Shooting Fashion in NYC
There is just something awesome about shooting someone on the streets of New York City right?!
The hustle and bustle of the cars, the interested glances from passerby‘s, and the energy that you get between your client and yourself while shooting on a dirty cobblestone street or in front of a taxi. I wouldn’t have it any other way! New York City is the perfect backdrop for basically any type of photo shoot whether it’s wedding portraits, engagement shoots, fashion photography, or even product photography.
Whenever I photograph clients on the streets of New York City, I always ask them to send me some inspiration. I usually encourage them to go on Pinterest and send me screenshots of photos that were taken in New York City so that I can analyze what location in the city they want to shoot in.
If they send me a lot of taxicab shots, then I’ll take them to the West Village or Soho. There are a lot of taxi cabs on quieter streets, making it easier to shoot in front of them and not accidentally get hit by a car. Safety first! If they send me pictures with the New York City skyline, then I prefer to shoot in Dumbo Brooklyn or Jersey City, to get the New York City skyline behind my subject in the photos. If they send me nature photos, then I usually opt for Washington Square Park, or Central Park! Both of those parks are right next to great intersections and streets, so I am able to give the client a little bit of what they want but also incorporate some iconic street style shots.
The biggest hardship in New York City is finding places for your clients to change. I have mitigated that by discovering the pop-up pod. My favorite pop-up pod is by the brand Gig A Tent, sold on Amazon for relatively inexpensive. It’s so handy because I can carry around the city to all of my shoots, pop it up when needed, and easily collapse it for when I’m not using it. It has saved so much time on shoots and has allowed my clients to shoot more than one outfit without having to search for a bathroom. Even if we find a bathroom, it’s usually really disgusting!
Another thing to keep in mind when shooting on the streets of New York City is the weather! If the forecast shows rain but you’d like to take advantage of the cloudy day, be sure to shoot near somewhere where you can take refuge if it starts raining. Certain streets in New York City can also become very windy due to the placement of the buildings. Due to some of the shiny reflective buildings made of glass, the usual shady spots can become very sunny at certain points of the day. I would give you similar advice if it would be very hot or very cold. It’s always good to place yourself near indoor places of refuge for a break for your client! You don’t want your client to become too cold that their hands get super red, or too hot where they are showing sweat in the photos.
I could go on and on about this topic! I will certainly be writing future blogs regarding my favorite places to use the restroom in New York City, best places for refuge if your client needs a break, and also blogs written entirely about my favorite shooting locations. This blog was just a little sneak peek into my thoughts and opinions about shooting on the streets of New York City!
