These are the tried-and-true tips I’ve gathered over the last 20 years of photographing dancers!
Pick 3-5 poses or moves you want to capture.
That way, you can practice and feel confident in those moves before you get in front of the camera!
When choosing your moves, think about your strengths as a dancer. Are you great at jumps and leaps? Is flexibility your thing? Pick moves that showcase your talents and what you love to do!
Think about how you want your hair.
Do you want your hair in a ballerina bun, a recital updo, flowing free?
Personally, I love when people leave their hair down for their dance photos. Capturing your hair flying mid-leap really adds to the sense of movement in the pictures!
But, if you’re concerned about your hair being too wild and distracting from your perfectly executed moves, put it up in a bun or ponytail to keep it under control for photos.
Pack everything the night before.
The last thing you want is to forget a shoe or a piece of your costume or an earring. Pack the night before so you can focus on doing your hair and makeup right before the shoot!
Bring your hair and makeup products to the session, just in case.
You never know when you’ll need to touch up lipstick or reapply hairspray to control flyaways.
Stretch and drink water right before the shoot begins.
You should warm up for your dance portrait session like you would for any performance! You want to be feeling your best so you can really give it all you’ve got during the shoot, like hitting a difficult pose or nailing a flawless jump.
And if you don’t nail it on the first try, don’t worry! Unlike recital, you’ll get multiple chances to attempt each move.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to me!
I’m here to be a resource and a guide throughout this process! Send me your questions and thoughts as they come up. I respond to text, phone, or email - but the fastest way to reach me will always be text.
Phone: 319-366-8689