Dabour Photography Dance Ambassadors
NYC Skyline Dance Portrait Experience
Liberty State Park
I’m excited to invite our Dabour Photography Dance Ambassadors to a special destination portrait experience at Liberty State Park in Jersey City!
We’ll create dance portraits with the Lower Manhattan skyline as our backdrop, along with photographs around the historic railroad terminal, waterfront and open lawns. Most of the session will focus on individual portraits, with opportunities for small groups and a full ambassador group photograph.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Rain date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 4:00–7:30 p.m.
Meeting location: Statue of Liberty Parking Lot #8 at Liberty State Park
Open the meeting location in Google Maps
Please allow plenty of travel time. If you are traveling from western New Jersey, please allow at least 90 minutes to reach Liberty State Park. Weekend traffic, road construction, an accident or congestion approaching Jersey City can add unexpected time. Please plan accordingly so you are parked and gathered with the group by 4:00 p.m.
Please plan to remain with us for the entire outing. Our route will form a walking loop through the northern section of the park and return us to Parking Lot #8 at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Meeting at 4:00 will give us time to organize everyone, walk between locations safely and complete the planned portraits without rushing. We should still have increasingly beautiful light as the evening progresses.
Attendance Confirmation Required
I need a response from every dancer—even if you are unable to attend.
Please reply to your invitation email no later than Wednesday, September 9 and include:
- Dancer’s name
- Whether the dancer will attend
- Whether a parent will attend
- Whether the dancer is carpooling
- If attending without a parent, the name of the family or responsible adult with whom the dancer will be traveling
Please confirm even if the answer is no. Knowing the final headcount will help us move efficiently and make sure every attending dancer receives meaningful portrait time.
Parents, Transportation and Carpooling
Parents are encouraged to come along. Carpooling is highly recommended because it will reduce the number of vehicles and help dancers remain together while traveling to and from the park.
If a dancer attends without a parent, I need to know in advance exactly who will be providing transportation and which adult will be responsible for that dancer during the trip.
What to Expect
We will move through several portrait locations near the historic CRRNJ Terminal, Empty Sky Memorial, the waterfront and the nearby fields.
The experience will include:
- Individual dance portraits
- Small-group combinations when time and location permit
- A full ambassador group portrait
- Skyline, waterfront, architectural and open-lawn settings
- A moderate amount of walking between locations
We may move fairly quickly, especially if attendance is high. Having everyone arrive prepared will help ensure that each dancer receives meaningful individual portrait time.
Because portions of the route are near the waterfront, dancers must remain with the group and stay on established lawns, paths and promenades.
What to Wear
Please arrive camera-ready and dressed in your first portrait look.
Private changing locations are extremely limited, so I recommend wearing a base leotard that can be paired with different skirts, warmups, jackets or other pieces. These quick additions and removals will provide variety without requiring a complete outfit change.
Dancers may bring:
- One base leotard
- A few easily changed skirts or layers
- Pointe shoes, ballet shoes or other appropriate dance shoes
- A warmup, jacket or simple accessory that changes the look
- A towel or portable pop-up changing tube if additional privacy may be needed
Please keep wardrobe choices manageable. Everything must be carried during the walking loop, so this is not the best outing for multiple large costume bags or complicated outfit changes.
Restroom and Changing Information
There is one public restroom in this area of the park. It is functional, but it is not an ultra-modern facility and may not be the most comfortable or convenient place for changing clothes.
Please do not depend on the restroom as a private changing room.
The easiest approach will be to arrive ready for your first photographs and use a base leotard with pieces that can be added or removed quickly. Dancers are also welcome to use the familiar towel-changing method or bring a portable changing tube.
What to Bring
Please pack lightly, but remember:
- Comfortable walking shoes for moving between locations
- Dance shoes carried separately and protected from pavement
- A light jacket for cooler waterfront air while waiting
- Water
- A small, easy-to-carry snack
- A compact hair and makeup touch-up kit
- Any quick-change skirts, layers or accessories
- A towel or changing tube, if desired
- A small bag that you can comfortably carry throughout the trip
Even if the afternoon feels warm, it can become cooler and breezier near the water—especially while dancers are waiting rather than actively posing. A light jacket is strongly recommended.
Weather Plan
This experience depends heavily on favorable weather and a clear skyline. I will not hold the session if rain, excessive wind, poor visibility or other conditions would prevent us from creating the photographs we are traveling there to make.
If the September 12 session cannot proceed, our rain date will be Saturday, September 19.
Weather updates and any final schedule decision will be shared directly with participating families.
Before the Trip
Please reply to your invitation email by Wednesday, September 9, confirming whether your dancer will attend.
If your dancer will be coming without a parent, be sure to include the name of the family or responsible adult with whom they will be traveling.
I’m looking forward to creating something very special with our ambassadors against the New York City skyline!