Emma (@extendandelevate) is one of my dance ambassadors, and I’ve photographed her in more sessions than I can count — but this was her very first time at the Powder Experience. As always, she showed up and made it look easy, bringing the flexibility and control she’s known for into every burst of color.
Emma catches air and color in the same frame.
Emma trains at A.C.I. (@a.c.i.dance_), and it shows — every shape she hit tonight, from the mid-air leaps to the inverted holds, had that trained precision that makes powder photography actually work. The color doesn’t do the work; the dancer does.
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
If you’re a dancer curious about trying a Powder Experience session of your own, reach out — I’d love to create something like this with you.
If you’ve spent any time around Dabour Photography, you definitely know Lily, one of my incredible dance ambassadors. But during this powder session, it was time for Lily’s younger sister, almost nine-year-old Vasilia, to step into the spotlight!
Vasilia has made it no secret that she has big dreams of following in her sister’s footsteps and becoming a dance ambassador herself. In a lot of ways, having her join the powder experience felt like the ultimate “audition” session—and let me tell you, she did not disappoint!
Stepping Out of the Studio
While I’ve photographed Vasilia before during regular recital portraits at her dance studio, this was her very first time doing a specialized, creative session with me outside of that setting.
Even though she is young, it is incredibly clear that all those years of watching her older sisters dance have paid off. Vasilia brought serious focus, grace, and an understanding of movement that is way beyond her years.
A Change of Plans (and a Seamless Solo)
Initially, Vasilia was invited to the powder session to accompany her good friend Claire, who is one of my brand-new dance ambassadors this year.
Unfortunately, busy schedules got in the way, their calendars didn’t sync up, and they ended up having to attend separate sessions. Stepping into a big, dynamic shoot like this without your friend can be intimidating for any young dancer, but Vasilia didn’t miss a beat.
Because we already knew each other, she was incredibly comfortable with me and took direction like an absolute pro.
[INSERT GALLERY OF VASILIA’S INDIVIDUAL SHOTS HERE]
A Secret Weapon in Her Corner
Of course, it doesn’t hurt when your biggest cheerleader is also a dance expert! Vasilia’s mom—a local dance studio owner and highly experienced dance teacher—was right there by her side. Having her mom’s encouraging presence and expert eye nearby definitely added an extra layer of comfort and precision to the shoot.
Together, we captured some truly stunning, dynamic images of Vasilia that prove she is a force to be reckoned with in the dance world.
Will Vasilia Become an Ambassador?
She certainly proved she has the talent, the work ethic, and the star power to join the team. But is a spot in the ambassador program in her future?
You’ll just have to keep reading future blog posts to find out! 😉
Watch this space!
Scroll down to see some of my favorite shots of Vasilia proving she is ready for the big leagues in her beautiful powder debut!
When you have a dancer who is as passionate about the creative process as she is about the movement, magic is bound to happen. That is exactly what went down when one of my amazing dance ambassadors, Ellery (@its_ellevalentine), stepped back in front of my camera for her second go-round with the powder experience!
If Ellery looks familiar, it’s because she is no stranger to this setup. Last year, she braved the powder alongside some of her talented friends from the West Jersey Youth Ballet. But this year? Ellery wanted to up the ante, push her creative boundaries, and take her imagery to a whole new artistic level.
Preparation Meets Performance
To create truly breathtaking, high-fashion powdery art, we didn’t just wing it. Before the session, Ellery and I sat down to review potential poses, discuss angles, and plan out how to get the absolute most dynamic movement out of every cloud of powder.
That preparation paid off in a massive way.
[INSERT GALLERY OF ELLERY’S INDIVIDUAL SHOTS HERE]
Because we had a game plan, Ellery was able to focus entirely on her execution. She did her usual fantastic job—combining her technical ballet precision with dramatic, expressive shapes that made the powder look like an extension of her own body.
A Triple Threat: Dance, Theater, and Modeling
Watching Ellery work, it’s easy to see why her photos look like they belong in a high-fashion editorial. She is a truly versatile artist. Beyond being a gifted dancer, Ellery has a deep appreciation for modeling and is actively looking to pursue opportunities in the industry.
Her secret weapon? She is also no stranger to the theater stage!
That theatrical background shines through in her ability to project emotion, hold tension in a pose, and understand how to tell a story without saying a word. It makes her an absolute dream to collaborate with behind the camera.
The Masterpiece in Motion
Ellery, thank you for always bringing your “A-game,” your incredible work ethic, and your artistic vision to our sessions. You represent Dabour Photography so beautifully as an ambassador, and I am so proud of the art we created together during this session!
Ready to see Ellery’s jaw-dropping gallery?
Scroll down to see the results of our planning and passion in these highlights from her second powder experience!
[INSERT REMAINING FAVORITE GALLERY IMAGES OF ELLERY HERE]
When you run a specialized photography studio, you get used to people asking for the impossible—like throwing colored powder around in the dead of winter!
That is exactly how my story with Rhea began. Rhea, a talented dancer who is brand new to Dabour Photography, found my powder experience on Google and reached out in the middle of a freezing winter, ready to leap into the studio.
Of course, because safety and comfort are top priorities, I had to gently explain that throwing fine powder is an outdoor-only experience reserved for the beautiful, warm summer months. Instead of losing enthusiasm, Rhea did something only a truly dedicated dancer would do: she patiently waited.
When I finally announced the warm-weather dates, she was the first to jump on the schedule. And as it turned out, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
The Ultimate Birthday Celebration
What made this highly anticipated session extra special? The date we locked in fell exactly on Rhea’s birthday!
Talk about dedication. Instead of a traditional party, Rhea and her family drove nearly an hour and a half to spend her special day leaping, spinning, and creating gorgeous, powdery art in front of my lens.
Power, grace, and vibrant color. Rhea’s dynamic orange and yellow powder shot from our July 2026 sessions. Photo by Dave Dabour.The gorgeous, colorful floor is just as much a part of the magic! Photo by Dave Dabour.
For her very first time in front of my camera, Rhea was an absolute natural. She took direction beautifully, brought incredible energy, and trusted the process completely. The resulting images are powerful, elegant, and the perfect celebration of her talent.
Bringing the Dance Studio Family Together
Rhea had such an amazing time during her session that her mom was already looking toward the future before they even left. She asked if it would be possible to bring more dancers from Rhea’s home studio for a group experience.
My answer? An absolute, enthusiastic YES!
I love hosting group sessions. For any studios looking to do something similar, here is how we make it happen:
Gather the Crew: All it takes is a group of 6 or more dancers from the same studio.
Pick a Date: Reach out to me with a few date options that work for your group.
Build the Team: This experience is an incredible team-building activity for dancers. Watching each other leap, cheering each other on, and sharing the excitement of creating art together builds a bond that goes right back into the dance studio.
Welcome to the Dabour Photography Family, Rhea!
Rhea, thank you so much for choosing to spend your birthday creating magic with me. You did an incredible job, and I am so proud of the artwork we created together. I hope this was a birthday you’ll never forget, and I absolutely cannot wait to photograph you again in the future!
When a client tells you they are willing to drive well over an hour just to get in front of your camera, it is the ultimate compliment. But when they keep coming back for more? That is when you know you’ve found “your people.”
That is exactly how I feel about Lindsey and her incredible family.
A Familiar Face (and a New Adventure!)
If you’ve been following the blog, Lindsey might look familiar to you. Last year, she killed it during her senior portrait session. She loved the experience so much that she came back later that year for dance portraits—specifically to brave my rain machine experience.
Ever since then, Lindsey had her eyes set on the next big adventure: The Powder Experience. She patiently waited for our schedules to align, and when the dates finally locked in, she didn’t come alone. This time, she brought reinforcements.
Double the Sisters, Triple the Talent
For this session, Lindsey brought along her younger sister, Alayna, and her incredibly talented friend, Eleanor.
Working with three dancers in a high-energy powder shoot can be a whirlwind, but these three absolute rockstars blew me away. The movement, the timing, and the sheer enthusiasm they brought to the studio made every single frame magic.
Capturing the “Legendary” Sister Shot
While Eleanor, Lindsey, and Alayna all crushed their individual shots, we had to do something extra special for the sisters.
We spent some time coordinating, timing, and laughing our way through a few attempts to capture a truly legendary sister picture. The goal? A simultaneous, perfectly timed powder hair flip.
It takes serious coordination to get one dancer’s hair flip perfectly framed with powder—doing it with two at the exact same millisecond is next-level. But they nailed it.
Powder dance portrait session on July 12, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
No Retirement Allowed!
I think it’s safe to say the shoot was a massive success. In fact, Lindsey and Alayna’s mom was so thrilled with how everything turned out that she officially put her foot down regarding my career timeline:
“You absolutely cannot retire until you do Alayna’s senior portraits in a few years!”
Don’t worry, Mom—I’m not going anywhere! I am already counting down the years until Alayna is back in front of my lens for her own senior session.
Thank you so much to Lindsey, Alayna, and Eleanor for making the drive, bringing the energy, and helping me create some of my absolute favorite images of the year.
Want to see more of the action?
Scroll down to see some of my favorite highlights from this unforgettable, powder-filled day!
Powder dance portrait session on July 12, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Dance ambassador Sydney captured in an artistic, balanced pose during our 2026 Powder Experience. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
There’s an old saying: “Speak softly but carry a big stick.” If I were to adapt that for the photography world, I’d say: Speak softly, but let your posing take center stage.
That perfectly describes Sydney, one of my returning dance ambassadors. While she might be quiet and soft-spoken in conversation, the moment she steps into the frame, her presence is absolutely commanding. She doesn’t just strike a pose; she owns it.
A Collaborative Creative Spirit
One of my favorite parts about working with Sydney is how collaborative she is. She is always incredibly open to any pose suggestions I throw her way, but she never arrives empty-handed. She always has a notebook’s worth of creative ideas of her own!
During our recent session with the color powder, we traded ideas back and forth, resulting in some truly breathtaking, dynamic action shots.
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
A Beautiful Sense of Déjà Vu
One specific pose Sydney was determined to capture was a close-up focusing entirely on her legs and feet en pointe, surrounded by the exploding powder.
As I was looking through the viewfinder, adjusting the lights, and creating the image, a massive wave of familiarity washed over me. I knew I had seen this exact composition before.
Then it hit me—years ago, I captured this exact same powerful, elegant pose with her older sister, Zoey! It was a beautiful, unexpected moment of dancer déjà vu. Talent and grace definitely run deep in this family.
Whether she is curled up in a quiet, intense moment of focus or exploding through the air, Sydney continues to be an absolute joy to photograph.
What do you think of Sydney’s latest session? Let me know your favorite shot in the comments below!
Dance ambassador Sydney captured in an artistic, balanced pose during our 2026 Powder Experience. Photo by DAVE DABOUR PhotographyPowder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
There is nothing quite like the chaotic, exhilarating magic of a powder dance portrait session. It is high-stakes, incredibly messy, and requires split-second timing from both the photographer and the dancer.
Wednesday evening, I stepped into the outdoor studio with four of our incredible dance ambassadors—Sydney, Emma, Molly S, and our newest (and youngest!) ambassador, Claire. We had a game plan, a mountain of powder, and a lot of creative energy.
My wife managed to capture some incredible behind-the-scenes (BTS) photos that show exactly what goes into making these jaw-dropping images. Let’s take a look behind the curtain at how the magic happened!
Before a single grain of powder flew, we huddled up. Powder sessions are high-energy and fast-paced, so communication is everything. I love this shot my wife caught of Sydney, Emma, Molly, and Claire locked in and ready for the game plan. Total professionals from minute one!
Every dancer moves differently, which means the powder reacts differently. Here’s a peek behind the curtain of me and Sydney (@squidneykdancer_2012) brainstorming how to launch the powder to perfectly accentuate her lines. And wait until you see how the final shot turned out below…
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Next up was Emma (@extendandelevate), who truly lived up to her social media handle. She brought an incredible mix of flexibility and power to the set, pushing through the dust clouds to deliver pure elegance.
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Welcoming Our Newest Ambassador: Claire
A special shout-out has to go to Claire. As our newest and youngest ambassador on set, stepping into a high-intensity powder session could have been intimidating. Instead, she completely crushed it! She took direction beautifully, showed amazing maturity, and delivered some of my favorite images of the night.
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
The Split-Second: Capturing Molly S
Timing a powder explosion requires split-second precision. My wife snapped this awesome perspective from right behind my shoulder just as Molly (@mollystinson7) launched into the air. Swipe down to see exactly what my sensor saw at this exact millisecond!
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Want to Create Your Own Magic?
A massive thank you to my wife for capturing the behind-the-scenes gold, and to Sydney, Emma, Molly, and Claire for leaving everything out on the dance floor (literally!).
If you’re looking for a portrait experience that’s bold, dynamic, and unlike anything you’ve ever seen, Powder Dance Portrait Sessions are the ultimate way to capture movement in its most explosive form. These sessions blend athleticism, artistry, and pure creative energy — resulting in portraits that feel alive, powerful, and unforgettable.
Whether you’re a solo dancer, a group of friends, or a full dance team, powder portraits create dramatic images that celebrate strength, motion, and personality. And they’re not just for dancers — gymnasts, cheerleaders, athletes, and performers of all kinds can create stunning visuals with this unique experience.
The wait is over—Powder Dance Portrait sessions are officially back! Capture your movement in its most explosive form this summer and early fall. Book your session today and create something unforgettable!
What Makes Powder Portraits So Special?
Powder sessions are all about capturing motion in a way that feels larger than life. As dancers leap, turn, or create shapes, clouds of powder explode around them — highlighting lines, emphasizing movement, and creating images that look like they belong on a poster or magazine cover.
These sessions are:
High‑energy and visually dramatic
Perfect for groups or teams
A fun, creative bonding experience
Ideal for dancers, gymnasts, cheerleaders, and athletes
A chance to create something bold and unforgettable
Every session is different, because every dancer brings their own style, movement, and personality to the powder.
Where and When Do Powder Sessions Take Place?
Powder portraits are held outdoors at my studio in Bloomsbury, NJ, during the evening hours when the light is perfect and the atmosphere adds to the drama.
Because these sessions take place outside, they are weather‑dependent — but that’s part of what makes them so special. When the conditions are right, the results are absolutely stunning.
These sessions are limited and only offered during the summer and early fall, making them one of the most exclusive portrait experiences I offer each year.
Perfect for Solo Dancers, Friends, or Full Teams
Powder portraits work beautifully for:
Solo dancers who want dramatic, artistic images
Best friends who want a fun, unforgettable experience
Dance teams looking for standout group portraits
Gymnasts and cheerleaders who want to highlight jumps, tumbling, and flexibility
Athletes who want something bold and powerful
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, building your portfolio, or just looking for an incredible creative experience, powder portraits deliver.
See More Examples & Learn More
Want to see what powder portraits look like in action? You can explore more images and get additional details here:
