A photograph taken within Central Park offers a business not only an image of the area, but
a feeling of place. To a New York hotel, travel company, or commercial brand, this
connection can give them an edge in advertising or media that makes a customer pause a
scroll before reading their message.
While widely recognized both in and outside of the city, photographs featuring this landmark
create a sense of intimacy for the viewer. A trail, taken at golden hour, overlooks the lake
and allows the subject to sit down and imagine themselves in this setting. In a commercial
photograph, this level of connection encourages a customer to think of their own
experiences in a similar location, rather than looking at a photograph of a landmark.
For a hospitality business, this has the potential to encourage more guests to book based on
this feeling of place. Whether used within a website, brochure, or in-house materials, a
photograph of Central Park provides a reference for a hotel guest that they can use for their
own visit. Equally useful is this type of imagery for a restaurant or venue. This style of shot
can equally be used to advertise an event.
For travel companies, this offers a chance to put together a campaign that would appeal to
customers looking to explore the city. Featuring a walk through the woods or a more still
image of the foliage at a certain time of year has the potential to create a lasting impression
that would aid in return visits or the destination becoming a bucket list item.
For commercial brands, Central Park offers a wide variety of settings that can appeal to a
wide variety of marketing campaigns. The right image can invoke a feeling of energy, peace,
community, or movement. These kinds of photographs can feature a recognizable element
like the skyline, without being overwhelming to the customer.
The value of these photographs depends on both their quality and usage. An image that gets
used across a website, advertisement campaign, social media feeds, and in-print materials
will get more exposure than a single photograph on one page. Furthermore, using a
recognizable image within the correct media and licensing guidelines is as important as the
image itself.
As a professional photographer, I take pictures of Central Park with an aim to capture a
feeling or concept. These can be used by businesses to reach out to a customer looking for
an experience in New York and offer them something unique they’ll be able to connect to on
a deeper level.
