’re a good preview of the elegance that would be present at their wedding in New Jersey. (You can see photos from their luxe Felina Ridgewood wedding in this blog post.)

Your Central Park Engagement Photos

This engagement session gives you a sense of the variety you get when you take photos in and around Central Park. From casual moments at Bethesda Terrace to twirling through fine art galleries, you can have a little bit of everything. 

Would you like me to take your Central Park engagement photos? I’m a New Jersey photographer, and I’ll document your milestone with joyful photos that feel true to you. Inquire with me here!