How to Nail Your Dance Photoshoot pt1

There are some key things to think about and research once you have decided you are ready to capture your dancing with a professional dance photo session.

In this blog post let’s talk about picking your dance photographer.

Dancer in a green dress in a 4th position in the water in Marina Del Rey

Does the photographer do dance photography? If the answer is yes, do you like the way they capture dancers?

Be sure to check out their Instagram and their website and really take a look at the photos they are posting. Photographers post what they love capturing. My favorite place to photograph dancers is on location. Los Angeles has great beaches, beautiful nature, and fantastic cityscapes and architecture to create beautiful dance images.

I love making the dancer the focus of some of the shots and then blending them or incorporating into the location for others. As a Los Angeles dance Photographer, I feel very fortunate to have so many great topographies to photograph in.

CLICK HERE to explore the hashtag that I use for my dancers on INSTAGRAM

Dancer on pointe reaching to the left with a long black skirt swirling around her

2. Does it seem like the dance photographer has experience photographing the style of dance that you want to present? An experienced dance photographer will probably be able to capture most movement, but may not know all of the nuances of specific techniques.

I live mostly in the Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance worlds, so I may need to ask more questions to a Bollywood or Ballroom dancer about their specific technique and what makes a good photo for them.

Dancer with a mountain behind her with a long skirt blowing in the wind

3. Do you like the dance photographer’s overall style, how they use light and how they edit their images? A photographer typically has a style of editing that won’t change from client to client.

I like warmer photos that are usually a little darker or moodier.

You can see the example below. The image on the top is the one I delivered and the one on the bottom is cooler and brighter. Ask yourself which one you like better. If it is the one on the top, then I could be the photographer for you. If you prefer the one on the bottom, you may never be happy with the gallery I deliver you because my editing style is not one you prefer.

Dancer at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in a red skirt arched back

Dancer at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in a red skirt arched bac

4. While budget is not the first thing I suggest you consider in your search for a dance photographer, it is important to make sure any photographer you are considering hiring for any life moment does fit into what you are able to spend on photos.

Make sure you know what exactly you are paying for. Does the fee include any digital photos, or is it just a session fee? Is there a limit to the number of images you will receive? Is there an ordering session after your photography session There are many different ways a photographer can structure the investment for a session. You can see mine BY CLICKING HERE

Want to prep for your photo session like a pro?

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