After the NYC Marathon: NYC Races Worth Shooting Next

The marathon is one day. New York runs races every weekend, and the photographers who keep listing work between the big days are the ones whose galleries keep selling. Here is your next race season, from the Turkey Trots to the Brooklyn Half.

Why keep shooting after the marathon

Runners search for photos after every race, not only the famous ones. A steady calendar of smaller events builds a library, a following and repeat customers, and the same run clubs show up again and again. Listing your marathon set is the start. The next race is where it compounds. For the long view, see How to Turn One Race Weekend Into a Month of Photo Sales.

Check every date with the organizer

Dates and course details below come from race listings and can change. Confirm each one on the organizer's site before you plan around it. Also ask each organizer what its photography policy is. Many races have an official photographer, and selling photos can require permission. It is one email, and it protects your gallery.

Turkey Trot season (November)

Central Park Turkey Trot 4 Miler: listed for Saturday, November 21, 2026, with a 9 a.m. start at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. Costumes and families make for relaxed, friendly frames.
NYC Turkey Trot Half Marathon and 5K: listed for Saturday, November 28, 2026, in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, starting near the Queens Museum and the Unisphere. The Unisphere is a strong landmark background.
Riverside Church Turkey Trot: a 5K listed for Randall's Island Park in Manhattan in November.

Thanksgiving itself is Thursday, November 26, 2026, so look for neighborhood turkey trots that morning as well.

NYRR winter races and the weekly Open Run

New York Road Runners runs races through the winter, many of them in Central Park. Listings show items such as the NYRR Cross Country Series #3 at Van Cortlandt Park on November 15, the NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K around December 5 and the NYRR Midnight Run on New Year's Eve in Central Park. Check NYRR's calendar for exact dates, start times and rules.

For a steady source of shoots, look at NYRR Open Run: free, weekly 5K runs led by the community in neighborhood parks across the city, listed on the NYC Parks calendar for Saturday mornings. The crowd is regular, which means repeat customers and an easy way to meet run-club leaders. Partnerships are covered in How Photographers Can Partner with NYC Run Clubs for Steady Shoot Opportunities.

The Brooklyn Half (spring 2027)

There are two big Brooklyn halves. The NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon is listed for Sunday, April 25, 2027, starting at McCarren Park in Williamsburg and finishing in Prospect Park. NYRR also holds a Brooklyn Half from Prospect Park to the Coney Island boardwalk, listed for May 16 in 2026. Confirm the 2027 date and course with NYRR. Either race offers a finish in a famous park, a big field and strong crowd energy.

The United Airlines NYC Half, from Brooklyn to Central Park, is also on the spring calendar, listed for mid March 2027.

Build your season calendar

List the races above on one calendar with the organizer's contact.
Email each organizer about photography rules and credentials.
Pick one vantage point per race and name the session for the street and mile.
Shoot, cull and upload within a day or two while runners are still searching.
Share the link with the run clubs and charity teams you shot.

Keep listing your work

Every race gallery is a new page runners can find by sport, place and date. Upload your next set to Surf Snaps and it joins your earlier galleries, all searchable on Explore. Joining and uploading are free, there is no storage bill, and the Surf Snaps fee of up to 10% only applies when a photo sells. You can pass it on to the customer. Payouts arrive monthly by bank transfer. For more, read Best NYC Races to Shoot for Photographers Looking to Sell Race Photos, and see how a smaller race looks in this year's Grete's Great Gallop 10K gallery.

NYC Race Photography FAQ

Which NYC races are worth shooting after the marathon?

Turkey trots in November, NYRR races and Open Runs through the winter, and the Brooklyn Half and NYC Half in spring.

When is the Brooklyn Half in 2027?

The NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half is listed for April 25, 2027. NYRR's Brooklyn Half date for 2027 should be confirmed with NYRR.

Do I need permission to sell photos from NYC races?

It depends on the organizer. Many races have official photographers, so ask before you list photos for sale.

How do I keep my gallery sales going between races?

List every set, share links with clubs and teams, and cover recurring events where the same runners return.

How do runners find my photos?

They search Surf Snaps Explore by sport, place and date, without needing to know your name.