Riverside Park stretches four miles along the Hudson River on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a green corridor carved out in the 1870s by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same landscape architect behind Central Park. The park mixes wooded paths, Hudson River overlooks, and a marina that transforms completely with each season. In winter, the bare trees open up dramatic sightlines across the water to the Palisades in New Jersey, and the covered promenade near 79th Street shelters couples from the wind. It is one of those rare New York spots where the city feels genuinely quiet. For engagement sessions, the mix of organic textures, string lights under the sheltered walkways, and the river as a natural backdrop creates photographs that feel cinematic without being staged.
Engagement Photos at Riverside Park by the Hudson
The Riverside Park is amazing! There are incredible views of the Hudson River as well as parks and beautiful landscaping everywhere. There were still a ton of trees that had fall colored leaves on it even though it was pretty late into the season. It was a rainy cold winter day but they were in great spirits. We found this covered area that was stunning with string lights the blanketed the ceiling above. I climbed up on this bar to get a couple unique angles looking down at Emily & Brad.
The rooftop views from their apartment building at night were surreal with the low lying clouds and mist from them. It was pretty freezing at this point so we did not stay very long on the rooftop and I did not have a tripod so I was either handholding or resting my camera on a table and using a timer because it was so dark. I think if I lived there I would visit their rooftop pretty much everyday!
Emily and Brad went on to get married at a beautiful Delaware beach venue. If you are planning a beach or shore celebration, take a look at our guide to Jersey Shore wedding venues for inspiration on locations, vendors, and what to expect from a coastal wedding day.