The Coney Island Mermaid Parade with Ari Espay

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade is an incredible event to photograph. A vibrant explosion of color, creativity, and pure New York eccentricity, the Mermaid Parade is a dream subject for photographers. With its surreal costumes, playful seaside energy, and diverse cast of performers, this NYC cultural tradition celebrates imagination, community, and self-expression.

Beyond its visual spectacle, the Mermaid Parade also provides an opportunity to document the stories and spirit of the people who make it come alive. From longtime locals carrying on a legacy to first-time participants boldly expressing themselves, the parade offers intimate, unscripted moments that reveal the heart of Coney Island. For photographers, it’s a chance to preserve a slice of New York history: joyful, gritty, and wonderfully weird.

This weekend workshop incorporates a mix of photographic learning and discussion in the classroom, as well as hands on help while in the field. There is also an edit and critique session the next day to review the images from the day before.

 

Street Photography Workshop

DATES | 3 DAYS

June 19 - 21, 2026   

This workshop starts on Friday evening  and ends on Sunday at 2pm.

*Limited to 8 participants   SOLD OUT/WAITLIST AVAILABLE

 

PRICE

Participant Rate: $1250 per person

Please note this workshop is TUITION ONLY

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • On location class, demo, and assistance in the field
  • 2 Classes/1 edit & critique session
  • 1 Dinner
  • 1 Breakfast
  • Street shooting 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
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary

OUR LOCATIONS

  • Coney Island Mermaid Parade
  • Classes will take place in Lower Manhattan

*Please note that this event takes place rain or shine

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 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 clicking the link below. Please email us with any questions at liza@lizapoliti.com

 

 

Get on the Mermaid Waitlist

THE TEAM

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

June – Temps 86/68 F    

Sunrise 6:00am | Sunset 8:55pm 

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

The Mermaid Parade was started in 1983 by Coney Island USA, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to defend the honor of American popular culture through innovative exhibitions and performances.

 

It's the nation's largest ART parade and it has “no ethnic, religious, or commercial aims. It’s a major New York holiday invented by artists!” It's inspired by Mardi Gras and street names like Mermaid and Neptune Avenues. 

 

Coney Island started out as a seaside resort as in 1824 and became the birthplace of many firsts, including the first enclosed amusement park (Sea Lion Park), the first roller coaster (the Switchback Railway), the first hot dog stand, and even early versions of neon signage.

 

 Originally an island, Coney Island became a peninsula after a 1924 landfill project connected it to mainland Brooklyn.

 

Coney Island has many iconic rides including The Wonder Wheel Ferris wheel which opened in 1920 and is a 150-foot tall landmark.  And the famous wooden roller coaster, The Cyclone, opened in 1927 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988. 

 

MORE INFORMATION & FAQs