*NEW October 13, 2025: Steve Simon: Special One-Day New York City Parade Edition Workshop

Workshop Details

Date: October 13, 2025 (Columbus Day)

Group Size: Limited to 4 participants

Location: New York City, the Street Photography Capital of the World

Attention: Photographers near New York City, come participate in this special one-day photography workshop created to take advantage of a unique photo opportunity. 

"Behind The Ropes" Access to Columbus Day Parade

We have negotiated special access to the Columbus Day Parade for a group of photographers limited to 4. This annual televised event has more than 35,000 participants marching down 5th Avenue between 44th and 79th streets with more than 500,000 spectators cheering along the route of this colorful and meaningful photo opportunity.

Our special access allows us to shoot along the parade route, strictly secured by the NYPD, and not on the sidewalks behind the barricades where spectators line-up. These city-authorized press credentials mean you walk and shoot along the parade route with the parade participants for the best images; not confined to the packed sidewalks behind barricades. 

Them:

Us:

The Journey

We will meet the morning of the Parade for coffee and to plan our strategy for covering this great event. We will also schedule a post-parade two-hour zoom class where we will critique and talk about the shoot. This one-day workshop is limited to 4 participants, so sign up soon!

What You’ll Experience

Hands-on shooting sessions with Steve Simon, author of The Passionate Photographer and lifelong street shooter.

Proven street photography strategies to help you see differently and react instinctively to fleeting moments.

Personal coaching, group critiques, and creative inspiration that will accelerate your growth.

Pre- and post-workshop Zoom sessions so you arrive prepared and leave with a roadmap for your photography going forward.

October 13th: The Parade!

• 10am: Pre-parade meet-up.
• 11am: Columbus Day Parade.

  Floats, bands and groups start lining up between 43^rd and 47^th streets (between Madison and 6^th) around 10.  

  The parade starts at 11:30am; ends at 3pm.

  Main locations along route: of 47^th – 72^nd streets: Formation area above.

  St. Patrick’s Cathedral (50^th – 51^st on 5^th), Apple Store area on 5^th and then the Red Carpet Area (between 68^th and 69^th streets).

• We will schedule a post-parade critique and lecture.

“I am a tourist." – Garry Winogrand

e head to our special dinner location Electric Lemon, a true New York City culinary event. The atmosphere is stunning; food is absolutely delicious and it’s quiet enough for great conversation.

Street Philosophies

This intensive workshop will help you find your own unique vision and street style through assignments created to get you past photographic fears and cliches to capturing lyrical, poetic and decisive moments that communicate the energy of the parade. 

We will do a pre-workshop zoom meeting and lecture so we can hit the ground running during the workshop. There will also be a two-hour post workshop zoom class and critique giving you plenty of time for a thorough final edit. 

Limiting the participants to 4 allows us to tailor this workshop to meet the needs of each participant. Lectures and assignments will be personalized to push you forward in your work.

Street Tech

You will talk street-tech with Steve, who will give you their minimalist view on gear along with a simplified shooting process to maximizing your response time to capture decisive moments. Steve’s street tools include Nikon Gear, with a carefully curated selection of lenses; but he is familiar with a wide range of equipment to help you maximize your mirror-less, compact, rangefinder, DSLR or even your camera phone for compelling street images.

We will talk lenses, auto focus, zone focusing, shooting form the hip, using live view, flash and a host of other tips, tricks, distractions and ideas that will improve your work dramatically. Along with gear choices you will learn best practices of handling yourself on the street, approaching strangers, and dealing with constantly changing variables. It’s a street photography workshop but the lessons learned will benefit you in all genres of image-making.

Monday October 13th: The Parade!

• 11am: Columbus Day Parade.

  Floats, bands and groups start lining up between 43^rd and 47^th streets (between Madison and 6^th) around 10.  

  The parade starts at 11:30am; ends at 3pm.

  Main locations along route: of 47^th – 72^nd streets: Formation area above.

  St. Patrick’s Cathedral (50^th – 51^st on 5^th), Apple Store area on 5^th and then the Red Carpet Area (between 68^th and 69^th streets).

Our final Zoom Class gives us time to throughly edit your work from the parade. Steve will ask for up to 60 of your best images from which you create a 20 picture narrative. Steve will create his 20 image narrative from your work and we will compare our selections in the post-workshop critique and lecture. 

“I am a tourist." – Garry Winogrand

Testimonials

Gary Niederpruem, Chicago

“What a fabulous experience. I learned more about photography in one week than I had in 5 years. Steve is very knowledgable about the technical side as well as composition. He is very patient, gives excellent feedback and will work one on one with you on any photography subject you want. I asked him for help on night photography and at 10 PM he was out on the streets of Havana with me with step by step instructions on how to take the shot. 5 star plus rating!!”

Anna Blanco, New York City

“Best workshop I’ve ever taken! Steve is not only a great photographer, he is also a terrific teacher. He is patient and very hands- on. In some workshops the instructor sends students out to shoot after a short lecture–Steve goes out with his students, coaching them throughout the process. His course is well organized and covers diverse topics. He is funny and engaging and generous with his time and knowledge. I had SO MUCH fun and am ready to sign up for the next one. Highly recommended!”

Anne Dunford, Ithaca, New York

"My week in Steve’s Street Shooting workshop challenged me tremendously. There’s nothing like taking your work apart and putting it back together with new vision to make you a better photographer. If you take this workshop, I guarantee you will see the world differently at the end."

Paul Lavergne, San Juan, PR

"Steve’s passion for photography is contagious and his teaching abilities and knowledge extraordinary! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in photography."

Chapman Solomon, Mountain View, CA

“Participating in the NYC Street Photography Workshop was an enriching and exhilarating experience. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to improve my skills. Steve’s curriculum and hands on approach offered me an opportunity to learn new techniques, add some creativity and visualize subject matter from another perspective. Each day presented abundant photo opportunities, resulting with the capture of some amazing images, exceeding my greatest expectations.”

Stephen Sholl, New York City

"Not only is Steve a great photographer, he is also a caring, compassionate person as well. He is constantly trying to help participants achieve their photographic goals in a gentle, caring, and sincere manner. Sadly, the critiques of my work were very helpful. Steve was right-on in terms of his suggestions to better my work. The totality of the workshop was terrific, primarily because the parts were all excellent as well. Choice of shooting locations, image reviews, suggestions, videos shown, and galleries visited were all great. Steve also promoted wonderful interactions among the participants. The venue was perfect for the workshop. you could spread out, leave our things there, use the facilities, and eat the goodies provided. You know you’re in good hands with Steve! An outstanding workshop!!"

Steve Lavelle, London

"This is an outstanding workshop, led by a world-class photographer. It is impossible to spend time in a room with Steve Simon and not be inspired to get out there and make great images …I had high expectations and you exceeded them…Steve is very personable, articulate and passionate about photography, very welcoming with a warm, engaging personality. Steve’s style is outstanding. I knew of Steve from the TWiP podcast and would have attended if he was talking about how to watch paint dry…”

Oscar Piñeyro, Dallas

"I just spent the last three days with Steve Simon, What a wonderful experience, the best time spent in a workshop ever. Steve is a perfectionist, every presentation not only had spectacular photography but also the perfect music to enhance the mood, a roller coaster of emotions. He cannot hide his journalistic background every single image tells a story. His technique is flawless; his teaching patience unparalleled. I am eager to start a new chapter of my photography applying what Steve taught me in the last few days."