Dancer Feature: Hannah Laski | Los Angeles Dance Photographer
Let me tell you about the person who tried to teach a four-year-old how to tap dance on carpet. Over Zoom. During a pandemic.
That person is Hannah Laski — and honestly, they deserve some kind of medal for that alone.
Hannah came into my life as my daughter's ballet and tap teacher when she was just three years old. From the very beginning, Hannah brought this rare combination of patience, warmth, and genuine love for what they do. And when the world shut down and in-person classes disappeared overnight, Hannah showed up in my living room — virtually — and did their absolute best to get a tiny human to stop running headfirst into the couch and learn how to point their toes on a rug. If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about who Hannah is, keep reading. Because it only gets better.
The Journey
Hannah is a Los Angeles-based dancer and artist who has been moving their whole life, training in a multitude of styles. Their early training was rooted right here in LA — at the prestigious Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and Degas Dance Studio — before they went on to earn a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. That's not just a degree. That's years of disciplined, soulful, deeply committed work poured into a craft they love.
Since graduating, Hannah has returned to Los Angeles — teaching, taking class, and doing exactly what the best artists do: staying a student even while being a guide for others.
Dance, for Hannah, has never been just one thing. In their own words:
"Dance has always been a creative outlet for me to explore the depths of myself and to grow a stronger connection to my own body and those around me."
And that journey has kept expanding. Dance has opened doors into choreography, teaching, dance film, and photography — Hannah is a creative who uses movement as a launching point for everything else. That curiosity shows up every single time they step in front of my camera.
What It's Like to Photograph Hannah
I have had Hannah in my lens many times over the years, and every session has its own energy. What stays the same every time? Hannah shows up ready. Ready to play. Ready to explore. Ready to try something unexpected. That willingness is a genuine gift — not every dancer has it, and it changes everything about what we're able to create together.
Hannah also has a style that is entirely, unapologetically their own — funky, expressive, and full of personality. They want that to come through in their photos, not just their technique. And it always does.
We've shot together in the streets of Downtown Los Angeles, at the beach, and out in the ever-changing landscape of the Sepulveda Basin. Each location has pulled something different out of Hannah — that's what happens when you photograph someone over time. You get to watch them evolve, and you get to document it.
One of my favorite details from our basin shoot? The orange socks.
It was a cloudy day (pro tip, don’t be scared of the cloudy day. It creates such beautiful images). Hannah was in all black then all white — clean, neutral, understated. And then: orange socks, just peeking out at the bottom. Against all those muted, washed-out tones of the basin on an overcast morning, that little pop was everything. The orange created such a beautiful contrast — visually interesting, personality-forward, and completely on-brand for Hannah. It also drew the eye right down to their beautiful dancer feet, which — as any dance photographer will tell you — is never a bad thing.
That's not a styling accident. That's someone who knows exactly who they are.
The Scream Heard Round the Dance Photography World
Okay. I have to tell you about the image below.
We were shooting, and Hannah was mid-pose — one hand holding their leg up, the other reaching toward their head — when I had an idea. What if you screamed? I know. It sounds completely chaotic. Hannah trusted me, even while being internally a little skeptical about where I was going with this.
That photo became their favorite picture of themselves ever. And it went on to place second in an extensive dance photography competition.
I think about that moment a lot, because it perfectly captures what I believe about what's possible when there's real trust between a photographer and a subject. Hannah described it beautifully:
"Photography is a collaboration between the subject and the photographer — it's not a one-sided art form."
Yes. That is exactly it. That has always been it.
On Confidence in Front of the Camera
I always ask the dancers I feature what helps them feel most free to express themselves in front of the camera. Hannah's answer stayed with me:
"The support from the person behind the camera is probably what makes me feel most confident to express myself. Having some sort of relationship or connection with the photographer makes me feel safe and respected and allows me to fully express myself."
This is something I pour myself into for every dancer I work with — creating an environment where you feel safe enough to take risks, try the unexpected, and show up as your whole self. It's not about executing a perfect pose. It's about being present enough together to catch something true.
Hannah's Advice for Your Dance Photoshoot
Because Hannah is a teacher at heart, I had to ask for their wisdom. If you're preparing for a dance photography session, here's what they want you to know:
"Think about what kind of energy you want your photos to portray and communicate that with your photographer. Come prepared with some ideas for poses, but also try new things and stay present in the moment. Most of the time, the best photos are the ones that happen unexpectedly."
Intention plus openness. Every time.
A few practical things I'd add to Hannah's advice, having shot with dancers for years:
Know your strengths going in. Come with 5-6 movements or poses you can execute and hold confidently. Your photographer will help shape them for the camera — but you know your body better than anyone.
Think about wardrobe the way Hannah did. Bring variety, bring something with movement (a flowy skirt, an oversized shirt over a leotard), and throw in a little personality. A pop of color against a neutral location — like orange socks on a cloudy day — can be the detail that makes a whole shoot.
Warm up before you arrive. Not just stretch — actually warm up, get your heart rate up, get your body ready to move. You'll have more range and more freedom once we start shooting.
Hannah has always made that feel effortless. I'm grateful for that, and for them.
Come Find Hannah
Want to follow Hannah's creative journey, see their work, or connect with them?
🔗 Hannah Laski — Official Website
Are you a dancer in Los Angeles looking for a photographer who truly understands movement — the technique, yes, but also the emotion, the story, the person behind the steps? I would love to work with you.