Nail Your Dance Photo Shoot: Tips for Beautiful, Confident Photos

There’s something truly magical about a great dance photo. It captures more than just elegance and strength - it shows your unique personality. Whether you’re joining us for our annual photo shoot or preparing for another dance photography session, these tips will help dancers (and parents!) have a great experience.

Before You Arrive: Plan for Success

A little planning goes a long way. Instead of showing up and “winging it,” take some time to think through:

• Your poses
• Your outfits
• Your hair and make-up
• What you’re bringing with you

That way, your session time can be spent dancing and creating – not stressing, or scrambling.

Poses: Show Off Your Artistry

Come with Pose Ideas Ready
Your photo shoot time will fly by! To make the most of it, plan your poses before you arrive:

• Have at least 5 “must-have” poses in mind.
• Add 5 more “nice-to-have” options.
• Save inspiration photos to your phone or a small list you can quickly reference.

You can find pose inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Google, but make sure you choose things that make sense for your level and strengths.

Choose Poses You Can Do Well
Dance photography is about capturing your best technique and artistry. Not every pose needs to be extreme or flashy.

• Practice your pose ideas to make sure you can safely and consistently hit them
• Try out poses in the mirror and look for clean lines and strong placement
• Demonstrate poses for your teachers to get feedback and ideas for how to improve

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Play with Asymmetry and Variety
Asymmetrical poses often look more dynamic and interesting in photos. Check out these examples:

Jumping Shots: Worth the Effort
Leaps and jumps can be truly stunning! Just keep in mind that they can take a little extra time to get just right. Remember: strong feet, fully stretched legs, and lifted posture make a huge difference.

Outfit Selection: Let Your Dancing Shine

Your outfit is just as important as your poses so don’t wait until the last minute to pick yours out. Give yourself time to:

• Try things on
• Check fit and comfort as you move
• Make sure items are clean and in good condition (get wrinkles out of skirts!)

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How Many Costumes?
For our December 2025 photo shoot, dancers are allowed one costume change. Simply taking off a skirt doesn’t count as a full change.

At Wasatch Ballet, we love to feature our dancers in our marketing. We especially love when dancers look the part of a Ballerina, both in costuming and hair. So we recommend:

• One ballet or contemporary ballet look (leotards, tutus, skirts, tights, etc)
• One costume in a different style (jazz, contemporary, etc.)
• If you’re on pointe, wearing pointe shoes for at least one look is a beautiful option. The paper backdrop can be a little slippery but the photographer has grips that can be placed on your shoes to help keep you safe.

Think About Movement
Dance photography is all about movement, so consider how your clothing will behave when you dance. 

Great choices include:

• Flowing skirts that move with turns and jumps
• Chiffon overlays or dresses that float nicely
• Leos with tights and simple skirts or form-fitting tops with shorts/leggings to create clean lines and really show off your technique

Be cautious with:

• Very billowy or oversized pieces that might hide your lines
• Clothing that restricts your movement
• Anything that rides up, twists, or slips off

Often, a simple, clean look lets your technique and artistry stand out the most.

Borrowing Costumes from WBC
If you’d like something special to wear:

• Dancers are welcome to borrow costumes from our extensive collection.
• Please reach out early! Don’t wait until the day of the shoot.
• You don’t have to know exactly what you want. We’re happy to help you choose a costume that’s flattering and suits the style of photos you want.

Choosing Colors: What Photographs Best
This year’s photoshoot will have a lovely raspberry-colored backdrop. Colors that will photograph well with this background include:

• White / off-white
• Black
• Jewel tones (emerald, sapphire, royal blue, rich teal or purple)
• Metallics (gold, silver, champagne)

Colors to avoid include:

• Magenta, fuchsia, hot pink
• Deep reds with strong purple undertones
• Neons

Hair & Make-Up: Polished but Not Overdone

Make-Up for Photos vs. Stage
The camera can sometimes wash out features, so a little make-up helps your expressions read beautifully. Stage make-up is designed for bright lights and audiences far away. For a photo shoot, we still want you to be polished, but you usually don’t need the full “performance” version.

Think of it as a softer version of your stage make-up:

• Light foundation or powder to even skin tone
• A bit of blush for warmth
• Neutral eyeshadow and mascara (nothing too dark or heavy)
• Well-defined brows
• Lipstick is highly recommended: pinks or classic reds

Hair: Frame Your Face, Highlight Your Lines
“Hairography” (hair down and flying) can be fun for a few creative shots, but it can also:

• Cover your face
• Obscure your neck and shoulders
• Distract from your beautiful lines

For at least part of your session, we recommend:

• Wearing your hair up, especially for ballet poses
• Choosing a secure style that won’t fall out as you move (bun, French twist, sleek ponytail, half-up, braided)

The Day of Your Shoot: What to Expect

Day-of Checklist: What to Bring
To keep your session smooth and stress-free, pack your dance bag with:

• Tights, leotards, and costumes (plus back-ups if you have them)
• Ballet flats and pointe shoes if you have them
• Hair supplies: brush, comb, elastics, bobby pins, hairspray
• Make-up bag and lipstick
• Warm-up layers
• A water bottle and light snacks, especially if you will be staying at the studio after classes for your session
• Your pose list or inspiration photos for quick reference

And most importantly: arrive at least 15 minutes early, fully dressed for your first look, with hair and make-up already done. Use that time to get warmed up so that you can quickly and safely jump straight into posing at your session time.

During the Session: We’re Here to Help!
We all want you to have an amazing experience during your shoot. The atmosphere will be supportive and fun!

This year’s photographer, Greg Baird, has extensive experience with dance photography and will be able to guide you into getting the best shots possible. WBC staff will also be present at all times to help with:

• Posing
• Costume adjustments
• Hair and make-up touch-ups
• Encouragement and support

How Parents Can Help
Parents are welcome to observe the process and can be a big part of creating a positive environment.

Here are a few ways to be supportive:

• Encourage and cheer on your dancer while letting the photographer and WBC staff direct the shoot.
• Assist with hair, make-up, and costume changes so your dancer can stay focused on performing.
• Keep the energy calm and upbeat to help your dancer feel confident and at ease.

learn about this year's photo shoot

Photos by Samantha Little and Heather Haynie