dance photography

Elevate Your Dance Studio Brand with Professional Photos

dance photography

Coordinating professional photos for your dance studio can be a big commitment. Finding a date that works for everyone amidst packed schedules can prove to be a challenge, but I promise it is worth the investment of your time and energy. Following are a handful of benefits you can expect and things to look for when making the time to coordinate schedules and book group and individual sessions for the dancers at your studio.

Cohesive Aesthetic

Hiring a professional photographer to take both group as well as individual photos of your dancers ensures that you will have a cohesive aesthetic in the photos that you use for marketing across all platforms. Each photographer has their own unique shooting and editing style. Research photographers in your area, and find someone whose style fits with your branding and who you trust to partner with. It is essential that the dancers, parents, and studio feel comfortable with the photographer they choose and that the photographer is aware of the importance of camera angles and positioning while posing and photographing dancers. The photographer should also be sensitive to what is shared on social media and who is following their social media accounts. I regularly review my followers list and remove and block any suspicious people to protect my clients and myself. My clients’ safety will always take precedence over social media follows and likes.

dancer wearing black pants and blue tank posing in front of rock fountain

Variety is the spice of life

City dance photo sessions lend to lots of variety in your photos due to the concentrated areas of endless backdrops. There is a fine balance in choosing the appropriate location that does not detract from the dancer. While wall murals are beautiful, there are times when they are too busy and do not pair well with the purpose we are trying to achieve. When used properly, wall murals make a great contribution to the photo. If you use a wall mural as the backdrop for your photos, it is considered best practice is to credit the wall mural artist if you are able to. When location scouting for city dance photo sessions, I select locations that do not compete with your dancers but rather allow their talents to shine. Taking color theory into consideration, we find backdrops that highlight the dancer and their attire and really make the photos “pop.”

little dancer in teal costume standing in front of bright yellow wall

Year-Round Content

Your gallery of group and individual photos can be used for your website, marketing, promotions, and social media posts year-round. Individual photos are great for birthday shout-outs and recognition of accolades throughout the dance season. Group photos are a great way to display team unity as well as add dimension to your photos. Several subjects in a photo lends to opportunities for endless posing options. Scheduling group and individual photos before busy season allows you to be ahead of the game. Once dance season is in full swing, you don’t have time to dedicate to taking photos and creating content. Having a readily accessible gallery allows you to focus on teaching and preparing your dancers for performances and competitions while easily accessing the photos in your gallery as needed for social media posts and communication.

row of little dancers in hot pink skirts and checkered tops

Group savings

Scheduling team and individual photos on the same day provides group saving benefits, as we can maximize productivity and photos in a solid block of time. Late Spring through early Fall are the best times to schedule outdoor city dance photo sessions to avoid cold, inclement weather. If you prefer a studio setting, those photo sessions can be planned any time of year. Planning far enough in advance to accommodate and coordinate schedules is ideal to allow for as many dancers as possible to participate. For those dancers who would like more time than what is allotted during the group and individual photos day, and for those who desire a larger gallery of photos, a separate session can be scheduled for a different day. The Modern Minimalist Session is a great fit for dancers who would like this option.

dance sisters wearing white tops and pants sitting on ledge with green trees in backdrop

Confidence booster

Dancers will experience a confidence boost when they see their talents showcased in visual form. I love sharing the back of my camera at these sessions, so the dancers can get a glimpse of what we captured. This also gives them the opportunity to critique and make any tweaks to their poses or action shots, so they are absolutely confident and happy with the final product that goes in their gallery.

Have you hired a professional photographer for your dance studio? I would be thrilled to help you get photos that you and your dancers love. If you are ready to book a session for your dance team, contact me at katie@katrinawinterphotography.com, and we can set up a time to chat and come up with a custom plan and package for your studio.

XO, Katie

summer-dance-photoshoot-city

Tips for Action and Dance Photography

dance photography

It’s been said time and again that the best camera is the one that’s in your hands, and for the most part, that’s true. BUT, there are a few things to consider to ensure that you are capturing stellar action shots.

1. Equipment. Every photographer will have their personal preference and equipment of choice. The camera and lens that I currently use have been around for a bit, and there are mirrorless cameras out there that in many ways can outperform my DSLR, but for now, my trusty Canon 5D Mark IV and 24-70mm f/2.8 lens are my go-to choice when it comes to capturing dance and action photos. The Canon 24-70 f/2.8 is a fast lens that grabs and holds focus and has been reliable time and again for capturing and freezing motion. The Canon 70-200mm is also an excellent sports lens, but is quite heavy and not for everyone. Camera settings that are essential for capturing action shots are high speed continuous shooting and high shutter speeds. I set my shutter speed at a minimum of 1/500 (preferably 1/1200+ if the lighting allows). The faster shutter speeds freeze the motion, so your dancer’s action is sharp and not blurred.

2. Choose a location that does not compete with the dancer. The focus of your image is the dancer. Choose locations that enhance and allow the dancer to be the main focus. Architecture and cities are my go-to location of choice for dance photography. The dancer doesn’t get “lost” in abundant florals in nature but rather stands out and strikes a beautiful balance of strength and grace among tall buildings and architecture.

dancer-c-jump

3. Focus on their strengths. Every dancer is unique and will have different strengths that they want to accentuate and have captured. Ask them what their favorite moves, jumps, leaps, or poses are, and highlight those strengths in the images you capture for them.

summer-dance-photoshoot-city

4. Anticipate the movement. Communicate with the dancer and plan what motion or jump they are going to be doing, so you can anticipate where they will be performing the move. This allows you to have your focus points and settings selected ahead of time, which will prevent your dancer from having to repeatedly jump and pose before the perfect shot is accomplished.

ballerina-pointe-shoes-green-leo-ivy-wall

5. Count down for them. This is another step that helps both you as the photographer and the dancer to prevent the necessity of repeated jumps and more. You are both in sync with the motion and timing, so it can be perfectly captured. Are you ready to get out there and capture some dance photos? 5, 6, 7, 8, GO!