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.

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.”

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.

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.

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