Dance photography

[dougsdancephotos]

Hi,

 

I am new here so maybe this has been covered before so if someone has a link to this subject, that would be fine.

 

I have recently starting photographing the arts which includes ballet and dance. I would like to expand my portfolio by doing photos of experienced ballet dancers and performances.

 

The only way I have to make contacts is to search the web and email any dance studios within reasonable travel distance and explain what I am interested in doing. I am not trying to sell the studio or dancers anything nor trying to take over another photographers turf. In fact I make photos available to the studio and dancers for free for helping me.

 

I have a website I direct them to so as to see I am a serious photographer.

 

Most of the time I never hear from them after I send them the initial email. I know there are a lot of photographers and parents that own digital cameras so maybe the studio thinks they have no use for another photographer.

 

My question is this. Can anyone recommend any way to contact studios in such a way that they will be open to allow me to take some photos? Are dancers not that interested in getting photos of themselves dancing other than the traditional studio shots that some photographers sell as packets to parents?

 

Any advice is appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[Victoria Leigh]

Hello Doug, welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers.

 

Getting started is difficult, I'm sure. Most studios have photographers they use regularly, but, you never know when someone will be looking for a new one. My suggestion would be to travel to all the schools that you can get to, and meet and greet the director personally. Bring a portfolio to show your work.

 

This suggestion stems from my discovering that a great many studio owners and directors are not very involved with the Internet, and even if they are, they are not open to solicitations from people they don't know. They are, and must be, highly protective of their students. So, meeting them in person would be a better start. And call for an appointment, do not trust it to email, as you never know who will actually be reading the email and whether it will ever get to the right person or not.

 

Another suggestion would be to offer your services free to some professional dancers or top level students at a professional company and company school. If you want real quality photos for your portfolio, you need extremely good and well trained dancers.

[davidg]

In dance, physical presence is everything. You don't really exist if you just send them emails. Make regular appearances in person, let them get to know you, and you will see more doors open over the long term.

[Momof3darlings]

While I am not able to help you specifically with how to start. I do know someone who has done this, you might contact him to see how he started. I do know that the first studio he contracted with was so he could learn how to photograph dancers and it has grown from there. Sadly, he does not contract with individuals only entire studios or companies and events like RDA. But because of his work with that one studio, he now works with dancers all over the US.

 

Richard Calmes

[dance1soccer1]

A friend of ours got his start by contacting the local high schools and speaking with the PTA. He identified himself as an arts photographer and gave them cards to pass out to the juniors/seniors who were looking for senior photos in the arts area. He was contacted by several students, took their senior pictures in arts area (mostly ballet and jazz, a few with easels) so that they could get less run of the mill senior pictures. It took off from there. Now he photographs for several dance studios. He did say that it took a couple of years to get good at catching dancers "in action", knowing what the wind up to a big move, a turn, a leap, looked like, and knowing when to click to catch that. So, parents/dancers may also wonder if you are at that stage yet. Definitely having some demo pictures in a book or website will help you.

[dougsdancephotos]

While I am not able to help you specifically with how to start. I do know someone who has done this, you might contact him to see how he started. I do know that the first studio he contracted with was so he could learn how to photograph dancers and it has grown from there. Sadly, he does not contract with individuals only entire studios or companies and events like RDA. But because of his work with that one studio, he now works with dancers all over the US.

 

Richard Calmes

 

Yes I know Richard and have conversed with him several times.

 

Thank you

[jimpickles]

If I may add something - I was having a discussion with someone about photography (in another performance area) and she said that in her experience a lot of photographers were selfish - the performer puts a lot of time into helping them get good photos, then the photographer goes off and they never hear from them again. I suggest making it clear that it will be a proper benefit to the performer (which means establishing a reputation and trust over time), which would be a good safeguard against this expectation.

 

I must admit that I have had the same feeling interacting with (some) photographers - their goal is to get "the picture" and everything else becomes secondary, including peoples' feelings.

 

Jim.

[pastpointe]

I have seen this man's work. His posed photography is done with great sensitivity, but perhaps most amazing is his ability to capture the beauty of dance/dancer(s) in performance at a dress rehearsal without interfering with or distracting the dancers. I am not sure if he is allowed to post his gallery website, but it would be worth taking a look at. He does not fit into the inconsiderate "only out for a picture" category and works with students as well as area professionals (opera, theater and ballet.)

[Mel Johnson]

A link to an existing website would not be out of order in this case.

 

One of the more interesting experiences of photography I've had is the one who sent not only the selections he made from the shoot, but also contact sheets of everything that was taken at the shoot. His eye turned out to be as good as ours for selecting the best images. Some of the "also-shots" did make for good candid material, though.

[koshka]

Everybody has their own ideas about what makes a photo good or interesting. I have my own "cut" of what's worth keeping or printing, but there's also what I call the "mama cut" (almost anything halfway acceptable), the dancer cut (varies by dancer), and the artistic director cut (most exacting of all).

 

Oh, and I absolutely agree that trust and the ability to stay out of the way (and willingness to be shoved out of the way if needed!) are important.

[Pointe1432]

My new favorite subject

 

Whereas for whatever reason I've tried to remain anonymous on this site I feel as though I'm on the verge of giving away my identity

 

I am a professional dancer and photographer. I am only a part-time photographer who picked it up as a hobby about 6 years ago. At some point people started asking to purchase my photographs until eventually I had to start a business and pay taxes. Now it's becoming a nice supplement to my income as a dancer and I plan for it to be my full time career once I retire from dancing.

 

As far as the comments earlier about photographers being "selfish" about their work I felt I needed to chime in. I've had a really hard time placing a "Price Tag" on my work, and more specifically charging my fellow dancers for prints. Everything depends on the circumstance of course, however I've come to terms with charging my co-workers a "Professional Rate". This way they can still get numerous photos for a really good price and I don't lose money buying the prints for them. And perhaps most importantly I've come to realize that it was my eye and skill that caught it with the help of the equipment that I'VE ultimately spent thousands of dollars on to be able to capture it.

 

However, in a few instances I've asked dancer friends for favors and had them come and pose for me in a studio setting in exchange for digital images. Those images are for my own experience, practice and portfolio purposes.

 

In every artform there's the challenge of balancing underselling yourself and/or your fellow artists and trying to get more experience in a new area.

 

As far as the original question about getting access to begin with... I'll admit that I am blessed to have a job where I have a boss that grants me unlimited access, as long as I'm not busy dancing myself.

 

I agree with going and meeting people in person versus email. Also I would say if you are more interested in photographing professionals or advanced students to contact a professional company and ask if they could pass on the message to the dancers about doing an exchange of time for digital images. In either case perhaps specifically ask for dancers over 18 so you are not dealing with minors. And those over 18 can contact you and get a feel of whether or not they would be comfortable with working with you. Also, safety in numbers. Maybe look for a few dancers that could come together, or offer to pay them a small amount for their time. I used to model for a painter who would photograph some of us dancers in long romantic tutus for about an hour, and I would make $50. At 18 it was an awesome job to get occasionally.

 

Also, if the school has performances you could offer to shoot the show for free, but sell prints to parents (after all, buying prints still comes out of your pocket, as well as the time and gas money ) And offer a bulk rate for images to be released to the school for advertising etc. . .

 

If you want to chat some more about it PM me, I'm sure there is plenty we can learn from eachother.

 

Good Luck!

 

~Pointe1432

[dougsdancephotos]

I have seen this man's work. His posed photography is done with great sensitivity, but perhaps most amazing is his ability to capture the beauty of dance/dancer(s) in performance at a dress rehearsal without interfering with or distracting the dancers. I am not sure if he is allowed to post his gallery website, but it would be worth taking a look at. He does not fit into the inconsiderate "only out for a picture" category and works with students as well as area professionals (opera, theater and ballet.)

 

Why thank you.

 

If anyone is interested to see some of my photos, you may look here:

 

www.dougsdancephotos.com

 

 

I tried to PM you but I keep getting error messages. Don't know what I am doing wrong. Maybe you could contact me. (?)

[Victoria Leigh]

Doug, you do not have PM privileges yet, as you are still a New Member. When you reach 30 posts your group will change to Member, and then you can use the PM function.

[lorrainegd]

We did have a photographer come in to do photos. He was looking to add to his experience in photographing dancers. In exchange for allowing him to come in and do portrait sessions, he offered to come and take publicity photos for the school. He had started out in wedding photography (modern - more artistic) and was really interested in working with dancers.

[dougsdancephotos]

If you want to chat some more about it PM me, I'm sure there is plenty we can learn from eachother.

 

Good Luck!

 

~Pointe1432

I tried to PM you but don't have enough posts yet. Would like to chat with you though.