Why Every Photographer Should Go to ChaShaMa: The Wildest Art Party in NYC
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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.
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 a good 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.