ChaShaMa Gala NYC: The Wildest Art Event for Photographers
I watch the calendar every summer for ChaShaMa to host their annual gala and this year I decided instead of dragging my friends, I’d drag a bunch of photographers. Special Thanks to Chashama for giving idle.workshops some tickets to go! This is the photographer event of the year. I cannot stress enough how cool this event is.
Why Every Photographer Should Go to ChaShaMa: The Wildest Art Party in NYC
If you’ve ever wished “I want to go to a party where I can shoot surreal fashion, performance art, neon-lit installations, body paint, and someone on stilts wearing a chandelier”—ChaShaMa is that party. And then some.
Every year, ChaShaMa throws one of the most eccentric, colorful, and absolutely unhinged art experiences in New York City. It’s a fundraiser, it’s a costume gala, it’s a networking fever dream—and for photographers? It’s an all-you-can-shoot buffet.
What is ChaShaMa?
ChaShaMa (pronounced sha-SHA-ma) is a nonprofit that supports artists by transforming unused spaces into studios, galleries, and performance venues. But once a year, they throw a massive art party in Manhattan to raise funds—and chaos—in the most fabulous way possible.
The ChaShaMa Gala is like walking into 200 different photoshoots at once: a mix of immersive art, fashion-as-theater, drag, dance, and people whose entire job is to be fabulous. Expect glow-in-the-dark body paint, beds suspended from ceilings, and impromptu performances that break every rule of the traditional art world.
Why It’s a Photographer’s Playground
No permits, no pressure, just shoot
You’re free to bring your camera and capture everything. Unlike most events where photography is limited or corralled, ChaShaMa wants you to document it all. Share it back with them - They’re very good about tagging the photographer.Lighting setups? Already done for you.
Neon, spotlights, strobes, LEDs—you’ll find every kind of lighting setup you could dream of. Just walk in with your camera and let the light sculpt your shot.Everywhere you look, a character to photograph
It’s part Burning Man, part Met Gala, part dream sequence. One moment you’re capturing an opera singer in a plastic bubble. The next, a cyborg bride voguing with a python.Creative freedom without a client brief
Want to shoot portraits? Fashion editorial? B-roll? Documentary-style chaos? Go for it. The only rule is: don’t be boring.
Pro-Tips for First-Timers
Bring multiple lenses – You’ll want a wide for the immersive installations and a fast prime for portraits. The space is relatively tight and can be dark at times, so the faster the better.
Flash optional, vibe required – On-camera flash can work if you’re bold about it. But ambient light is often part of the story. Be cognizant about performances - Flash can be distracting and while you want that photo, you don’t want to disrupt — just ask them to do a pose after.
Be social – Talk to people. Everyone’s open to collaboration or spontaneous mini-shoots. Models, performance artists, stylists, designers—they’re all just there, in costume, often thrilled to be photographed. Get handles/socials/contact!
Don’t skip the basement – The most surreal installations often live in the lowest-lit corners - scope out EVERYTHING.
✨ Final Thought
ChaShaMa is the kind of event that reminds you why you fell in love with photography in the first place. It’s raw, it’s weird, it’s too much—in the best way possible.
So next time ChaShaMa rolls around, don’t ask, “Is this worth shooting?”
Ask yourself: “Am I ready to capture the weirdest art party in New York?”
Bring your camera. Bring backup batteries and SD cards. Bring your wildest lens.
This is where your portfolio gets weird—in a good way.