Preparing for Your Dance Session

This information is tailored to outdoor dance sessions, but the majority of the information is applicable to all dance, portrait, and headshot sessions!

A Typical Session Timeline:

THE WEEK BEFORE:

If you booked your session more than a week in advance, I’ll reach out to you a week before your session to make sure everything is ready to go. At this point you should have already picked a location and filled out your questionnaire(s) but we’ll clarify things like a specific meeting point and make sure I’ve answered any questions you had on your questionnaire. If you book less than a week in advance, you’ll pay right when we schedule the session, and we’ll go over additional details right away.

This is also a good time for you to start planning poses. I love to start with any poses you’ve brought so that we start with things you’re comfortable with, and I can get an idea of how you move and your strengths as a dancer. It’s often helpful to have a folder of pose ideas so you don’t forget your ideas - you can look on instagram and save images, or take photos/videos of yourself. Make sure you try your poses in front of a phone camera or mirror and think about how they look in two dimensions.

ONE DAY BEFORE:

Pack your bag for the shoot with your outfit options, extra hair ties and a brush or comb, hairspray or gel, makeup (if you’re wearing it) for touchups, and slip on shoes. For more outfit guidance, read on below! I will have a changing tent at all local outdoor sessions, but you are also welcome to bring a blanket to change under. For cold weather, also bring a warm blanket or fuzzy jacket to put on between photos, hand/foot warmers, and warm boots and gloves. For warm weather, make sure you bring lots of water, and while you are welcome to wear sunscreen, please make sure it is not shiny or streaky. For more weather-specific guidelines, check out the Weather section below. If you will be in water or if it is raining, I also recommend bringing a towel.

THE DAY OF YOUR SESSION:

Please arrive to your session 15 minutes early. This will give us time to chat and give you time to warm up. It will also give us time to finalize your outfit and change if needed. We will meet at the decided location and walk to our first location as needed. For back-to-back sessions I may not be able to meet you the full 15 minutes before your session, but it is still important that you arrive early and warm up so that we can start on time!

DURING YOUR SHOOT:

We will most likely be walking between several spots (depending on location) in order to get a variety of backgrounds for your photos. I love to work collaboratively, especially with more experienced dancers, but no matter your level I’ll always be keeping an eye on your technique to make sure you look your best! Generally, I’ll tell you where to stand, give you a rough idea like “something on the ground” or “a leg holding that railing”, and then we’ll refine the pose from there. I also love to have dancers improvise, if you’re comfortable with it, so we can get more unique movement shots. If you want more guidance, I’m also always happy to give you specific poses - we’ll figure out what works best for you during your session! I strive for a minimum of three looks/locations for sessions at least an hour long. For mini sessions, I aim for multiple backgrounds with one or two outfits, but there may be less variety in the look of your photos unless this is a top priority for you. For all sessions, be prepared to walk and change quickly, so we can spend as much time on your photos as possible! For any sessions with multiple dancers, photos will be a mix of individual and group poses, based on the number of dancers in the group.

AFTER YOUR SHOOT - IMAGE DELIVERY:

Your final edited images will be added to an online gallery following your session. You are guaranteed the number of images included in your session type, and you will get all the technically correct images (where your dance technique and my photography technique are both at their best) so you may receive more than the number of photos included in your session. You will receive a link to your gallery 4 weeks after your session, unless otherwise specified.

AFTER YOUR SHOOT - USING YOUR PHOTOS:

Final edited images delivered in your gallery are provided to you for personal use only. This means you can post, share, print, and otherwise use the photos yourself, but you may not use them in any commercial capacity (or provide them to businesses for commercial use). Commercial rights may be purchased separately. I ask that you tag me at @elisemiwaphotography when sharing images on social media. Your gallery will remain available online for 90 days, after which point it will no longer be accessible. Please download and back up your photos during this time. I do my best to retain your original images should you have any technological problems, however I cannot promise that images will be available to you after 90 days.

What to Wear:

OUTFIT:

Dance clothes, (simple) costumes, or street clothes you can move in. Favorite leotards or biketards, matching / coordinating top and bottoms, stretchy jeans/jeggings or jean shorts, skirts or dresses with circle skirts, and simple dance costumes are all good options. Think about the way your outfit will match or contrast with your location and background. Generally, I recommend staying away from too much black (especially black leggings!) so you don’t blend into the background. Bright colors are always a good option! If you have a particular look or vibe you’re going for, please let me know! Also, keep in mind the weather - you don’t want to overheat or freeze! (For more weather guidance, read on below). For an hour long session usually 2-4 outfits gives good variety without wasting time changing. I have a portable pop up changing tent for changing outfits on location, so plan to bring a bag to hold your outfit options so we won't have to return to your car to change. You are welcome and encouraged to bring several options which we can narrow down during the session. You are also welcome to send me pictures, preferably via instagram, of your outfit options. I generally prefer shooting barefoot, but street shoes and dance shoes (tap, pointe, sneakers) are also great options if you have them. Sneakers or boots with stiff soles (so that you can stand on the toes) are always a fun option! You are also welcome to bring accessories or props like sunglasses, hats, umbrellas (for rainy days), or whatever else you can think of!

Pointe shoe policy: Dancers who are currently enrolled in pointe classes or have been on pointe for at least one year are permitted to bring pointe shoes to their shoot. Dancers who have been on pointe for less than two years are strongly discouraged from wearing pointe shoes for their session. Dancers who have never trained on pointe may not be weight bearing in pointe shoes during their session. Please think about what poses you can do safely on your shoes, and practice at home or with teacher supervision before your session. Old shoes are recommended, as I cannot guarantee that nothing will happen to your shoes during the shoot. If you choose to bring the shoes you are currently dancing on, please let me know. I will always do my best to make sure your shoes stay clean and undamaged.

HAIR:

Hair down or pretty much any hairstyle you would wear for a performance. This is very much up to you - my only recommendations are that dancers with long hair bring hair ties and a brush or comb if you want to wear your hair down (because some pictures may work better with hair tied back and it's helpful if we can put it up temporarily) and to make sure it looks nice, clean, and put together (think performance ready). Some personal favorites are hair down, french braids into a bun, half up/half down, or a low ponytail.

MAKEUP:

Makeup is not required but I do feel it helps your features show up on camera (just like onstage). I recommend natural makeup, meaning mascara, eyeliner (if you want), light blush, and a natural lip color. Avoid anything too dark or dramatic (unless that's specifically the look you want), and make sure everything is clean and precise. And be careful with lipsticks on teeth and mascara under eyes!

Weather:

Depending on your location and the time of year, there is a strong possibility of uncomfortable weather, and a slight chance of temperatures that are unsafe to be shooting in. I use the chart linked here to determine safety of temperature conditions. Any sessions where weather is in a red zone will be postponed or canceled and refunded for a session credit. Additionally, should a weather watch or warning discourage or prohibit driving, sessions will be postponed or canceled and refunded for a session credit.

For weather in the yellow temperature zones, sessions will proceed as scheduled. Please read on below for recommended attire for high and low temperatures.

HIGH TEMPERATURES:

For sessions in warm and/or humid weather, first and foremost bring lots of water and any preferred snacks to keep you healthy and safe throughout the session. For attire, keep in mind that you will be sweating, and this will make changing difficult. If you plan to wear leggings, tights, long sleeves, or anything else that will stick to you, please come to your session wearing that as your first outfit. Please also keep in mind that some fabrics sho sweat much more than others; if a leotard shows sweat in class, it might not be the best option for an 80º day. Make sure you have the ability to put your hair up if you choose to wear it down, in case you get too hot or sweaty. If you plan to bring any sort of mist/spray bottle for your face, please keep makeup minimal so it doesn’t smudge and please bring a towel or washcloth to dry your face as needed.

LOW TEMPERATURES:

For sessions in cold weather, the most important thing is making sure you have warm layers that you can get into and out of easily for between locations. My recommendations for layers are long winter coats, Comfy wearable blankets (or similar), sweatpants, mittens (with hand warmers), and Uggs or other fuzzy slip on shoes (with foot warmers). For attire, please have at least 1-2 outfits with long sleeves, pants, and shoes, and you are also welcome to bring warm acccessories like hats. Tops that work well include sweaters, jackets, long sleeved shirts, and long sleeved leotards. Pants that work well include jeans/jeggings, colorful leggings, or other stretchy pants in interesting patterns or fabrics. My preference is to avoid black leggings, however I would much rather you bring black leggings than no pants. For shoes, snow boots, combat boots, heeled booties, and sneakers are all great choices, as are pointe shoes if you are experienced on pointe. Again, my preference is to avoid uggs or other similar boots, but if that is the best option you have that’s fine. You must bring shoes if we are going to be in snow; I will not allow anyone under 18 to be barefoot directly in snow. Hairstyles are up to you, but if you bring/wear a hat make sure you have a brush to touch up hair. Also, because cheeks and noses can get pink in the cold, slightly heavier foundation may look better in colder weather, but it is not necessary.

Questions? Message me on instagram or through the contact page!