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Photography
Photo credit (above): Anthony Vazquez
Old Westbury Gardens provides the perfect environment to create stunning photography
From weddings and engagements to family portraits and professional headshots, Old Westbury Gardens offers a breathtaking backdrop for your most memorable moments. Whether you’re planning a private shoot or a commercial session, all photography requires a permit and advance coordination to help preserve the beauty of the Gardens for all to enjoy.
Explore our photography options below to find the right fit for your special day.
The first step in the process to obtain a permit is to email us and find out if the date and time is available. To ensure that you do not miss our e-mail reply, add mzamora@oldwestburygardens.org to your contact list. It is important to do so especially with a Gmail account as Gmail tends to mark our emails as spam. Thank you!
Please note: The photography permit policy was created to protect the grounds and the artwork, both inside and outdoors. Additionally, the policy allows the Gardens to control the number of photography shoots on the grounds at one time to lessen the disruptions of scheduled events. Fees directly support the mission of Old Westbury Gardens.
Commercial Photography
Old Westbury Gardens with its magnificent wrought-iron gates, formal English Gardens, picturesque Beech and Linden Allees and Charles II-style mansion provides scenic locations for commercial still photography, as well as television and motion picture production. The Gardens’ landscaped grounds and Westbury House’s elegant rooms have hosted fashion shoots, television commercials, celebrity interviews and movie productions including “North by Northwest,” “Love Story,” “Age of Innocence” and “Wolf.” Our 19th Century residence Orchard Hill House, the gardens and rest of the location will not be affected and are available for still and motion photography projects. Old Westbury Gardens is not available for student projects. For more information contact Paul Hunchak at phunchak@oldwestburygardens.org
Photography Permit Request Form
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Make Your Moment Unforgettable
FAQs
Planning a photo shoot at Old Westbury Gardens? Whether you’re bringing your own camera or a professional photographer to capture your special moment, our FAQs cover permits, pricing, and everything you need to know before your visit.
Yes. Permits are required and must be requested at least 2 weeks in advance.
Permits are for 1 and ½ hours (90 minutes). (Additional time can be requested based on availability for an additional fee.)
Wedding photography permits are issued for April 2 – November 23, 2025, every day except Tuesdays and certain blackout dates. Permits are not issued for sessions that begin before 9:00am or after 5:00pm.
The fee is $350 for sessions before 3:30pm and $475 for sessions at or after 3:30pm. Twenty (20) guests are included in these fees.
There is an additional $75 fee if there are 21 or more guests- the maximum allowed is 26. Your photography team or other vendors are not included in your guest count.
Interior locations in Westbury House are available only for those sessions that begin at 5:00pm and 5:30pm April 1-November 17.
No refunds will be given if the photo session is canceled less than 24 hours before scheduled start time. In case of rain, you may reschedule for another date and time based on location availability and Gardens’ approval.
1. Email or call us to see if the date and time are available. To ensure a proper experience for you, we limit the number of permits per day and per time slot.
2. If the date is available we will ask you to provide your contact information and the number of persons. We will then send a contract for you to sign and return with complete payment within 14 days.
Yes, you may visit and pay any applicable admission fees. Please keep your receipt as the admission fee may be applied to your permit fee.
The Gardens are a popular location for photography and we only permit up to 3 wedding parties at a time. Please note that the Gardens is a public place where visitors are welcome in all public areas, and that regular business continues during normal operating hours.
All sessions are reserved for 90 minutes from the time you are scheduled to arrive. Should you arrive after your scheduled time of arrival, your time of departure does not change. If you arrive within 15 minutes of your scheduled departure time you are considered a no show and will forfeit the full permit fee
You may use your own photography studio or you may select one of our preferred studios and receive a 10% discount on your permit fee.
Cassarino Studios (516) 877-2700
Fine Art Photography and Film (516) 997-4200
First Look Photo + Film (formerly Franklin Square Photographers) (516) 437-1055
Jay Lim Photography (516) 333-0769
Patken Photographer (631) 595-1025
Silver Fox Studios (631) 393-6966
Studio 27 (516) 730-5007
The Permit Holder may cancel a permit up to 4 weeks in advance and receive a full refund. The Permit Holder who cancels less than 4 weeks in advance of the permit date and time will receive the amount paid less $150 cancellation fee. Cancellations made less than 24 hours will receive no refund.