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New York Today

New York Today: Where to Shoot Wedding Photos

Before “I do,” a few tips.Credit...Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

Good morning on this gorgeous Wednesday.

If you haven’t recently stumbled upon a wedding party or two in our parks or streets, we’d be surprised.

Wedding season is in full bloom.

From whimsical cobblestone streets to romantic gardens to gritty alleyways, New York offers a romantic backdrop for any style of wedding photographs.

We turned to Rangefinder Magazine, a publication dedicated to the world of professional wedding images, to find a few New York-based photographers to give advice.

What are some of the best places in the city to take wedding or engagement photos?

For a classic New York scene, the photographers suggested trying Grace Court Alley and Hunts Lane in Brooklyn Heights; the blocks where Barrow, Bedford and Commerce Streets meet in the West Village; or Freeman Alley by the Bowery.

For a grittier feel, Cortlandt Alley in Chinatown (think “back alley in a superhero movie”) and Sackett Street near the Gowanus Canal were among the favorites.

Where should engaged couples and newlyweds avoid?

The answer among the photographers interviewed was unanimous: the High Line.

“Shooting on the High Line is a rookie mistake,” Lev Kuperman said. “It’s very crowded and it’s narrow, so there’s not a lot of room to give the photo a sense of the space.”

Tourists, the photographers said, never look charming in photos. To avoid them, but still achieve a similarly rugged look, swap the East Village for Red Hook, or try Vinegar Hill instead of the more popular Dumbo, Ryan Browne advised.

And if you can, give up the idea of shooting in Central Park, which often doesn’t provide the romantic atmosphere that many people want, Chellise Michael said. Instead, head to the east side of Prospect Park, where it’s more wild, overgrown and private. Or try Fort Tilden in Rockaway or the beach at Dead Horse Bay, with its rocky formations, for a more secluded natural scene.

If you simply must have a landmark in your photo, these experts recommended the Top of the Rock, but only during off hours.

Any other tips?

Take the morning or afternoon off from work for better lighting and fewer crowds, Caroline Petters said. And dress comfortably, she added. Comfort will show on your face.

“And start at home and in your neighborhood,” Ms. Michael suggested. “Many New Yorkers live in tiny, cramped apartments and they’re not going to be there forever. The neighborhood is going to change.”

“It’s great to capture those memories,” she added, “instead of the time you stood in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge.”

Here’s what else is happening:

Yes, it’s a beautiful day for wedding photos — but even for the rest of us, it’s sure to be a midweek pick-me-up.

We’re talking sunshine and blue skies, with a high near 78, and a lovely evening in the mid-60s.

Oh-oh, those suh-uhm-mer nights.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will make a rare trip to Washington today to ask for federal funding to help fix New York City’s transit crisis. [New York Times]

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This will be Governor Cuomo’s first trip to Washington to lobby for federal funding in more than four years.Credit...Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

… And President Trump will visit Long Island on Friday to discuss law enforcement measures to eradicate the violent MS-13 gang. [New York Times]

The nearly $800 million emergency rescue plan for the subway would add cars and subtract seats. [New York Times]

… And who really runs New York City’s subway? [New York Times]

Angelika Graswald pleaded guilty in the kayaking death of her fiancé, but prosecutors said afterward that they had had doubts about whether a jury would have convicted her. [New York Times]

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Angelika Graswald pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the death of her fiancé.Credit...Pool photo by Allyse Pulliam

Governor Cuomo signed legislation banning the use of electronic cigarettes on school grounds across the state. [DNAinfo]

Should turnstile-jumping be decriminalized? [DNAinfo]

Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Who Remembers Moondog?

Scoreboard: Yankees rage against Reds, 4-2. Mets evade Padres, 6-5. Lynx eke past Liberty, 76-75.

For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Wednesday Briefing.

An adults-only summer camp, with crafts, scavenger hunts and tours, at the New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn. 6 p.m. [$15]

A summer block party with music, drinks and museum tours, at the Museum of the City of New York and El Museo Del Barrio on the Upper East Side. 6 p.m. [Free]

A sunset concert of classical, Latin and contemporary music at Wave Hill in the Bronx. 7 p.m. [$10]

A twilight two-mile race begins at Ocean Breeze Park on Staten Island. 8 p.m. [Free]

Yankees host Reds, 1:05 p.m. (YES). Mets at Padres, 10:10 p.m. (SNY).

Alternate-side parking remains in effect until Aug. 15.

For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide.

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It’s outdoor concert season.Credit...Benjamin Norman for The New York Times

You don’t need a tailcoat or heels to enjoy the arts at Lincoln Center in the summer.

In fact, you don’t need to dress formally at all.

The free, nearly three-week Out of Doors festival begins today in Lincoln Center, offering music and dance shows, performance art, panel discussions and movies.

Here are a few happenings this week:

Today: Listen to performers play selections from NPR Music’s 150 greatest albums by women artists, at Damrosch Park. 7 p.m.

Thursday: Sit in on an evening of Latin music and poetry, at Damrosch Park. 7 p.m.

Friday: Experience the work of the composer Pauline Oliveros, performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble, at Hearst Plaza. 7 p.m.

Saturday: Jump into a day of Double Dutch, with demonstrations, a discussion, an “open jump,” and a screening of the film “Pick Up Your Feet: The Double Dutch Show.” Various times.

Sunday: Watch a performance of b-girls and musicians, presented by the Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen collective, at Damrosch Park. 6:30 p.m.

New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. If you don’t get it in your inbox already, you can sign up to receive it by email here.

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What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday.

Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter.

You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com.

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