BIG TIP: 8 Great Places To Take Holiday Photos Whether you’re doing the photographing or letting a pro take over, there are some great local spots for capturing holiday card-worthy moments with the fam. We asked some top photographers for their recommended city locales. Cynthia Ever: “A place I love for photos is a small city park overlooking the East River on 57th Street. Children can play in this quiet park and there is a great view of the 59th Street Bridge and river that create a perfect geometric architectural backdrop.”
Cynthia Ever
Heidi Green: “I love photographing families right on the city streets in chic neighborhoods like the Meatpacking District. Families can be creative and it brings a new dimension to the portraits of the past, which presumably had to be done in the park with trees and flowers.” Jeffrey Shaw: “There is a hidden gem in Central Park that even some lifelong New Yorkers don’t know about. It’s the Conservatory Garden on Fifth Ave at 105th Street. It is exceptionally wellmaintained and there are interesting seasonal plantings at all times of year, providing interesting texture.”
Karen Haberberg Sarah Sloboda
Justine Cooper: “Tudor City Park on First Avenue between 40th and 43rd Streets— it’s incredibly versatile! You can make it feel like a hidden getaway, with shady walks and pretty plantings.” Karen Haberberg: “Teardrop Park is a beautiful location for a family photograph. Its unique landscape is home to a gigantic slide set within a wall of rocks. There are serene paths, sand pits, water play, rocks to climb and sit on and much more.” Lindsay May of Classic Kids Photography, UES: “Solid backgrounds are my favorite because they go with any style of holiday card. If you cannot get to a studio, think all one texture: The red brick wall in front of Old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on Prince and Mulberry; everyone in the family laying down in the green grass on The Great Lawn in Central Park; the closed red doors in front of the NYC Fire Museum; or in front of the water wall in Paley Park on 53rd Street.”
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Justine Cooper Sarah Sloboda: “My favorite NYC family shoot spots are the tucked away little alleyways like Staple Street in Tribeca. They don’t get much traffic, so it’s possible to stand right in the middle of the street for a fun shot. You end up with the quintessential New York backdrop.” Shutter Sisters Images: “One of our favorite places to photograph families is The Astor Court Garden at the Met. It is a peaceful place where children are instantly calmed by the serene surroundings. The beautiful pagodas, fountains and exquisite lighting make it our go to spot on a rainy day.”
Thaddeus Harden: “The city is filled with fantastic backdrops all year long, but some of the best visuals blossom during the fall season. Times Square, Lord & Taylor, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park with the ice skating, and Lincoln Center, to name a few.”
July 2012 | New York Family
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6/23/12 12:43 PM