Spring 2026 Season Wrap-Up: Growth, Speed, and a Record-Breaking Year (So Far)

Spring 2026 has officially come to a close, and I’m incredibly proud to share just how busy, productive, and rewarding this season has been. As a full‑time professional photographer and videographer, I take great pride in delivering high‑quality work quickly, consistently, and with the level of care my clients deserve. This spring pushed me harder than ever — and I’m thrilled to say I delivered across the board.

An infographic illustrating the core pillars of Dabour Photography’s service: Speed (fast turnarounds and efficient execution), Reliability (consistent performance and trusted results), and Professionalism (expert team and commitment to excellence).

A Season Defined by Speed, Reliability, and Professionalism

One of the biggest advantages of working with a full‑time photographer is turnaround time. When families, studios, and directors trust me with their memories, I make it a priority to get those images and videos back to them quickly.

This spring, I delivered:

  • 37,402 edited images
  • 32 fully produced videos
    • 15 dance recitals
    • 17 theater productions

Photo galleries were delivered within 24–48 hours, and videos were completed within 7–10 days — even during weeks when I was double or triple booked. Fast, reliable delivery isn’t a luxury here; it’s the standard.

Welcoming Two New Dance Studios

I’m honored to have added Vibe Dance Academy and Cressman Dance Studio to my growing list of studio partners this season. Both studios brought incredible dancers, beautiful choreography, and supportive communities. I’m grateful for their trust and excited for everything we’ll create together in the future.

Video Performance: A Record Year Already

Year-to-date, my recital and production videos have seen:

  • 2,500+ total views
  • 1,000+ unique viewers
  • 500+ hours watched
  • Nearly 4,000 total loads

And unsurprisingly, mobile devices continue to dominate how families watch their performances.

The 2026 Freddy Awards: A Milestone Moment

This year’s Freddy Awards were a highlight of the season. Interest in the photos was incredibly strong, and the gallery saw over a quarter of a million visitors — a staggering number that speaks to the passion and pride of the Lehigh Valley theater community.

As the official Freddy Awards photographer since 2013, it’s always an honor to capture the energy, emotion, and artistry of this event. This year was truly special.

A colorful graphic saying "Thank You" to express gratitude to studio partners, dancers, and photography assistants for their support during the Spring 2026 season.

Gratitude for the People Who Make This Possible

None of this happens alone.

To the studios, directors, dancers, parents, and performers — thank you for trusting me with your memories. Your support fuels everything I do.

To my photo assistants — your help during the busiest weeks keeps everything running smoothly, and I’m grateful for your dedication.

And a special shout-out to Stephanie, my assistant videographer, who steps in whenever I’m double or triple booked. Her reliability and talent make it possible for me to take on the volume of work that defines seasons like this one.

Looking Ahead: Summer & Fall 2026

The momentum doesn’t stop here.

This summer will feature:

  • Powder Experience photo sessions
  • Rain Machine Experience sessions
  • Special destination photo opportunities

And this fall, I’ll be kicking off Year Three of my Dance Ambassador Program — the largest ambassador team yet. I can’t wait to showcase their artistry, creativity, and passion.

My calendar for the second half of 2026 is already filling up, and bookings for early 2027 have begun as well.

Interested in Working Together?

If you’d like to:

  • Book a Powder Experience session
  • Apply to become one of my Dance Ambassadors
  • Schedule photography or videography services for your studio, school, or event

Now is the perfect time to reach out. I’d love to create something unforgettable with you.

Curtains Up! 2026 Freddy Awards Official Photos Are Now Available

The energy, the raw talent, the tears of joy, and the jaw-dropping choreography—the 2026 Freddy Awards completely blew us away this year! As the official photographer capturing the magic on stage, I am absolutely thrilled to announce that the complete, high-resolution photo gallery is **officially live and open for viewing and purchasing**.

Whether you were a nominee under the bright lights, part of an ensemble that brought the house down, a proud director, or a family member cheering from the audience, these images were captured to help you preserve these memories forever.

🎨 **View the Official Gallery Here:** https://www.dabourphotography.com/event/Freddy-Awards-2026
🌐 **Explore More Theater Work:** Visit our main theatrical portfolio at https://dabourphoto.com/theatre

The Freddy Awards celebrate the absolute best in high school musical theatre, and this year’s production values reached spectacular new heights. From gravity-defying athletic leaps to dramatic, emotionally charged vocal performances, every single school brought unparalleled dedication to the stage.

Through the lens, my goal is always to freeze those split-second moments—the perfect mid-air split, the subtle interactions between lead characters, and the explosive color of the ensemble numbers.

Why Purchase Your Professional Action Prints & Digitals?

Unmatched Quality: Moving stages, dramatic theatrical lighting, and fast action are notoriously hard to capture. These images are shot on professional-grade gear specifically optimized for low-light, high-speed stage performances.

Keep the Memory Alive: High school theatre builds lifelong bonds. Having high-quality digital downloads or physical prints ensures you can look back on your performance decades from now with pride.


Perfect for Portfolios: If you are planning to pursue musical theatre, acting, or technical stage production in college or professionally, these images serve as flawless portfolio additions.

How to Find, View, and Purchase Your Photos

Navigating a massive event gallery can feel overwhelming, so we’ve streamlined the process to make finding your specific school or performance a breeze:

1. Click the Gallery Link: Go directly to the hosted platform at (https://www.dabourphotography.com/event/Freddy-Awards-2026).


2. Browse by Category or School: Images are organized chronologically and by section to help you jump right to your school’s performance, the award presentations, or the red carpet.


3. Select Your Favorites: You can select digital downloads for instant social media sharing or order professional-grade physical prints, canvases, and keepsakes delivered straight to your door.

*Note: For general inquiries about our performance schedules or booking for upcoming local theatre productions, head to our main site at https://dabourphoto.com/theatre.

Share Your Success!

When you post your purchased photos on Instagram or Facebook, don’t forget to tag us @davedabour_photography or @DabourPhotography and use the hashtag #FreddyAwards2026 so we can celebrate your talent all over again!

Congratulations to all the schools, directors, cast, and crew members who made this year an unforgettable milestone in local theatre history.

Showtime! Live from the State Theatre for the 2026 Freddy Awards

The wait is over. The red carpet is rolled out, the “on-air” lights are glowing, and the energy inside the State Theatre in Easton is absolutely off the charts. Tonight is the culmination of months of hard work, talent, and passion from high school theater departments across the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

It’s the 2026 Freddy Awards, and there is truly nothing like it.

The Electricity of Live TV

Walking into the theater on show night is a sensory experience. You have the roar of the student sections, the flash of the paparazzi on the red carpet, and the silent, focused intensity of the WFMZ-TV crew as they prepare for a three-hour live broadcast. For a photographer, this is the ultimate challenge and the ultimate reward.

From the second the opening number begins until the final trophy is handed out, my goal is to capture the raw, unscripted emotion of the night. Whether it’s the tearful embrace of a supporting actor winner, the sheer athleticism of an ensemble production number, or the quiet moment of a soloist taking their final bow—these are the memories that deserve to be preserved forever.

A Community United

What always amazes me about the Freddys is the community. While these schools are technically “competing,” the atmosphere backstage and in the house feels more like a massive family reunion. Rivalries are set aside for a shared love of the stage. Watching 31 schools come together to celebrate each other’s successes is what makes being the official photographer for this program such an honor year after year.

Relive the Night: The 2026 Galleries

The show may end tonight, but the memories don’t have to. I am working around the clock to process and upload the thousands of images captured throughout this week—from the early soloist rehearsals to tonight’s grand finale.

Parents, Cast, and Crew: You can view, share, and purchase your favorite moments from tonight’s historic show, as well as our complete archive from years past, at the link below:

👉 Dabour Photography Freddy Awards Hub

Keep refreshing the gallery throughout the weekend as new batches of 2026 photos drop!

Congratulations to every student, teacher, and volunteer who made the 2026 Freddy Awards a night to remember. Now, let’s get the show started!

Some of my favorite images from last year’s 2025 Freddy Awards

Tech Week Day 3: Where the Magic Happens—Dress Rehearsal & TV Prep

If you ask anyone involved in the Freddy Awards which day is the most pivotal, you might hear “Thursday.” But if you ask me the Freddy Awards photographer, the answer is always Wednesday.

Wednesday is where the magic truly happens. It is the bridge between the raw rehearsals of early tech week and the high-octane live broadcast of the awards ceremony. It is the day the State Theatre transforms into a full-scale television studio, and for me, it is the most rewarding day of the year to be behind the lens.

The Professional Shift: TV Prep

Walking into the theater on Wednesday evening feels different. The WFMZ-TV crew is all set up, their cameras positioned, and the production team is in “watching and learning” mode. They are mapping out every camera angle and every lighting cue, following a nearly identical tech rehearsal of the entire three-hour show. Watching the synergy between the theatrical performers and the television professionals is a masterclass in production.

The Visual Explosion: Full Costumes

This is the moment everyone has been waiting for. Wednesday is the first time all the actors, soloists, and ensembles are in full costume performing together on the State Theatre stage.

The transition from rehearsal hoodies and sneakers to vibrant, theatrical costumes is an explosion of color and character. It changes the way the students carry themselves—they aren’t just rehearsing anymore; they are the characters.

Why It’s My Favorite Day

As a photographer, Wednesday is my “gold mine” day. Because it is a dress rehearsal and not a live broadcast with a seated audience, I have the flexibility to capture the best possible action shots without the constraints of a live crowd or the strict sightlines of the actual ceremony. I get to document the sweat, the smiles, the intricate details of the costumes, and the peak energy of the routines. This is where I capture the “hero shots” that end up being favorites for years to come.

The countdown to the red carpet is almost over! If you’re a cast member or a parent, make sure you have the link ready to go. You can view all the magic from this week and our entire history of the Freddy Awards right here:

Dabour Photography Freddy Awards Gallery

Keep checking back—as soon as the magic from today is processed, it will be landing in the 2026 gallery!

Tech Week Day 2: First Steps on the Main Stage for Nominated Schools

If Monday night at the State Theatre is about quiet focus, Tuesday is all about pure, electric excitement. Today is the day the tech week energy really starts to amplify as the nominated schools arrive for their very first stage run-throughs.

For a high school theater student, there is nothing quite like the moment you walk through those backstage doors and look out into the beautiful, historic auditorium of the State Theatre. For many, it’s a dream they’ve been working toward all year—or all four years of high school.

The Grand Transition

The logistics of Tuesday are a masterclass in theatrical coordination. The students from the nominated schools arrive at different scheduled and gets acclimated to the massive stage, and runs through their blocking. They are transitioning from their hometown high school auditoriums to a massive professional house, and you can see the sheer awe on their faces the second they hit the stage.

They work through their spacing, get a feel for the acoustics, and get a taste of what the live broadcast night is going to feel like. Alongside the individual school numbers, the opening and closing ensembles are right back at it, seamlessly fitting their massive choreography into the space.

Capturing the Awe

From behind the lens, Tuesday is a goldmine for genuine emotion. I love capturing the wide-eyed looks of the students looking up at the balcony, the backstage high-fives, the nervous giggles, and the sudden realization of “Wow, we are really here.” Even in their rehearsal clothes, the performances have an incredible spark of energy.

As we head toward the mid-week dress rehearsals, the excitement is only going up from here! Parents, cast members, and fans—don’t miss a single memory from this week or years past.

You can find all of our extensive event archives, and eventually all of this year’s fresh 2026 action, over at the Dabour Photography Freddy Awards Gallery. Head over now to grab your keepsakes and bookmark the page for this weekend’s upcoming galleries!

Tech Week Begins: The Soloist On Stage with Tech & The Calm Before the Freddy’s Storm

There is a distinct shift in the air at the State Theatre in Easton when Freddy Awards tech week officially kicks off. The marquee is lit, the energy is building, and Monday night brings a very specific, focused kind of magic to the stage.

Tonight, the theater isn’t packed with cheering fans or school sections chanting their rallying cries just yet. Instead, it belongs to the soloists and the hardworking members of the opening and closing numbers.

The Art of the Polish

Monday is all about precision. The soloists return to the stage to fine-tune their performances, adjusting to the massive scale of the State Theatre lines and getting a feel for the space. Watching them command that stage completely on their own is always a reminder of the immense talent anchoring this entire event.

Alongside them, the massive ensembles for the opening and closing numbers are busy polishing their routines. Without the costumes, the orchestra, or the television cameras rolling yet, you get to see the raw dedication that goes into this show. It’s a night of counting steps, adjusting formations, and finding that perfect synchronicity.

Capturing the Focus

As a photographer, I love the quiet intensity of Monday night. The lighting is being dialed in, the kids are in casual clothes or rehearsal gear, and you can capture genuine moments of concentration, backstage encouragement, and the sheer grit it takes to put on a broadcast-level production.

While I’m gearing up to capture all of this week’s incredible moments, the archives are fully open! Parents, cast members, and theater fans can relive the magic of past ceremonies right now.

Head over to the Dabour Photography Freddy Awards Gallery to view and purchase images from previous years, and make sure to bookmark the page so you’re ready when the 2026 galleries start to drop!

Behind the Scenes: The Soloist Rehearsals Begin!

On Monday evening, the theater was buzzing with a special kind of electricity. This wasn’t just any rehearsal—it was the first time this year’s nominated soloists stepped onto the stage to work with the live band.

The atmosphere was a mix of intense focus and pure talent. Each performer, both male and female nominees, had just 60 seconds to make their mark. Watching them distill their character and vocal power into a one-minute solo is always a highlight of the season.

These “mini-performances” are high stakes and high energy, and capturing those raw moments of preparation—before the costumes and the stage lights take over—is truly special.

I’ve selected a few of my favorite shots from the evening below to give you a glimpse of the hard work happening behind the curtain.

Want to see more? To view and purchase more Freddy Award images from this year and past years, please visit: Dabour Photography – Freddy Awards 2026

Behind the Scenes: The 2026 Freddy Awards Journey Begins!

The air was electric at the State Theatre of the Arts in Easton, PA, as we officially kicked off the 2026 Freddy Awards season. As I walked through the doors for the first rehearsal, it hit me—this marks my 14th year as the official photographer for this incredible program. Seeing the talent, the nerves, and the sheer excitement of these students never gets old.

Checking In and Catching Up

The day began with the “official” side of show business. Students from high schools across the region arrived to sign paperwork and register, but the real magic happened in the hallways. It was a morning of “meeting old friends”—watching students from rival schools greet each other like family, bonded by their shared love of the stage.

The Work Behind the Magic

Once the paperwork was settled, it was time to get to work. The first rehearsal is always an intensive dive into the production:

  • Learning the Music: Music directors led the ensemble through the vocal arrangements for this year’s opening and closing numbers. There is nothing quite like hearing those first harmonies ring out in the rehearsal hall.
  • Choreography in Motion: Freddy Awards choreographer Stacy Higgins wasted no time getting the students on their feet. Watching the transition from tentative steps to a synchronized ensemble is one of my favorite things to document.

Words of Inspiration

We were honored to have State Theatre President and CEO Shelly Brown address the participants. Her passion for the arts and her dedication to these students set the perfect tone for the season ahead.

A Legacy of Performance

Documenting the Freddy Awards for over a decade has allowed me to see the profound impact this program has on our community. From the first signature at the check-in table to the final bow on the State Theatre stage, I am honored to capture every moment of this journey.

Stay tuned as we continue to follow the rehearsals leading up to the big night!

All my Freddy Awards images can be found here. They are available for viewing and purchase https://www.dabourphotography.com/Freddy-Awards

Celebrating World Theatre Day with a Look Back at the Freddy Awards Gallery

Happy World Theatre Day!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that theatre isn’t just a performance — it’s a community, a heartbeat, and a place where young artists discover who they are. I’ve had the honor of photographing the Freddy Awards since 2013, and every season reminds me just how much talent, passion, and joy lives in our local high school theatre programs.

Each year, several of my Freddy Awards images were featured in the State Theatre Center for the Arts Gallery in Easton, PA. Seeing those moments — the emotion, the storytelling, the pure electricity of live theatre — displayed on the walls of such a historic venue was incredibly meaningful. It’s one thing to capture a performance; it’s another to see those images become part of the theater’s visual history.

This year’s gallery installation is already up, and if you’re curious which images made the cut, you can check them out any show night at the State Theatre. I’ll also be sharing some of them here on the blog in the coming weeks.

To celebrate World Theatre Day, I’m offering a special 10% off coupon for any previous Freddy Awards gallery items.
Use coupon code FREDDY10 at checkout — valid now through Sunday, March 31, 2026.

You can browse the full collection here:
https://www.dabourphotography.com/Freddy-Awards

Whether you’re a performer, a parent, a theatre fan, or someone who just loves the magic of the stage, thank you for supporting the arts and the incredible students who bring these stories to life.

Previewing the 2024 Freddy Awards Photo Exhibition at the State Theatre

New Jersey – Lehigh Valley, PA Theater Photographer

Preview of photographs created by Dave Dabour Photography of the 2024 Freddy Awards gallery that will be on display at the State Theatre in Easton PA soon.

Attention photography enthusiasts and lovers of the arts! Get ready for an extraordinary visual feast as the State Theatre Gallery in Easton, PA, is set to host an exclusive exhibition featuring photographs from the 2024 Freddy Awards, captured through my lens.

I’ve had the pleasure of being the photographer for the Freddy Awards for the past 12 years. I’m a full-time photographer with a talent for storytelling through imagery, and I have meticulously documented the magic and emotion of the Freddy Awards. This annual celebration of high school Theatre excellence is a vibrant showcase of passion, creativity, and the triumph of young performers.

Preview of photographs created by Dave Dabour Photography of the 2024 Freddy Awards gallery that will be on display at the State Theatre in Easton PA soon.

From candid backstage moments to the dazzling performances on stage, Dave’s work captures the essence of the Freddy Awards in a way that’s both intimate and grand. His keen eye for detail and ability to convey raw emotion transform each frame into a narrative masterpiece.

This exhibition promises to offer visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the awards through Dave’s perspective. It’s not just an opportunity to see incredible photography—it’s a chance to relive the unforgettable moments of the Freddy Awards and witness the brilliance of local high school Theatre.

Preview of photographs created by Dave Dabour Photography of the 2024 Freddy Awards gallery that will be on display at the State Theatre in Easton PA soon.

Mark your calendars and prepare to be inspired. The gallery opens its doors soon, and this is one showcase you won’t want to miss! Be sure to follow updates for the official opening date and join us in celebrating the art of photography and the talent of young performers.

Ready to dive into the world of the Freddy Awards through Dave’s lens? The story awaits you at the State Theatre!