Private NYC Photo Tours — One-on-One Street Photography Walks
See NYC Through the Eyes of a Street Photographer and Lifelong New Yorker
Are you traveling to New York – or are you a local who wants to focus on street photography?
Want to learn the best places to photograph the sites, cityscapes, and people of the city – or do you want to spend an entire day learning the tips, tricks, and secrets of a street photographer?
Join me on a private, customizable NYC photo tour (beginner-to-advanced), with optional street photography coaching.
Now booking 2026 private tours.
Book a private tour, any day of the year.
Spend three hours exploring New York with a lifelong New Yorker and certified guide — every tour is private and built entirely around you, beginner to advanced. $350.
All tours customizable · Gift certificates available
Prefer to learn in a group?
Capture the Real New York
Visit both iconic and off-the-beaten-path locations—see sides of the true New York that would be difficult to find on your own.
James is a professional photographer and certified New York history guide, so in addition to photography instruction, you will learn about the history of the neighborhoods, architecture, and people you photograph.
All New York photography tours are customized to your exact needs, interests, schedule, and skill level and are private for you, your family, or your traveling group.
In addition, when you sign up for the course, you will receive James’ downloadable e-books, The Essentials of Street Photography and Street Photography Conversations to brush up on your street photography before the photo tour and workshop begins.
Most Popular Private Routes
Downtown Route
My most popular tour captures the energy of downtown New York. It begins on Broadway and Houston, heads south through SoHo, exploring Canal Street, Cortlandt Alley, the City Hall District, and Chinatown (optional addition of the Manhattan Bridge or Lower East Side).
While there are iconic views, this is less of the iconic ‘Chrysler Building’ skyscraper New York, instead focusing on beautiful old buildings, incredible street photography with some of the most interesting people in the city, graffiti, colored walls, incredible alleys, gambling Chinese men and women in Columbus Park, and much more.
The wide variety of inspiration on this route makes it an ideal walking tour — and ideal for teaching.
Midtown Route
My second most popular tour is the ‘iconic’ and ‘famous’ New York. It begins by exploring Central Park, the Mall, the Lake, Bow Bridge, the Pond, Bethesda Terrace, Sheep Meadow, Gapstow Bridge, and Cat Rock, with some of the most beautiful views in New York, as well as ample opportunity to people watch.
We then head down 5th avenue for some Winogrand and Cunningham-eque street photography, exploring Rockefeller Center, the Diamond District, and ending with Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, Grand Central and the Chrysler Building.
Brooklyn Route
I have a new popular route which focuses on Brooklyn’s industrial waterfront.
We begin by exploring the grand Greenwood Cemetery, the highest point in Brooklyn—one of the most beautiful places in New York with fantastic views of the city.
We then walk to the Sunset Park waterfront, a spectacular beat-up and beautiful area of old factories of all types, old buildings, quirky things, a defunct railway, the car repair district, Industry City, and a gorgeous waterfront with incredible views of Manhattan (and a great waterfront Park to see them from).
Gallery
About James: James has lived in New York for his entire life (besides a 5 year stint in Madison, Wisconsin, but he doesn’t want to talk about that.) Like many Manhattanites, he is a terrible driver and cook, but he’s an excellent navigator.
He has been practicing the art of street photography since he first picked up a camera, he is a documentary photographer and has worked as a portrait and fine art photographer in New York since 2005, has had a regular feature for the NY Daily News reporting on different neighborhoods of the City through street portraits and interviews with locals, is a certified New York tour and workshop guide (so get ready for some history!), and has sold and licensed his photography of New York to collectors and companies from around the world.
James is the author of The Essentials of Street Photography and The New York Photographer’s Travel Guide.
Watch at 10-minute documentary about James’ work:
5.0 — based on 67 Google reviews
James’ photography tour of New York is an absolute must. It was our first time in the city, and his tour was the first thing on our list.
Andrew & Mazza
“Without a doubt, the highlight of our four days in New York.”
Bruce & Irina
“He opened my eyes to a whole new type of photography — the art of taking photos of people in their natural state and making my photos say something.”
“A totally unique day that really added to a great holiday. The kids both had a great time — and they’re hard to impress!”
“James truly has a gift for being both a fantastic photographer and a superb teacher.”
“I can’t imagine a better introduction than James provided… fun, enlightening, and fascinating.”
Joe Routon
I leaned toward photography as a hobby because it helped capture memories from the countries I've been able to visit, but also to see the world around me more thoroughly, more carefully. I needed a nudge to start taking street photographs. James provided that nudge.
What you will / can learn:
- The best locations to photograph iconic buildings, landmarks, and cityscapes
- The best spots for photographing people on the street
- Camera settings and zone focusing — the technical foundation, at any level
- Street photography technique — the tricks for close-up, candid portraits
- Light and composition — building a stronger, more intentional frame
- Gesture, expression, and emotion — capturing the moment and telling stories with your images
- Street portraiture — approaching strangers with confidence and respect
- Learning to see — noticing the small, overlooked things most people walk right past
- Reading the city — its history, its layers, and the ideas beneath the image
- The great street photographers — the lineage worth learning from
- Finding your own voice — making photographs that say something that’s yours
- And, of course, everything is tailored to your skill level and what you want to shoot
Areas covered
While each workshop is different, the most popular neighborhoods covered are SoHo, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, Central Park, Midtown, the Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Waterfront, Coney Island, Bushwick, Williamsburg, the City Hall District, and Nolita/Little Italy.
Now let’s talk about you
What do you like to shoot? What would you like to improve? What do you want to see and photograph when you come to New York? What type of prints would you like to return from your trip with?
Let’s talk further. My favorite part of this job is getting to know photographers from all over the world!
Ready to explore New York with your camera?
Book a private tour anytime — or join the list for the next group workshop dates.
Or reach James directly: [email protected]
Not sure who to book? See my honest guide to the best NYC photo tours and street photography workshops, where I compare my workshops with the city’s other top teachers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are your tours beginner friendly?
I do workshops with everyone from groups of teenagers to more seasoned photographers. From people with iPhones, showing how to work brand new cameras, or with more advanced photographers looking for a detailed tour.
All levels are welcome—I tailor the route and coaching to your experience and interests.
Do you also offer group workshops?
Yes — if you’d rather learn alongside other photographers see: Group Street Photography Workshops (New York).
How long is a typical session?
Most private sessions run up to 3 hours; small group workshops are up to 4–5 hours; weekend group workshops are two (or three) days, 9:30am–5pm.
Which neighborhoods do you cover?
Common routes include SoHo, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, City Hall, Midtown, Central Park, and Brooklyn options are available.
Do you teach street photography specifically?
Yes. I’m a lifelong street photographer, educator, photo book hound, and NYC history guide. I typically blend all of these together into my tours; I’ll tailor the amount of street photography education and focus to your interests and needs.
Is there a night street photography option?
Yes. I love photographing the city at night; there are few things more relaxing and inspiring. Night workshops are available and fantastic for learning to handle low light, color, and motion. We’ll balance safe, lively areas with interesting light.
What should I bring?
Any camera (phone to pro), a charged battery, an empty memory card, and comfortable shoes. No need for a tripod unless specifically recommended. The goal is to travel light.
Will we review images and get feedback?
For an additional $50 fee, I will review your top 20 images from the day in a written and detailed way. Expect in-the-field coaching. Longer critiques can be added on request.
What if it rains?
Light rain is amazing to shoot in, but heavy rain sucks. I’ll contact you in the week of the workshop to review the weather and am very flexible with cancellations, reschedules, and refunds. While I love shooting in the rain, you don’t have to.
How big are the private tours?
We can handle up to 10 people for a private walking tour, although exceptions can be made for more. But the less people, the more individual instruction I am able to give. I can handle 10 and under quite well.
How much does it cost?
Rates vary by private vs. group, duration, and customization. Please see the Private and Group workshop pages for current pricing, or email for a quick quote.
Is the tour accessible?
Yes, but please alert me in advance to your mobility needs—although I know the areas so well that I am good at pivoting in the moment. We can plan slower routes, shorter distances, and more seated pauses or coffee breaks.
