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If you want to get some iconic photos in New York City, I know the Brooklyn Bridge is already on your list. Not only is it one of NYC’s most famous landmarks, it provides unparalleled views of the city, making it the perfect photo destination spot. The trouble is, everyone else knows this too, which can make it a little challenging to get the epic shots I know you want. That’s why I created this post to give you 5 of my best tips for taking photos on the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Related post: The Top Things to Do in Brooklyn, New York
- Related post: The Top Restaurants to Visit in Manhattan
Of course, if you are someone who wants to simply walk the bridge and get the typical tourist photos, you may not use all of these tips. This post is written for the person who wants to get those jaw-dropping Brooklyn Bridge photos – think engagement pics, NYC photoshoot, or some other special occasion. I would recommend using a professional photographer, but if it’s out of your budget, you can use this tripod to take your own photos!
But first…would you believe me if I told you these pictures – and therefore, this post – almost didn’t happen???
@oakhavenphotobykd
Before we get into all the good stuff, I have to give you a little background story on how this post came about!
When I decided I wanted to become a travel blogger, I knew I needed good photos to post on my website. After all, the aesthetics are one of the key components to keeping your audience interested!
I knew I wanted my photos to tell multiple different types of stories, and be able to use them for multiple different types of posts. I immediately knew that New York City was the perfect place to capture everything I wanted to showcase to my readers and followers. I reached out to my friend Kelsey, who also happens to be an incredible photographer, and she agreed to go with me and take my photos!
I spent months researching different parts of the city, planning where to go, what outfits to wear, and composing a daily itinerary. Throughout the whole process, the one place that I absolutely wanted to make sure I got photos from was the Brooklyn Bridge.
I had to plan around the weather, and the best day for our bridge shoot ended up being our final day in the city. I had one chance to get this right!
I’m not going to spoil the ending for you here, because you will read more about it further down in this post. For now, I will simply say that this blog post is dedicated to the NYPD, who helped make this photo shoot possible. If you’re confused, just keep scrolling…or, click here to jump to the story!
1. Get Your Photos at Sunrise (NOT Sunset)
If you want statement photos with just you, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the New York City skyline as your backdrop, your best bet is to prepare to get your photos taken at sunrise, not sunset. The Brooklyn Bridge is one of NYC’s most popular attractions, and as you can imagine, it gets packed AF throughout the day.
Throw in the glittering Manhattan skyline and the colors of the sky as the sun goes down and you might as well forget getting a photo without 295829742 people in the background!
If you go at sunrise, the sky will still be stunning, and you will still be able to see lights on some of the buildings. Plus, aside from a few joggers, you will have the bridge all to yourself!
- Pro Tip: Sunrise does NOT last as long as sunset. In other words, you will not have the gorgeous colors of the sky at your disposal for as much time in the morning, so you need to act quickly to get the best lighting for your photos!
- (Another) Pro Tip: If you are adamant that you want sunset photos, jump to where to get photos with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background
Photo Pro Tip
Play Around with the Lighting
Most of the time, you will want the lighting in front of you when you are taking photos to capture the best results. However, there are times when you can go against the rules and get really creative, elegant looking shots!
In the righthand photo, the sun is in front of me, casting the perfect “golden hour” glow.
In the lefthand photo, the sunlight is behind me, which allows me to get this “silhouette” shot.
2. Wake Up Early
After reading bullet #1, this is kind of obvious. But how early is early?
When I got my photos done on the Brooklyn Bridge, I got up at 4am and left my hotel at 5am. (I also went to bed at 2am…but that’s another story). Was I exhausted? Yes. But would I have done it all over again? One thousand times yes.
- Pro Tip: Use the weather app to determine what time the sun will come up, and plan to get to the bridge at least 30-40 minutes before.
Depending on how far your hotel is from the bridge will determine how early you need to leave. Keep in mind, New York City traffic should NOT be bad at this hour, and you will be able to get to your drop-off point a lot faster. Speaking of drop-off point…
3. Have the Uber Driver Drop You Off on the BROOKLYN Side of the Bridge (NOT the Manhattan Side…)
- Pro Tip: You can, of course, take the subway to the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway instead of Ubering. However, if you are going to be wearing anything like I wore in these photos, you probably don’t want the added stress…
Remember how I said this photoshoot on the Brooklyn Bridge almost didn’t happen for me? It’s because I got dropped off on the Manhattan side of the bridge, NOT the Brooklyn side. (Click here to jump to the story of how we made it!)
Allow me to clarify: The reason this happened was because I read a blog that talked about entering the bridge on the Manhattan side to get the best photos, because you will be at a better angle for the sun and the city in the background, etc. etc.
Long story short, there’s not a great entry point for the bridge on the Manhattan side if you are coming via car. I found this out the hard way. It also takes longer to get to the actual bridge if you start from this direction. Sure, you might be able to see the Manhattan skyline closer if you enter from that side, but I PROMISE you will get epic views all the way around, no matter where you enter.
The best way to enter the bridge on the Brooklyn side is to take the steps up to the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway between Washington Street and Prospect Street. I would suggest putting in “STAIRS TO THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE” as your destination point and have the driver drop you off near there.
You can also walk straight onto the bridge from Adams Street…however, if you enter from the steps like I mentioned above, you will essentially enter right on to the bridge. If you enter from the end of Adams Street, you will have further to walk to get to where the bridge actually starts. This is where Kelsey and I eventually got dropped off (see story below!). We had to sprint to the pylons towards the center of the bridge so we had enough time to shoot before the sun fully came up!
The Brooklyn Bridge
Some Personal Nostalgia
The Brooklyn Bridge was almost the photoshoot that didn’t happen. Our Uber dropped us off near the middle of the highway on the Manhattan side because it was where the GPS said to leave us. There was no way for Kelsey and I to get to the pedestrian walkway from where we were aside from climbing over a tall fence. The sun was starting to come up, and we were running out of time.
Long story short, a couple police officers who happened to be parked on the bridge nearby decided they would save us. Maybe the massive tulle skirt at 5am was giving damsel in distress? Regardless, we said we needed help, and they (eventually) said get in the car. I even got the full “police escort experience” – sitting in the back of the cop car, lights flashing, sirens blaring. I will never forget watching other vehicles pull off to the side and the city looking like a blur as we floored it down the highway. We ended up making it to the pedestrian walkway just in time to shoot for sunrise.
You can say what you want about law enforcement, but I witnessed the ultimate act of kindness from the NYPD. I am forever grateful to the 2 officers who helped us (literally) chase the sun ♥️.
4. Choose An Outfit That Pops Against the Background
Don’t get me wrong, the Brooklyn Bridge is stunning. But in terms of color, it’s also a little….drab.
This is actually fabulous if you really think about it. It means that you have full colorful, creative control to make this photo epic in terms of your fashion choices. I’ve never met a pop of color I didn’t like, and with the right shade, you can REALLY dress up a drab background.
In my opinion, the Brooklyn Bridge is the ultimate power shot, and red & black are the ultimate power colors. I searched for months and finally found the perfect outfit to use for this part of the photoshoot. Oh, and I also added sparkly heels and chose a black dress with silver sparkles, because have you met me?
- Pro Tip: Wear tennis shoes to your photoshoot and carry your heels in a separate bag. The bridge is ~1.3 miles long, and the best place to take photos is towards the center where the large pylons are. Do the math & save your feet the trouble!
5. Head to Pebble Beach or Jane’s Carousel to Get the Brooklyn Bridge in the Background
If you want to take photos with the Brooklyn Bridge in its entirety as your backdrop, head to Pebble Beach at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Here, you’ll not only get incredible views of the Brooklyn Bridge, but also the Manhattan Bridge and the East River. You’ll also find Jane’s Carousel, a refurbished amusement park ride that is beloved by city locals, children, and visitors.
For a higher vantage point, head to the rooftop at Time Out Market. This is one of Brooklyn’s top food halls and a great place for not only photos, but getting some of the best food NYC has to offer. The downside: Time Out Market likely WILL be crowded!
I took the photo below standing on the rooftop of Time Out Market using this tripod! You can see the Brooklyn Bridge to the left, and Jane’s Carousel inside the cage-looking thing below. The walkway in front will lead you to Pebble Beach/Brooklyn Bridge Park nearby.
*this is the only photo NOT done by Kelsey
If you are adamant that you want to get Brooklyn Bridge photos at sunset, getting them here with the bridge in the background is likely your best option. The park is pretty large, and therefore your chances of getting photos without a lot of people in them are better than on the bridge during a busy time of day.
- Pro Tip: I have seen some websites tell you to head to Washington St. in Brooklyn to get an iconic Brooklyn Bridge photo. The view from Washington St. will actually take you in front of the Manhattan Bridge, not the Brooklyn Bridge! The good news is, the Manhattan Bridge is incredibly beautiful and would also serve as a stunning backdrop!
