TIPS FOR YOUR SESSION AT THE MET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a go to session location for good reason.
It’s romantic & timeless & every beautiful thing you could want as the backdrop for your images. With it being such an esteemed institution & large space, though, it can be overwhelming to decide how to prep for your session here, what to wear, & where to go once inside.
Throughout this blog post, I will give my tips on 1) how to not get kicked out & 2) my go to galleries that are best for photos.
First things first, how do you not get kicked out during your session at the MET?
Tip #1: Tread cautiously if you decide to wear white/suits.
Anything that could insinuate this is you two performing some kind of wedding/elopement ceremony could get you in trouble. To get the permits to do a ceremony you need to pay a lot of money, so some of the higher ups may flag you if you are in elopement-esque attire. To avoid this, I recommend not wearing something as bride/groom-ish as this couple below.
Their outfits were stunning, but in every exhibit we went to different staff members told us we were not allowed to take photos (even though I’d done several sessions at the MET before this one). We eventually came to realize it is because of how fancy they looked.
So, if you are looking for a dressed up moment, I recommend not using traditional wedding colors/wardrobe pieces, & either going for black or a jumpsuit/pantsuit instead, like what is pictured here:
Tip #2 for not getting kicked out:
Arrive at 10am when the museum opens, & try your best to go on a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday.
A lot of the tourists & locals won’t be there right when it opens, which means that you can take up space taking photos in different exhibits & the staff are less likely to care, because you are not interfering with anyone else’s experience. If you are the photographer, also go ahead & put your camera bag on your front rather than your back, because that will show the staff you are being respectful of the art & the personal space of other visitors.
Going when they first open on a weekday is not just beneficial for not getting kicked out, but also for the photos themselves. Photoshop AI is wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a much more comfortable experience & makes for that much more picture perfect moments if you are not dodging people left & right, avoiding a visitor’s bright red eye sore of a sweatshirt, or simply just not wanting to shy up in front of so many people.
Now, for my favorite exhibits/tips on navigating the museum.
1) Go to one of the statue halls first.
The statue halls, mainly the Roman one & the American wing one, have Incredible light. Doing fun stuff with the shadows is definitely the move here. They also provide such unique & intricate workings, that it nearly transports you & your partner to another time. I recommend going to the American wing one over the Roman one for a few reasons. First, the Roman one is too accessible, so it gets busy very quickly, as it is right by the ticket counter. The American wing one on the other hand requires you to go up the main staircase, through the section with the Van Gogh paintings, then down an elevator to arrive in the wing. The inaccessibility of it means it takes a good hour or two for it to get crowded with the rest of the patrons. This way, you will get STUNNING light, without many people to avoid.
Plus, to be frank, the nudity in the Roman & Greek statues can be a bit much for an engagement/couples session haha.
2) Make your way up to the Van Gogh & Monet paintings.
If you went to the American Wing for the statues, then you will easily be able to back track to this exhibit where you are welcomed by a plethora of possibility. Talk to your partner ahead of time about your favorite painting here & ask your photographer to grab a photo of your ring in front of it, if this is for an engagement session. Or just get a portrait near it. Then sit on the benches for a moment as if you are cuddling on the couch, then find different corners that you two can share a kiss in. Of course, just take your time meandering through the different time periods, & let your photographer capture whatever organic interactions come from your perusing.
3) Keep your eye open for photo opportunities between every exhibit & don’t be afraid to try something new.
I have no idea what the exhibit above is called, but I pass it every time I take our couples to the Van Gogh paintings. Whether they take a moment to dance or kiss against the railing, it’s just the most perfectly romantic section. The grand staircase too, it has terrible lighting, but that just means we can lean into a grainy & moody moment as you & your partner are off on your exploration throughout the museum.
You never know what perfect spot is just around the corner.
4) Talk with your partner ahead of time about any exhibits that are especially important or beautiful to you both.
Just because, from my photography perspective, I prefer the American Wing statues & the Van Gogh paintings, does not mean other parts of the museum should not be explored! The Egyptian wing gets beautiful light in the afternoons, & the Asian wing has some stunning architecture as well.
Not to mention, while I’ve been to this museum well over a dozen times for sessions, I doubt I’ve explored even 75% of what it has to offer. So do some googling ahead of time or make a date night out of finding your favorite spots leading up to your session, so that whether it’s me taking your photos or another photographer, you can let it be known what spots are a non negotiable for you!
Above everything, remember to have fun <3 & don’t forget to have your Gossip Girl moment on the MET steps ;’))
