
Central Park is offering free senior portraits at the Conservatory Garden next week
Calling all Class of 2025 grads: Central Park is giving you one more reason to celebrate before tossing that cap in the air. The Central Park Conservancy is offering free senior portraits at the newly reopened Conservatory Garden next week and trust us, your Instagram feed will thank you.
Photographers will be on site Monday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 18, from 1 to 4 pm, snapping pro portraits in one of the city's most jaw-dropping green spaces. Reservations are required and slots are first-come, first-served, so now's the time to lock in your 10-minute fame window.
The Conservatory Garden is made up of six manicured acres of formal gardens tucked into the northeast corner of Central Park, just off Fifth Avenue between 104th and 106th Streets. Recently reopened after a multi-year, $17 million renovation, the Conservatory Garden is looking fresher than ever—think crabapple allées, blooming borders, vine-draped pergolas and fountains worthy of a Bridgerton shoot.
Grads are encouraged to show up in whatever outfit suits their vibe, whether it's a classic cap-and-gown look or a stylish statement piece that says, 'I'm done with cafeteria food and AP Chem.' There's no dress code, no awkward studio lighting and no fees, just a stunning backdrop and photo to mark the milestone.
And while you're there, it's worth taking a lap around the three distinct garden styles: the French-inspired North Garden with its orderly lawns and fountain; the Italianate Center Garden, flanked by wisteria and yew; and the English-style South Garden, home to the beloved Frances Hodgson Burnett sculpture from The Secret Garden.
Portraits will be emailed to students within 10 business days, which gives you just enough time to get them printed before the graduation party—or, let's be honest, to post with a carefully chosen Drake lyric.
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