NYC Photoshoot Locations for Instagram

One: Toby’s Estate Coffee (160 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10010): This cute little coffee shop is located right around the corner from the Flat Iron building and makes a perfect backdrop for photos.  It is connected to a little bookstore in the back where we were able to get some really cool shots.  Pro Tip: Go very early in the morning or late at night because we went during the morning rush hour and we could barely move around in there it was so crowded.

Two: The Royalton Rooftop (420 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10016): Head on up to the rooftop access of this NYC hotel for great views of the city.  We went around 2pm and it was completely empty up there so we had the place all to ourselves for our little photoshoot.  Pro Tip: make sure you go to the right Royalton Hotel.  We went to the other one first :/

Three: Blank Slate Tea (121 Madison Ave #3, New York, NY 10016): Blank Slate Tea was a random find that I discovered on Instagram and it did not disappoint in real life.   It is in most adorable little tea and breakfast/lunch spot with feminine decor such as pink velvet couches and floral wallpaper.  Pro Tip: Get the rose tea latte – not only did it look great for pictures, but it was delicious!  Also, be careful not to walk into the Blank Slate Coffee and think it’s the Blank Slate Tea- they are located right next door to one another and have similar decor, this one is just a little more pink 🙂

Four: Flat Iron Building (175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010): this little area in front of the Flat Iron Building really makes for the best pictures because of the view of the building plus the clock … it’s just perfect.  This is also a very busy part of town, so you really have to just get out there and work it and hope that one of your pics has no one in the background.  Pro Tip: Don’t be scared to just get out there and claim your space for your picture.  In high tourist areas such as this one you just have to go for it.

Five: Freeman Alley (Freeman Alley, New York, NY 10002): this was another random find from instagram, but it was the cutest little gem of a find if there ever was one!  Tucked back off a main street is Freeman Alley which is a tiny little alley with tons of cool graffiti ending with the restaurant Freemans.  There are lights strung at the end of the alley which makes for a fun little photo.  Pro Tip: be sure to stop and take some pictures in front of the graffiti on your way to the back of the alley.

Six: Ladurée SoHo (398 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012): Ladurée SoHo, not to be confused with Ladurée Uptown, is the most adorable little macaron shop complete with tons of indoor seating and a full outdoor garden complete with bar.  I’ve been to both locations in NYC and the SoHo one blows the other one out of the water.  Pro Tip: go before it gets busy if you want to take some fun pictures.  We got there around 10:30 or 11 and had the back garden all to ourselves.

Seven: Brooklyn Bridge Park (334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201): Once you get done taking your Brooklyn Bridge pictures, just wind around over to Brooklyn Bridge Park to have a beautiful area where you can see the Manhattan skyline.  There is also Jane’s Carousel at the park if you wanted to get some carousel pictures.  Pro Tip: Go early.  We were there around 7:30am and it was perfect timing because only a few people were out and about.

Eight: Brooklyn Bridge (enter at Cadman Plaza East or where Boerum Place meets Tillary Street): We’ve shot the Brooklyn Bridge twice now … once in mid-day and once at 6:30am and I have to say the pictures don’t look all that different.  The one advantage of getting there early is that there aren’t many people in the background of the pics.  We always like to enter from the Brooklyn side and shoot towards Manhattan.  Pro Tip: work the entire bridge!  Get your far away shots and then go more towards the middle of the bridge and sit on the railing, pose more towards lower Manhattan, and just really try to get every angle you can.