New York being the city of awe-inspiring skyscrapers, people decked out in the heights of street fashion, quaint pizzerias and brownstones, and a long coastline make it one of the most unique places in the world. A bundle of contradictions in many ways, New York City is the ideal location for all picturesque photo shoots and video shoots.
Whether you're planning a family photo shoot or a music video on grungy streets, Giggster is sure to have the perfect location for you to film. From a sunny artist's studio filled with interesting props, a cozy fireplace, and a plant-filled rooftop flooded with natural light to a multi-set photo studio with several colored backdrops and a chic dressing corner, we've got the pick of NYC's best locations.
Looking for something inexpensive yet charming for budget photo shoots and video shoots? No problem. Giggster's got you covered. You can rent a gorgeous meeting room with elegant furniture and bookshelves on the Upper West Side for astonishingly cheap prices. Perfect for a podcast!
Giggster's range of stunning venues is the perfect backdrop to your film shoots and photo shoots. After all, if you're producing stellar videos, the background should be up to par as well, shouldn't it?
Given that New York City is the favorite haunt of all kinds of artists, it's no wonder that there are so many suitable venues that you can film at. Sweeping views of the skyline, wide-open rooftops with lots of light, and cozy studios with colorful backdrops are just some features you get here.
A cozy French bistro with warm lighting and wrought-iron chairs is one of the coziest video shoot spaces you might come across. Opt for this location for a pregnancy shoot or baby shower invite video.
A music video in a spartan bar and lounge makes for a particular kind of industrial chic ambiance that is very popular nowadays.
Looking to film a historical film or documentary? A landmarked townhouse on a cobbled street in Washington Heights is just the spot.
A fashion shoot on a rooftop with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline is unique and trendy at the same time.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Giggster's 4188 venues can offer you no end of locations to film at, from a modern penthouse loft with great views over the city at sunset to a Brooklyn photo studio with a comfy sofa, black and white photographs, and other charming props.
Hassle-Free Booking: Booking a property is now easy with the Giggster app since you can look up everything from the price to the exact size and layout of the venue without needing to move out of your office. Venues start at no more than $20/hour.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Movies and music videos often have tight budgets and timeframes so anything that makes the booking process easier is a massive plus. We allow free cancellations within 24 hours of confirmation as long as you've made the booking 48 hours before the event.
Platform Protections: And in case you're worried about things like damages and liabilities, Giggster has optional protection packages to deal with that! You can book Photo & Video Studio for Rental without worrying about such details.
While we completely get the appeal of the bustling streets of New York City for photo shoots and video shoots, there are both pros and cons to the whole idea.
Advantages
There are so many picturesque venues, both indoors and outdoors, that you're spoilt for choice. Picking the perfect place is easy as long as you know exactly what you're looking for!
Being a big city and an artistic city at that, you'll find shops and rental companies that can help you find all the equipment you need.
A foodie city like NYC will have no problems with catering during your entire production.
Disadvantages
A lot of traffic and no access to parking spaces are a definite con when you're running about New York with a ton of video equipment.
A permit is definitely something that you'll need, especially if you're shooting in public locations like Central Park and Times Square. So plan in advance.
Film shoots in NYC tend to be a bit more expensive than they would be in other cities that are smaller and cheaper by comparison.
Whether you're planning a family photo shoot, a podcast, or a clothing shoot with the best street fashion, what you'll need first of all is an appropriate location. And with the Giggster app, it's so much easier to find the perfect spot from among 4188 venues!
Production Studio – Proper Backdrops. For understandable reasons, this is the classic rental space for film shoots or photo shoots. After all, much of your equipment and the kind of sets that you might be in need of are already there for the taking! Focus on your lighting and actors set against versatile backdrops.
Townhouses and Manors – Grand Elegance. Whether you want a brownstone in the center of the city or a big, rustic home with a wild garden and cozy front porch in Flatbush, these spaces can give you any kind of ambiance that you want. A horror film set in a colorful Manhattan mansion would really be worth watching, wouldn't it?
Bars and Restaurants – Lively Settings. While not a video shoot location that people usually use, there are some instances that these serve very well. Imagine a fast-paced music video set against the backdrop of a bar with glowing lights, a historical film in a vintage speakeasy, or a romantic comedy in a cute coffee shop with framed pictures on all the walls.
Rooftop Terrace – Spectacular Views. The thing about a rooftop terrace is that the breathtaking New York skyline makes for a perfect backdrop for any number of events, from a dance video to a fashion shoot or a promotion for a corporate event. Many even come with green rooms and production equipment ready for rental!
Outdoor Spaces – Glorious Natural Light. Sometimes you need the afternoon glow of the sun without actually filming on busy streets and crowded parks. In that case, an outdoor location like a patio or a private lawn is just what you're looking for! Outdoor spaces in New York aren't exactly plentiful but the ones that are there are excellent.
Discovering your video shoot location and planning out every aspect of filming is a time-consuming process. Don't think that shooting is just a matter of aiming your camera and beginning to film.
Draw Up a Budget – This is not only going to make sure you don't overspend, but it's also going to be essential for every other aspect of filming. For example, if you're planning a lowkey apparel shoot, you can opt for an ordinary studio with a white backdrop instead of blowing off all your money on a private manor that will overwhelm the outfits themselves.
Scout Locations – Pictures don't always give you a perfect idea of the location so scouting out the venues beforehand and timing your shots will cut down on wasted effort. Does the afternoon sun really pool through that window and can you capture the desired effect on camera? Check it out first!
Navigate Permits and Regulations – Productions and shoots need all kinds of permits, from licenses to film in public areas to licenses to serve food and drinks. Residential areas also have noise limits. These are things that you'd better look into beforehand so you don't get into trouble on the day of shooting.
Delegate to Team Members – No matter how small your project is, you really can't do everything yourself. Sometimes it's tiny things like making sure all your equipment will get through the doors and sometimes it's full travel itineraries. Delegating to your team takes the pressure off your shoulders.
Hiring a filming crew, finding venues, and all the equipment for filming are going to claw out a hole in your pocket. So take the opportunity to save where you can.
Make use of rental companies.
If you're not from New York, you don't need to spend money and effort bringing all your cameras and lenses and lighting, nor do you need to buy them. There are rental companies in New York City that could easily fill the gaps!
Organize your shot lists.
One easy way to save money on the project is to know exactly what kind of shots you want and the timing of them. The more organization you do beforehand, the faster you can move on shooting day itself. You won't be crisscrossing the city trying to get all your shots in.
Think about props in advance.
Some studios and sets come with props already provided so you don't need to buy or rent those. While a historic manor or vintage bar already has so much that you can make use of.
If it's the perfect space for filming in New York City that you're after, then we can guarantee the Giggster app will help you out! A stunning rooftop filled with plants and fairy lights in Brooklyn or a magnificently large and well-lighted carousel in the background, we've got it all.