I’ve photographed Becky several times over at her studio, West Jersey Youth Ballet, but this was her first time coming into my studio for some creative dance portraits. She showed up ready to work, and it showed — every pose came together with the kind of ease that only comes from years of training.
Becky did a fantastic job, and I’m already hoping she’ll come back for another session soon.
One of my dance ambassadors, Rylea (@balletlifeofrylea), came back to the studio this summer for another session — this time bringing her friend Becky along for a set of duets. Rylea dances at West Jersey Youth Ballet, and it always shows in her lines and control, even in a still photograph.
While she was here, we also carved out time for a few solo portraits, with Rylea in a beautiful pale blue costume with soft floral detailing — something of a cupid-inspired look that suited her perfectly.
Look for the duet images in another blog post. Here are some of my favorites of Rylea alone:
This is a once-in-a-generation patriotic portrait series for dancers, built around movement, strength, joy, and American spirit.
In honor of America’s 250th birthday, I’m excited to introduce a new limited dance portrait series: 250 in Motion: An American Spirit Dance Portrait Series.
This concept was created especially for dancers. It combines a large American flag backdrop, red, white, and blue styling, and expressive movement to create portraits that feel bold, celebratory, and timeless.
The goal of this series is simple: to celebrate the spirit of the moment through dance.
These sessions are not about costumes, props, or novelty. They are about movement, strength, personality, and creating something memorable during a once-in-a-generation milestone year. Dancers can keep the look clean and classic with a simple red, white, or blue leotard, or add more movement with a skirt, fabric, or other dancewear that fits the patriotic theme.
A limited dance portrait experience celebrating America’s 250th birthday through movement, strength, and patriotic style.
The first test session brought this idea to life beautifully. We created everything from strong standing portraits to dramatic leaps, flowing fabric images, ballet-inspired poses, and fun Americana-inspired moments. The result is a series that feels energetic, proud, artistic, and very much centered on the dancer.
250 in Motion is a great fit for dancers who want something different from a traditional recital or studio portrait. It can work for ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, or any dancer who wants a patriotic portrait with personality.
Session availability will be limited due to my spring and early summer schedule. If you are interested in creating your own 250 in Motion portraits, please reach out for details and available dates.
More of my favorite images from the initial session:
There’s something uniquely special about photographing a dancer you’ve worked with for years. Mia has been in front of my camera many times — for artistic portraits, senior photos, and now her final dance portrait session before she heads off to college. Each time, she brings the same qualities that make her such a joy to photograph: talent, focus, and a natural ease that turns every pose into art.
This year marks a big milestone for her. Mia is a high school senior, and in just a few months she’ll be attending Montclair, where she’ll study both dance and fashion — a combination that fits her perfectly. Watching her step confidently into this next chapter has been inspiring, even if I selfishly wish I had just a little more time to create with her.
Earlier in the year, during one of our artistic sessions, I asked Mia and her mom if she still had her very first dance costume. Her face lit up as she said yes. I told her, “You have to bring it to our next session.” And she did.
Seeing her holding that tiny costume — the one that started it all — was a full‑circle moment. It was a reminder of how far she’s come, how much she’s grown, and how dance has shaped her into the artist she is today. Photographing her with it felt like capturing a bridge between the beginning of her journey and the incredible future waiting for her.
I’m so proud of Mia and everything she’s accomplished. While I’m excited to see where her talent takes her next, part of me wishes I had a few more years to create more incredible dance portrait art with her. But that’s the beauty of these sessions — they freeze time, even as life keeps moving forward.
Here’s to Mia — to her artistry, her dedication, and the next chapter she’s about to write.
Some of my favorite images from the session:
Some sessions feel less like a photoshoot and more like a collaboration — a shared creative rhythm where everything just clicks. My senior dance portrait session with Maddy, a dancer at West Jersey Youth Ballet, was exactly that kind of experience.
If you know Maddy, you know she’s one of those dancers who naturally draws people in. She’s admired by the younger dancers, trusted by her peers, and respected for her work ethic. But what makes photographing her truly special is her artistic eye. She doesn’t just do a pose — she shapes it, breathes into it, and elevates it.
We started with a quiet, grounded moment: Maddy lacing up her pointe shoes, relaxed and smiling. It set the tone for the entire session — calm, focused, and full of intention.
From there, she moved effortlessly into bold, sculptural shapes. Deep lunges, dramatic backbends, and long, extended lines that filled the studio with energy. She has this rare ability to make strength look effortless and artistry look instinctive.
One of my favorite parts of the session was exploring more conceptual imagery. The umbrella pose — whimsical, elegant, and full of personality — felt like a perfect reflection of her creative spirit. And the green dress moment? Pure magic. The way the fabric caught the air as she turned created a sense of motion you could feel even in a still frame.
Alongside her dance portraits, we created a polished headshot for her upcoming summer internship auditions. Maddy has an exciting season ahead, and it was important to craft something that reflects not just her technique, but her maturity, confidence, and the thoughtful artist she’s becoming.
Photographing seniors is always meaningful, but photographing a senior who brings this level of artistry is something I don’t take for granted. Maddy’s session was a celebration of everything she’s accomplished — and everything she’s stepping into next.
Below are a few of my favorite images from our time together. Each one captures a different facet of who she is: strong, expressive, creative, and deeply dedicated to her craft.
If you’re a dancer looking to create your own senior portraits — or preparing for auditions and need updated headshot — I’d love to help you craft something that feels authentically you. Contact me today.
Some dancers make an impression the moment you meet them — not because they’re the loudest in the room, but because of the quiet confidence they carry with them. Rylea (@balletlifeofrylea) is one of those dancers. This is her first year as one of my dance ambassadors, and from the very beginning she’s shown me exactly why she belongs here.
My first impression of Rylea was that she was soft‑spoken but approachable — the kind of dancer who listens, observes, and then surprises you with thoughtful conversation when you least expect it. In between locations during sessions, she’s always willing to chat, and not with one‑word answers either. She shares what she likes, what she’s working on, what inspires her. Those moments matter to me. They help me understand the dancer behind the technique.
I first met Rylea when she came to me for a headshot session for some summer intensives she wanted to apply to. Even then, I noticed her attention to detail. That trait showed up again during picture day at West Jersey Youth Ballet, her home studio. She reached out afterward because she noticed one of her poses wasn’t included in the final delivery. She wasn’t upset — she was curious. Was it blurry? Was something off? She genuinely liked the pose and wanted to understand. I checked, and she was absolutely right: it was a great image that somehow didn’t make the cut. That level of awareness is rare, especially in a younger dancer.
Fast forward to this year’s ambassador program. I put out a call looking for one or two volunteers to help me test a new location. Within 30 minutes, I had six replies. I figured that was more than enough… and then Rylea messaged me asking if it was too late. I told her I already had more dancers than I needed. Then she mentioned she lived in the town where the shoot was happening. That sealed it — of course she had to come. I invited her to join me the next evening while I was photographing senior portraits, and she fit right into the flow. But then she surprised me and showed up that night not expecting to be photographed – but to support her dance friends!
One of the moments that truly solidified her ambassador status happened at the State Theatre of the Arts in Easton, PA. Most of my ambassadors attended the invite‑only session, but Rylea’s mom let me know she had school picture day and could only stay for the first hour. So we made it work. We started with group portraits on the stage, and then I photographed Rylea first. She may be one of my younger ambassadors, but when she stepped onto that stage, she owned it. Her first few solo portraits were exactly the images I had envisioned when planning the entire event. She didn’t just rise to the occasion — she defined it.
Since then, we’ve created even more together: studio sessions, artistic concepts, specialty portraits, and a photo walk in Easton with Elijah that turned into one of those perfect evenings — golden light, great energy, and portfolio‑level images at every stop.
Rylea is thoughtful, dedicated, and quietly powerful in a way that makes you pay attention. I’m grateful she’s part of this ambassador team, and I’m excited for the years ahead — especially the duets I already see forming in my mind.
Here’s to many more sessions, more creativity, and more beautiful art together.
Some of my favorite images created together so far:
Some dancers grow in quiet, steady ways — the kind of progress you only notice when you’ve photographed them over many seasons. Olivia Klein (@oliviaklovesballet) is one of those dancers. She has been with me since the very beginning of my ambassador program, and every time she steps in front of my camera, she brings a little more strength, artistry, and confidence than the time before.
Olivia currently dances with West Jersey Youth Ballet (@westjerseyyouthballet), where her dedication shows in every rehearsal and every performance. What amazes me most about Olivia is how consistently she improves. She shows up ready to work, ready to grow, and ready to give her all — whether we’re shooting something classic, creative, or completely new.
She’s also closely connected to several of my other ambassadors. Olivia and Vivi are great friends and often join forces for dance portrait sessions, feeding off each other’s energy and artistry. And her younger sister, Brielle, has become a familiar face at specialty sessions — often jumping in with Olivia for portraits together. It’s been a joy watching Olivia’s world expand through dance, friendships, and family.
Olivia always makes an impact when she’s in front of my camera. She brings a quiet determination, a thoughtful presence, and a genuine love for dance that shines through every image we create together. I’m grateful to have her as one of my original ambassadors and look forward to seeing where her dedication takes her next.
Some of my favorite images of Olivia:
Every dance ambassador brings something unique to my camera, but some dancers become woven into the fabric of my work in a special way. Vivi Taggart (@balletvivi) is one of them.
Vivi has been with me since the very beginning — long before my ambassador program officially existed. I’ve photographed her through countless seasons, styles, and creative experiments. In fact, other dance photographers have asked me more than once if she’s my daughter because she appears so often in my feed. While she isn’t, I’ll admit there are stretches where I see my dance ambassadors more than some of my own family.
What makes Vivi stand out is her willingness to jump into anything. Outdoor portraits? She’s in. Low light? High key? Holiday themes? Powder? Rain? Sunflowers? Valentine concepts? She’s already tying her shoes and warming up. She’s the first to raise her hand when I want to test a new lighting setup or explore a fresh idea, and she brings the same enthusiasm every single time.
Her dedication to her craft is unmistakable. Vivi trains relentlessly and spends her summers in intensive programs that leave her with only a sliver of downtime. This upcoming summer, she’ll be attending The Rock School’s five‑week Ballet Intensive, followed by one week of their Contemporary Intensive in Philadelphia, and then two weeks at Ducon in Virginia. Her commitment to growth is inspiring, and it shows in every frame we create together.
Vivi take dance instruction at West Jersey Youth Ballet @westjerseyyouthballet) in Annandale, NJ
It’s always a joy to photograph Vivi — her artistry, her work ethic, and her trust make her an essential part of my creative world. I’m grateful for every session we’ve shared and look forward to many more years of her in front of my lens.
Some of my favorite images of Vivi from just the past year:
For more information on my dance ambassador program please go here. Accepting applications for next year starting June 2026.
Amelia and I recently collaborated on an artistic dance portrait session, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. She’s one of my dance ambassadors, and every time we work together, she brings poise, creativity, and a willingness to explore new ideas.
This session included both silhouette work and dramatic lighting setups. I probably asked her to try poses she’d never done before — but you wouldn’t know it. She moved with the confidence and grace of a seasoned pro, adapting instantly and making each frame feel intentional and expressive.
From bold shapes to quiet emotion, Amelia delivered a range of looks that highlight not just her talent, but the power of dance to tell a story. These portraits are a testament to what happens when trust, artistry, and light come together.
