Holiday Lights in NYC with Joe McNally & Ari Espay

New York City is magical during the holidays. The tree at Rockefeller Center is one of the world's most beloved holiday images. Adorned with tens of thousands of lights and a Swarovski crystal star, it's an eye-catching testament to the Christmas spirit—and its roots in the Great Depression (the first version of the tree included tin cans among its ornaments) reflect New Yorkers' famous optimism and determination. Festive holiday displays throughout the five boroughs create an unparalleled environment of celebration and joy.

This workshop incorporates a mix of photographic learning and discussion in the classroom, as well as exploration and practice out in the field. Most days include a photo shoot in the field, hands on learning, on location demos, specific assignments to enhance your photographic skills, and edit-and-critique sessions in our designated classroom. The weekend is capped off by a final image presentation to showcase participants’ best or favorite work taken throughout the weekend/week.

You can read more about this workshop on Joe McNally's Blog.

Photography Workshop

DATES | 5 DAYS: December 10 - 14, 2025

This workshop starts on Wednesday evening and ends on Sunday at noon.
PRICE: Participant Rate: $3145 per person

Please note this workshop is TUITION ONLY
WHAT'S INCLUDED?: On location classes, demos, and assistance in the field

3 Classes/edit & critique sessions

2 Dinners

1 Breakfast

Travel, landscape, architecture, and people photography
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?: *Please note: this workshop is tuition only and does NOT include hotels or accommodations or transportation to/from NYC.

Transportation to and from airport

Excursions for Companions (though we will happily help with suggestions and arrangements)

Travel Insurance
OUR LOCATIONS: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree & Skating Rink

SantaCon & Times Square

Photo walk through Lower Manhattan including the Oculus & Brookfield Plaza/Winter Garden

The Windows of 5th Ave

Central Park & Wollman Rink

Little Italy & Chinatown

*These locations are tentative and may change depending upon spontaneous photographic opportunities
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR?: Amateur, enthusiast, and semi-pro photographers looking to build their portfolio

Photographers who love travel and explore big cities

Photographers with a desire to learn more about light and exposure

Photographers interested in working with people and learning how to street shoot

DSLR, mirrorless, compact camera users

There is a fair amount of walking in this workshop
TRAVEL INSURANCE: We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance for your trip. Aside from medical care, travel insurance can protect you in the case of lost or stolen luggage, equipment, and personal effects, trip cancellation, personal liability, funeral expenses (we don't mean to sound morbid, but dying overseas can be very, very expensive), emergency dental treatment and evacuation back to your country of residence. All that being said, please read the policy carefully (especially the exclusions) to make sure that it covers what you will need, especially trip cancellation.
HOW DO I REGISTER?: We provide personalized service and you can sign up for a workshop by emailing us directly at liza@lizapoliti.com

THE TEAM

Joe McNally

Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning photographer whose prolific career includes assignments in 70 countries. McNally won the first Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Journalistic Impact for a LIFE coverage titled, “The Panorama of War.” He has been honored numerous times by Communication Arts, PDN, Graphis, American Photo, POY, and The World Press Photo Foundation. A contributor to National Geographic magazine for more than two decades, Joe has published numerous cover stories, including "The Future of Flying" (December 2003). His assignments have taken him from the heart of India's Diwali celebrations to the deserts of the Middle East to China's Great Wall. He regularly writes a popular, occasionally irreverent blog (joemcnally.com/blog) about the travails, tribulations, oddities and high moments of being a photographer.

More about Joe

Ari Espay & Liza Politi

Fancy Girl Street Boy Productions (FGSB) launched in December 2004. We have shot documentary pieces, campaigns and editorial essays for magazines in the US and all over Latin America, as well as portraits for internationally known actors, Emmy Award winning directors, Broadway performers, Presidents, politicians and high profile business people. We have also produced films for PBS. In addition to shooting, for more than a decade, we produced workshops for Santa Fe and photography expeditions for National Geographic. Since then, we have run more than 100 workshops in 22 countries around the globe.

More about Ari & Liza

Additional Information

WEATHER | SUNRISE/SUNSET: December – Temps 44/31 F

Sunrise 7:10am | Sunset 4:30pm
TRAVEL INFO: Airports: JFK, Newark, La Guardia

We will be using public transportation to get to some locations and will walk to others.
FUN FACTS: Be sure to dress warmly as NYC weather in December can easily drop to freezing, with the average snowfall for the month being 5 inches.

Typically, more than 50,000 multi-colored LEDs (it's also green!) wrap around and around the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. That equals approximately 5 miles of wire—and a lot of work to string the lights.

In Central Park you'll find two ice skating rinks. The Wollerman Rink is on the east side, close to Central Park Zoo, and Lasker Rink is in the middle of the park.

New York City's most popular Christmas show is undoubtedly the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring the famous Rockettes. Visitors have been treated to a magical performance featuring traditional Christmas scenes, dancing, singing, and an original musical score for over 80 years. Constructed between 1932 and 1940 and featuring a stunning Art Deco style, this is a famous landmark that everyone should visit at least once.

MORE INFORMATION & FAQs