The Best Paid Photography Locations on Long Island — No Crowds, All Magic

2: PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM — Oyster Bay, Long Island ↗ View on Google Maps

Spread across 409 acres in Oyster Bay, Planting Fields Arboretum is one of Long Island's most beautiful and versatile engagement session locations. Lush formal gardens, sweeping green landscapes, and the breathtaking Tudor Revival architecture of Coe Hall — a stunning castle-like mansion — give you two completely different visual worlds within a single property. The garden feel and the architectural feel together in one location is something most venues simply cannot offer.
What makes Planting Fields one of our personal favorites is the pace. Once you've secured your session permit, you are free to explore and photograph until the arboretum closes for the day. No hard stop. No rushing from one spot to the next. Just space, light, and time to be intentional. We always recommend arriving two hours before closing to catch that golden hour light filtering through the trees and across the gardens — it is nothing short of magical.
The one thing to keep in mind — Planting Fields is well loved in the photography community, so you may encounter other photographers and couples on the grounds. The good news is that 409 acres gives everyone more than enough room to find their own moment.

Permit fees: $100 for engagement sessions | $250 for wedding day sessions.
Permits are the responsibility of the client. We are happy to guide you through the booking process.

There is no location on Long Island that commands attention the way Oheka Castle does. Built in 1919, this 127,000 square foot French château sits on 23 acres of manicured formal gardens and is one of the largest private estates ever constructed in the United States. Grand stone staircases, ornate European architecture, perfectly sculpted hedgerows, and golden hour light that wraps across the grounds like something out of a film — every frame here feels like a fairy tale. It is widely believed to have inspired the grandeur of The Great Gatsby, and one look at this property tells you exactly why.

Sessions here are private and by arrangement — meaning exclusivity is built in from the start.
Photography sessions at Oheka Castle start at $2,500.

OHEKA CASTLE — Huntington, Long Island ↗ View on Google Maps
Grand | Luxurious | Unforgettable

Not every great engagement session happens on a public street corner. Some of the most breathtaking locations in the New York area require a permit — and that single requirement changes everything about your experience.
When you book a permitted location, you are not competing with dog walkers, tourists, or unpredictable crowds. Your time is allocated in advance, the space is yours, and every minute of your session is focused entirely on you. No strangers walking through your frames. No waiting for a path to clear. No random variables stealing your attention or your photographer's.
And in engagement photography, the fewer variables you have — the better your images will be.
Every location in this guide is one we have personally photographed. We know the light, we know the layouts, and we know exactly how to make the most of your time there. These are not just beautiful places — they are controlled, intentional environments that give us the space to create without compromise.
If you are ready to invest in an experience that is as seamless as it is stunning, you are in the right place.
Please note — obtaining the photography permit for any location is the responsibility of the client. We are happy to guide you through the process and point you in the right direction, but the booking and approval must come from you directly. Plan ahead — some permits require advance notice and availability can be limited.

Why Paid Locations Are Worth Every Penny

3: SANDS POINT PRESERVE — Sands Point, Long Island ↗ View on Google Maps
Elegant | Timeless | Great Gatsby

Few locations on Long Island carry the history and grandeur that Sands Point Preserve does. Originally built in the early 1900s by Howard Gould — son of railroad magnate Jay Gould — and later acquired by the legendary Guggenheim family, this Gold Coast estate sits on the shores of Long Island Sound and is widely believed to be one of the primary inspirations behind F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Standing on these grounds, that is very easy to believe.
The outside is nothing short of breathtaking — European-style formal gardens, manicured grounds, and a waterfront setting that feels worlds away from everyday life. The architecture is grand, the atmosphere is elevated, and every corner of the property offers a backdrop that looks like it belongs in a film. For couples who want that high-end, old-money elegance, this is your location.
What truly sets Sands Point apart is what happens when you step inside. The grand staircases, the rich wooden rooms, and the ornate interiors create that unmistakable Great Gatsby feeling that is nearly impossible to replicate anywhere else. It is also one of the best options in the New York area if weather is a concern — the interior alone gives you a full, stunning session without ever stepping outside.

Permit fees: $350 for a 2-hour outdoor session | $450 to include access to the interior.
Permits are the responsibility of the client. We are happy to guide you through the booking process.


4: OLD WESTBURY GARDENS — Old Westbury, Long Island ↗ View on Google Maps
Romantic | Lush | Timeless

Old Westbury Gardens is one of Long Island's most beloved and photographed estates — and one visit makes it immediately clear why. Built in 1906 by John Shaffer Phipps, son of Carnegie Steel magnate Henry Phipps Jr., this breathtaking Charles II-style manor sits at the heart of over 200 acres of some of the most stunning English formal gardens in the entire country. Designed to rival the great estates of England, the property features a walled garden, a serene lakeside lined with weeping beech trees, formal rose gardens, boxwood parterres, woodland paths, and vintage garden structures that look like they were lifted straight from another century. The variety here is extraordinary — no two sections of this estate feel the same, and that gives us an incredible range of backdrops within a single session.
Old Westbury is a public estate which means visitors will be present throughout your session. In our experience most guests naturally give photographers and couples their space — a little patience goes a long way, especially on busier days. The reward for that patience is well worth it.

One important note — the permit representatives here are strict on timing and your session window will be enforced. Once your time is up, you will need to wrap and make way for the next session. Come prepared, move with intention, and trust us to make every minute count.
Permit fees: $350 for a 90-minute session before 3:30 PM | $475 for sessions at or after 3:30 PM.
Sessions after 3:30 PM catch that golden hour light — and in our professional opinion, worth the upgrade.
Permits are the responsibility of the client. We are happy to guide you through the booking process.

5: VANDERBILT MUSEUM — Centerport, Long Island ↗ View on Google Maps
Historic | European | One of a Kind

The moment you arrive at the Vanderbilt Museum you understand immediately that this is not like anywhere else on Long Island. Known as Eagle's Nest, this extraordinary 43-acre waterfront estate was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt II — grandson of the legendary Cornelius Vanderbilt — beginning in 1910 and developed over several decades into one of the most architecturally stunning private estates in America. The Spanish-Moroccan Revival architecture, the ornate stonework, the sweeping views of Northport Harbor and Long Island Sound, and the lush grounds all come together to create an atmosphere that feels like it belongs on another continent entirely — and another century altogether.
We have personally photographed here and left completely blown away. There is a grandeur and a uniqueness to this location that very few places in the New York area can match. If you are looking for something that feels genuinely European, deeply historic, and visually unlike anything your guests have ever seen in a photo, the Vanderbilt Museum delivers on every level. This is a location we will continue to recommend without hesitation.

Permit fees: $350 to $550 depending on the day of the week and time of session.
Permits are the responsibility of the client. We are happy to guide you through the booking process.

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IF YOU'RE READY TO CREATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, LET'S TALK.

Final Thoughts


The locations in this guide are not just beautiful — they are intentional choices. Every one of them has been personally photographed by us, personally vetted, and personally recommended because we have seen firsthand what a controlled, private environment does for a session. Less chaos. More creativity. Better images.
When you invest in a permitted location you are not just paying for access — you are paying for peace of mind, exclusivity, and the freedom to be fully present in your experience without the noise of the world around you. That is something no public park can guarantee.
If you are ready to create something truly extraordinary, we are ready to make it happen.

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