Shoot New York City

What It Is and Where It Operates

Shoot New York City is a one-person business: the footer says it "is a trading name of Leanne Staples, who holds a current Sightseeing Guide licence issued by the City of New York's Department of Consumer Affairs." The site presents Staples as the guide on every tour and workshop, and all of them are in New York City. The homepage introduces her as "an independent licensed New York City tour guide, photographer, artist and writer" who specializes in "unique, off the beaten track sightseeing and photography tours, as well as group street photography workshops throughout New York City." It says she has "been providing tours and workshops for more than 17 years to individuals, small and large groups, and even schools," and that "Tours and workshops can be arranged in Harlem, Coney Island, Bushwick, Long Island City, Dumbo and many other neighborhoods throughout all of NYC's five Boroughs."

The contact block sums up the model: "From your initial enquiry to the day of your experience, you'll deal directly with me." It promises "No agents, no faceless corporations" and "just personal service and local expertise, from an independent small business."

Group Street Photography Workshops

The group workshops are the scheduled side of the business. The workshops page calls them "a fun, hands-on way to improve your skills while exploring some of New York City's most vibrant neighborhoods," adds that they "run throughout the year," and says "No two workshops are the same." Every listing carries the same core description: "a 4 hour street photography workshop" that "is limited to 5 people," where "We spend the entire time on the street shooting, discussing and reviewing," and "No matter what your level of experience is, amateur to professional, there's something for everyone."

The calendar shows which neighborhoods rotate through. Recent and upcoming dates include Midtown West (listed as "aka Hell's Kitchen"), Midtown Manhattan, Soho, Chinatown and Harlem, plus Coney Island, a Brighton Beach and Coney Island day, and a Coney Island Mermaid Parade workshop in June. The April 25 Soho date runs under the title "Exploring Styles & Techniques in Street - Soho Workshop." Most sessions are on Saturdays or Sundays and start around midday; the Soho workshop on October 4, 2026, for example, runs from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The August 15 Coney Island workshop lists its meeting point as "Times Square 42nd Street & Seventh Avenue," and the Coney Island listings note that "The transportation time to Coney Island is about 45 minutes."

A second group format runs online. The Group Online Street Photo Reviews "are limited to 4 photographers that present 5 photos each and everyone comments on each other's photos," and the page says "It is 2 ½ hours online"; the September 15, 2026 session runs from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

Private Tours and Workshops

For anyone who cannot make a scheduled date, the workshops page points to the private option. The private tours page says these "are tailored to you and available for individuals or private groups" and that "every experience is customized to your interests and skill level," whether the interest is "street photography, urban landscapes, street art, abstract photography, or sightseeing." Photography is her specialty, but she also offers "private sightseeing tours for visitors who want to discover New York City's iconic landmarks, history, and culture," and the page says "All tour options are suitable for photographers and non-photographers alike."

The sample tours listed are Brooklyn Bridge, Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge Park; Bushwick and Williamsburg; Chelsea, Meatpacking District and Highline Park; Chinatown, Manhattan Bridge and Lower East Side; Coney Island and Little Odessa; East Village, Alphabet City and Lower East Side; Harlem and El Barrio; an Iconic New York City Tour; Jackson Heights, Queens; Lower Manhattan, Wall Street and Staten Island Ferry; and Soho and Greenwich Village. There is also a listing for Walking Photo and Sightseeing Tours for School Groups. The page calls these "just a sample of the places we can explore" and says times shown "are the minimum recommended to fully experience each area, but longer tours can always be arranged."

How a Session Runs

The homepage says tours and workshops "can be customized to your particular desires including urban landscape, abstract, street photography and graffiti tours," and that participants "will also learn about some of NYC's interesting facts and history, and for those that need it, gain valuable assistance with composition and basic camera functions." It describes the street workshops as catering "to photographers of all levels" and calls them "ideal for visitors to NYC and New Yorkers alike." Tours "run rain or shine, except in extreme weather." Her guiding line is "Wherever we visit, it's always about the spirit of place."

Her story page explains the approach. She began on hop-on hop-off buses for other tour companies, found the scripts "uninspiring," and "felt that being a tour guide should be about dialogue rather than a monologue." The site also links an interview she gave to BronxNet Television. The homepage shows reviews the site has selected, including one from Rick in Ohio who booked a second time "another area of the City," and one from Paolo in Lombardy who says she "taught me how to see New York from a different perspective."

Booking and Terms

Booking is by inquiry. The site asks visitors to "complete the contact form below or email info@shootnewyorkcity.com" to discuss options and book, and says "Gift certificates are also available," with a Gift Certificates page in the menu. There is also an SNYC Shop, an Instagram account and a newsletter on Substack.

What the Site Leaves Open

The site does not publish a price for the group workshops, the online reviews or the private tours, so cost has to be asked for. It does not state a cancellation, refund or rain-date policy beyond "rain or shine, except in extreme weather," and it does not name payment methods or a deposit. A meeting point is given only for one Coney Island workshop; the other listings give at most the neighborhood. The site does not say what camera gear participants should bring, whether a phone is enough, or what languages Staples guides in. Accessibility is not addressed.

Shoot New York City suits photographers who want a small group (5 at most) and a full afternoon on the street with a licensed local guide, and visitors who would rather have a customized private walk in Harlem, Jackson Heights or Coney Island than a bus tour. It suits less well anyone who wants to book and pay instantly, since every booking starts with an inquiry.