Reviewed · TIMES SQUARE TOURS

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square!

5.0 · 13 reviews 45 min From $249 Operated by Bee Lively Photography · Bookable on GetYourGuide
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New York gives you no shortage of photo backdrops, but this session puts a professional photographer behind the camera and two famous Midtown settings in front of it. You meet Bee at Rockefeller Center, take portraits around the plaza, then walk about 10 minutes to Times Square.

I like the private format, since you can focus on your own photos rather than wait for a large group. I also like the practical turnaround: 20 to 50 digital images arrive within 72 hours. The main drawback is the price, $249 per person, plus a $2.90 subway fare if your customized session uses the subway.

Key points to know

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Key points to know

  • Rockefeller Center to Times Square: The standard route links two of Midtown’s best-known photo settings in 45 minutes.
  • Private session: You get the photographer’s attention for a solo or couples shoot.
  • 20 to 50 digital photos: High-resolution images are delivered within 72 hours.
  • Flexible locations: You can ask about Central Park, Dumbo, or the Brooklyn Bridge instead.
  • Patient direction: Bee has been praised for taking extra time and repeating shots until the subject felt satisfied.
  • Adults only: The experience is not suitable for children under 18 or people over 70.

Why this New York photo session works

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Why this New York photo session works

This is not a sightseeing tour with a camera added as an afterthought. It is a short portrait session built around recognizable New York locations. You get a professional photographer, a private group, and a finished set of images to keep after your trip.

That makes the experience especially useful if you are visiting New York as a couple, marking a special occasion, or traveling alone and want more than quick phone snapshots. You can also book it as a practical way to create polished vacation portraits without carrying a tripod through Midtown.

The standard route is simple. You meet Bee at the Rockefeller Center Plaza, in front of the flags. From there, you take photos around Rockefeller Center, walk roughly 10 minutes, and finish in Times Square.

The short route has an advantage: you spend less time getting between locations and more time taking pictures. The tradeoff is that 45 minutes passes quickly. If you want several outfit changes, a long list of poses, or multiple neighborhoods, you should ask about customizing the location before booking.

Meeting Bee at Rockefeller Center

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Meeting Bee at Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is a strong starting point because the plaza gives you an instantly recognizable New York setting. The meeting point, in front of the flags, is specific enough to avoid the usual Midtown problem of wandering around looking for the right entrance.

You should arrive in comfortable shoes and bring water. The session involves standing, posing, and walking through city streets, so practical footwear matters more than fashion here. You can still dress up for the photos, but consider shoes that will let you move between Rockefeller Center and Times Square without discomfort.

The exact photo spots within the center are not fixed in the information provided, so you should expect Bee to choose suitable angles around the plaza. The surroundings give you a mix of open space and major city architecture. That variety helps a short session feel less repetitive.

Rockefeller Center also gives you a calmer opening than Times Square. You can get used to the camera before reaching the louder, more crowded final stop. If you are not comfortable posing, this order makes sense: start with a few straightforward portraits, then work toward more energetic city scenes.

Rockefeller Center portraits: polished but recognizably New York

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Rockefeller Center portraits: polished but recognizably New York

The first portion is listed as a photo stop and sightseeing visit, rather than a long architectural tour. That distinction matters. You are here to make portraits, not to spend the session learning every detail of the complex.

You can expect the photographer to guide the session around the setting and adjust your position for the available background. Since the group is private, you should be able to ask for a different pose or repeat a shot if something feels awkward. Bee’s high praise centers on patience, including spending extra time and repeating images until the subject was happy.

That is useful for anyone who does not normally pose for professional photos. You do not need to arrive with a complete plan. It helps, though, to know what kind of images you want: close portraits, full-body photos, a couple’s picture, or a mix of posed and more natural-looking shots.

If you are booking as a couple, decide before the shoot how much time you want together and how much time you want for individual portraits. The experience is marketed for solo visitors or couples, and 45 minutes can accommodate both, but not without some planning.

The 10-minute walk to Times Square

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - The 10-minute walk to Times Square

The transfer to Times Square takes about 10 minutes on foot. That is short enough to keep the session moving, but you should still wear shoes that handle city pavement well.

This walk is not presented as a separate sightseeing section, so do not count on a guided neighborhood tour along the way. Its purpose is to connect the two photo locations. You may pass through busy Midtown streets, but the main value is getting from the first setting to the second without using a vehicle.

The walk also gives you a natural pause. You can check your appearance, discuss the next set of images with Bee, or make a quick adjustment before the session ends in Times Square. Since the experience begins at Rockefeller Center and finishes there, you do not need to return to the starting point.

More NYC Photography Tours and Photo Shoots:

Finishing in Times Square

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Finishing in Times Square

Times Square supplies the boldest backdrop of the session. The signs, lights, and dense city setting immediately identify the images as New York, even for someone who has never seen the location in person.

The setting can also be demanding. Times Square is not a quiet portrait studio. You should expect a public city environment and a background full of activity. That can make the photos feel unmistakably urban, but it may also make it harder to create calm, simple portraits.

This is where professional direction has real value. A photographer can help you focus on your pose while choosing angles that make the location work for the image. You may want a few photos that show the full Times Square setting, followed by tighter portraits where the lights remain part of the background without taking over.

Because Times Square is the finish, keep your final requests realistic. If you want a specific pose, a group of solo portraits, and several couple images, tell Bee early. The session length is fixed, and the final location is likely to be the most visually busy part of the route.

Choosing a custom location instead

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Choosing a custom location instead

The standard Midtown route is not the only option. The session can be customized around location preferences such as Central Park, Dumbo, or the Brooklyn Bridge.

That flexibility may be more important than the standard itinerary. Central Park gives you a different visual setting from Midtown. Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge offer other New York backdrops. The supplied details do not specify the exact route, timing, or any added costs for those choices, so ask for confirmation before booking a custom location.

You should also check whether a custom route requires subway travel. The private Midtown shoot uses one subway fare for convenience, and the $2.90 fare is not included in the booking price. The same fare note may be relevant if your preferred location needs public transportation, but you should confirm the plan with the provider.

A custom location is worth considering if you have already photographed Rockefeller Center and Times Square, or if one particular New York setting matters more to you. The standard route is the simpler choice if you want two iconic Midtown locations with minimal planning.

What you receive after the shoot

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - What you receive after the shoot

All digital, high-resolution photos taken during the session are included. The usual amount is between 20 and 50 images, and delivery is promised within 72 hours.

That is a useful turnaround during a short New York visit. If you are staying for several days, you may receive the photos while you are still in town. You could then decide if you want to use one for a social profile, a travel post, or a printed keepsake.

The number of images is given as a general range, not a guarantee of an exact total. The final number can depend on the pace of the shoot and the number of poses or locations covered. Physical prints are available for an additional charge, so prints are not part of the $249 price.

Before the session, it is sensible to ask how the finished images will be delivered and if there are any choices you need to make after the shoot. The stated service includes the digital professional photos, but no editing details are provided.

Is $249 per person good value?

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Is $249 per person good value?

At $249 per person, this is not a budget way to take a few holiday snapshots. The value comes from the combination of a private photographer, professional equipment and direction, two famous locations, and a full set of high-resolution images.

For a couple, the price is also charged per person, so the total cost rises quickly. You should book it because you want a proper portrait session, not simply because Times Square is on your sightseeing list.

The price makes more sense for a solo visitor who would otherwise struggle to get good self-portraits, or for someone marking a birthday, anniversary, proposal, or first New York visit. It may be harder to justify if you are comfortable using a phone and do not care about polished images.

Keep the extra costs in mind. Food and drinks are not included, travel costs are not included, and admission fees are not included if they apply. The subway fare for the Midtown route is $2.90 and must be paid separately. You should also budget for prints if you want physical copies.

Who will get the most from this experience?

New York City: Solo or Couples Photoshoot in Times Square! - Who will get the most from this experience?

This session suits adults who want a private, guided photo shoot in recognizable New York settings. It works particularly well for:

  • Solo visitors who want more than self-timer photos
  • Couples looking for coordinated portraits
  • People celebrating a special trip or occasion
  • Anyone who prefers professional direction when posing
  • Visitors who want digital images soon after the session
  • People open to choosing a custom setting beyond Midtown

It is not suitable for children under 18 or people over 70, according to the stated restrictions. The experience is wheelchair accessible, though you should discuss your preferred route if you need a particular access arrangement.

Bee can host in English or French. That gives you a useful choice if either language makes posing instructions easier to follow.

Practical preparation for better photos

Wear something you feel comfortable moving in. You do not need to bring special equipment, since the photographer handles the photography, but comfortable shoes and water are specifically recommended.

Think about clothing colors and how they will look against city lights and stone buildings. No clothing guidance is provided by the operator, so this is simply a useful personal choice. If you want formal portraits, bring an outfit that allows movement between the two locations.

Arrive with two or three simple ideas rather than a rigid shot list. You might want one full-body portrait, one closer head-and-shoulders image, and one picture that shows the New York setting clearly. If you are a couple, include both together and individual images if that matters to you.

You should also tell Bee about any must-have image early in the session. The photographer has been praised for patience and for repeating shots when needed, but the experience still lasts only 45 minutes.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. There is no food or drink included, so bring water and plan any meal or coffee stop separately.

Booking, cancellation, and timing

You can reserve the session and pay later, which helps if your New York schedule may change. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

The duration is 45 minutes, and starting times depend on availability. Since the session begins at Rockefeller Center and ends at Times Square, check the timing against your other plans. Do not schedule a tight connection immediately afterward, especially if you want to take subway travel, traffic, or a delayed start into account.

The group is private, not shared with strangers. That is one of the strongest practical reasons to choose this format, especially if you feel self-conscious posing in front of other people.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want professional New York portraits, a private session, and fast delivery of digital images. Bee’s patient approach is a strong fit if you need help with posing or want the option to repeat a shot until it feels right.

Think twice if $249 per person stretches your budget, if you only want casual snapshots, or if you need a longer session with many outfit changes. In that case, a simple phone photo or a longer custom arrangement may suit you better.

For a solo adult or couple who wants a lasting record of New York, the standard Rockefeller Center to Times Square route is a focused choice. Ask about your preferred location, the subway fare, and any print costs before you commit, then arrive ready to walk, pose, and make the most of 45 minutes.

FAQ

Where does the photo session begin?

The meeting point is Rockefeller Center Plaza, in front of the flags.

Where does the standard session finish?

The standard session finishes in Times Square after the photo stop at Rockefeller Center and a walk of about 10 minutes.

How long does the experience last?

The photo session lasts 45 minutes.

How many photos do I receive?

You receive all digital, high-resolution professional photos taken during the session, generally between 20 and 50 images. Physical prints cost extra.

Can I request a different New York location?

Yes. The session can be customized around locations such as Central Park, Dumbo, or the Brooklyn Bridge. Confirm the details and any transport needs before booking.

Is subway travel included?

No. The private Midtown session uses one subway fare for convenience, and the New York City subway fare of $2.90 is not included in the booking price.

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