Dance studio portraits

[10dedfish]

Hey everyone,

I have a dance studio portrait session coming up soon, and was wondering if anyone had any tips for shooting a large number of people. There are about 32 girls that are students and most have at least 3 costumes, some as many as 5.

Does anyone use a signup sheet or do they have other tricks for keeping track of which girls are in which costume?

Thanks

Matt

 

[photo_chick]

The guy who handles the studio portraits at my DD's dance school is really good at it. He's been doing it for a long time and has a great system down, though our studio is probably 4 times the size what you're dealing with (we have 78 dances at this years recital) so this may be a little overkill for you.... One room in the studio is set up for the group shots of the dances. Then another is set up for the individual shots. That way he doesn't have to change the lights or anything between the two. He shoots the group, then those who want individual pics in that costume line up and he shoots those. Then they change if they need to while he shoots another dance. It moves very, very fast. Also, each dance is numbered so when you order you just put the correct number. For the individual pictures he takes a shot of the order form before he takes the pictures of the dancer so all that information is right there.

The other thing, and it's a big thing, is that parents are not allowed in the room when the groups are shot. If parents are in there they will coach from the sides. The kids will look all over the place (even the older ones) and not at you. I thought it was harsh at our studio at first, but it works and I now see it is necessary if you have more than two dancers together.

My other advice based on 6 years of being a parent in these situations and what I've seen... have a schedule for groups. Get with the studio director and tell them how long you need to shoot each group. Make sure all parents understand to have thier child there with makeup and in costume for the first shot at least 30 minutes before the appointed time. Our studio director says it's to check costumes and make sure all is good, but it's really to catch the stragglers. Make sure it is understood that they do not want heavy stage makeup for pictures. It looks great on stage but fake in pictures. Dance moms don't get that. And let the studio director or dance teacher do most of the posing for the groups. They usually have a good idea of what works. If they don't, the starting or ending pose for a dance often works (a lot of our pictures are modified versions of those).

 

[10dedfish]

Once again you come to my rescue Danielle! I will definitely try to implement some of these ideas. Once again, its kinda of short notice, so I'm not sure I can get a schedule out in time, but I will keep that in mind for next year!!

Matt

 

[photo_chick]

Glad to help. Had I not participated in picture day at the dance studio as a parent I probably would have no idea where to start there as a photographer.

 

[Experiment_626]

Are you talking about making sure you get names with the correct photos? If so ...

One of my jobs each fall is to take portraits of all the incoming graduate students in our department. I have no idea who they are, but I get a list of their names and print it out the day before I shoot them. I also print a series of large numbers, a couple of inches tall, equal to the count of names I have, plus a few more. The students then come in small groups or singly throughout the day (and there will always be one or two who either try to blow it off or don't show up for more legitimate reasons, but I digress). As each student comes in, I get them to find their name on the list, correct the spelling if necessary, and I give them a number that matches the one by the name. I get them to hold up the number so it is visible in the first frame I shoot, which makes it easy to match them up later. Now, here in the physics department, lots of the grad students don't speak English very well, and I certainly speak nothing else. So sometimes I have to go to some length to get the students to hold the number up, but not, for example, right in front of their faces (I never have figured out why some of them apparently think that might be what I'd want), and then to put it down after the first shot. But eventually we get it sorted out. This system works pretty well for me.

SSB

 

[10dedfish]

Are you talking about making sure you get names with the correct photos? If so ...

One of my jobs each fall is to take portraits of all the incoming graduate students in our department. I have no idea who they are, but I get a list of their names and print it out the day before I shoot them. I also print a series of large numbers, a couple of inches tall, equal to the count of names I have, plus a few more. The students then come in small groups or singly throughout the day (and there will always be one or two who either try to blow it off or don't show up for more legitimate reasons, but I digress). As each student comes in, I get them to find their name on the list, correct the spelling if necessary, and I give them a number that matches the one by the name. I get them to hold up the number so it is visible in the first frame I shoot, which makes it easy to match them up later. Now, here in the physics department, lots of the grad students don't speak English very well, and I certainly speak nothing else. So sometimes I have to go to some length to get the students to hold the number up, but not, for example, right in front of their faces (I never have figured out why some of them apparently think that might be what I'd want), and then to put it down after the first shot. But eventually we get it sorted out. This system works pretty well for me.

SSB

HMm very good idea. I will see if I can whip something up before hand.

Thanks everyone

Matt

 

[juligrl]

The guy who handles the studio portraits at my DD's dance school is really good at it. He's been doing it for a long time and has a great system down, though our studio is probably 4 times the size what you're dealing with (we have 78 dances at this years recital) so this may be a little overkill for you.... One room in the studio is set up for the group shots of the dances. Then another is set up for the individual shots. That way he doesn't have to change the lights or anything between the two. He shoots the group, then those who want individual pics in that costume line up and he shoots those. Then they change if they need to while he shoots another dance. It moves very, very fast. Also, each dance is numbered so when you order you just put the correct number. For the individual pictures he takes a shot of the order form before he takes the pictures of the dancer so all that information is right there.

The other thing, and it's a big thing, is that parents are not allowed in the room when the groups are shot. If parents are in there they will coach from the sides. The kids will look all over the place (even the older ones) and not at you. I thought it was harsh at our studio at first, but it works and I now see it is necessary if you have more than two dancers together.

My other advice based on 6 years of being a parent in these situations and what I've seen... have a schedule for groups. Get with the studio director and tell them how long you need to shoot each group. Make sure all parents understand to have thier child there with makeup and in costume for the first shot at least 30 minutes before the appointed time. Our studio director says it's to check costumes and make sure all is good, but it's really to catch the stragglers. Make sure it is understood that they do not want heavy stage makeup for pictures. It looks great on stage but fake in pictures. Dance moms don't get that. And let the studio director or dance teacher do most of the posing for the groups. They usually have a good idea of what works. If they don't, the starting or ending pose for a dance often works (a lot of our pictures are modified versions of those).

Great tips! Also wanted to add, be prepared to do individual shots before the group shots to allow those who have back-to-back group photos in different costumes time to change. It keeps the photos moving along faster. I say this as a dance mom.

 

[10dedfish]

Great tips! Also wanted to add, be prepared to do individual shots before the group shots to allow those who have back-to-back group photos in different costumes time to change. It keeps the photos moving along faster. I say this as a dance mom.

Nice!! Didn't think about that, but will definitely keep that in mind as well. I will post some pix of my daughter in here once I get them processed, so you guys can see the results!!

Matt

 

[10dedfish]

Here are a few pictures from this past weekend of my daughter in her dance costumes.

This one I played around a little more with and added a glow...

Matt

 

[extreme8]

Hope your dance shoot went well!
But, to have some more info out there "just in case", the way I've handled my dance schools is almost exactly the way that photo_chick described.

My biggest school is about 90 girls X 2-5 costume changes each. I start on Saturday from 4-9 PM for the older girls and we're back at it Sunday morning at 8:30 until 7 or 8 PM. Schedule is completed several weeks before and all students know when they're expected.

I have a staffed table with cash box to take payment and be sure all order forms are completed.
One gotcha to look out for is the name of the dance class. Some parents will write Tuesday 6:30, another Tuesday Ballet, another "Dream", yet another "A dream is a wish", and someone else "Wish". Gets confusing so standardizing that is on the list for next season.

I take a shot of the order form in front of each girl so I can identify the order later, and I include my color checker passport in the shot so I'm sure to have it with each lighting change.

I keep moms out of the room but the studio owners are on hand to chimp and approve/disapprove of the shots. Moms trust them so it's usually OK.

Studio owners / instructors do most of the posing because of their familiarity with the choreography in that particular number. I make some tweaks but it's not usually anything major. The older girls are usually pretty good on their own.

I replaced my 10x20 background with a 20x20 because I got tired of patching it in photoshop for the group pictures. Well worth the investment.

Fortunately the schools I work with let me shoot in my style and appreciate the extra effort involved.
My daughter has been dancing so long that I've got plenty of flat lit shots of her in her costume, standing against a boring background leaning on a Grecian column in front of a vase full of flowers.

Here are a couple from last season.

1

2

3

4

5

6

 

[pgowder]

Here are a few pictures from this past weekend of my daughter in her dance costumes.

This one I played around a little more with and added a glow...

Matt

Don't know if you have already had your shot or not. But here are a couple of suggestions.

First pull your subjects further from the backdrop.

Looks like your white balance may be off a bit too.

I think you may also need more light on the face and less on the floor and backdrop.

Take a look at the other samples submitted. See how they had light fall off on the floor. This can be done with the lighting or in post processing.

 

[pgowder]

Hope your dance shoot went well!
But, to have some more info out there "just in case", the way I've handled my dance schools is almost exactly the way that photo_chick described.

My biggest school is about 90 girls X 2-5 costume changes each. I start on Saturday from 4-9 PM for the older girls and we're back at it Sunday morning at 8:30 until 7 or 8 PM. Schedule is completed several weeks before and all students know when they're expected.

I have a staffed table with cash box to take payment and be sure all order forms are completed.
One gotcha to look out for is the name of the dance class. Some parents will write Tuesday 6:30, another Tuesday Ballet, another "Dream", yet another "A dream is a wish", and someone else "Wish". Gets confusing so standardizing that is on the list for next season.

I take a shot of the order form in front of each girl so I can identify the order later, and I include my color checker passport in the shot so I'm sure to have it with each lighting change.

I keep moms out of the room but the studio owners are on hand to chimp and approve/disapprove of the shots. Moms trust them so it's usually OK.

Studio owners / instructors do most of the posing because of their familiarity with the choreography in that particular number. I make some tweaks but it's not usually anything major. The older girls are usually pretty good on their own.

I replaced my 10x20 background with a 20x20 because I got tired of patching it in photoshop for the group pictures. Well worth the investment.

Fortunately the schools I work with let me shoot in my style and appreciate the extra effort involved.
My daughter has been dancing so long that I've got plenty of flat lit shots of her in her costume, standing against a boring background leaning on a Grecian column in front of a vase full of flowers.

Here are a couple from last season.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Fantastic shots!

 

[10dedfish]

Hope your dance shoot went well!
But, to have some more info out there "just in case", the way I've handled my dance schools is almost exactly the way that photo_chick described.

My biggest school is about 90 girls X 2-5 costume changes each. I start on Saturday from 4-9 PM for the older girls and we're back at it Sunday morning at 8:30 until 7 or 8 PM. Schedule is completed several weeks before and all students know when they're expected.

I have a staffed table with cash box to take payment and be sure all order forms are completed.
One gotcha to look out for is the name of the dance class. Some parents will write Tuesday 6:30, another Tuesday Ballet, another "Dream", yet another "A dream is a wish", and someone else "Wish". Gets confusing so standardizing that is on the list for next season.

I take a shot of the order form in front of each girl so I can identify the order later, and I include my color checker passport in the shot so I'm sure to have it with each lighting change.

I keep moms out of the room but the studio owners are on hand to chimp and approve/disapprove of the shots. Moms trust them so it's usually OK.

Studio owners / instructors do most of the posing because of their familiarity with the choreography in that particular number. I make some tweaks but it's not usually anything major. The older girls are usually pretty good on their own.

I replaced my 10x20 background with a 20x20 because I got tired of patching it in photoshop for the group pictures. Well worth the investment.

Fortunately the schools I work with let me shoot in my style and appreciate the extra effort involved.
My daughter has been dancing so long that I've got plenty of flat lit shots of her in her costume, standing against a boring background leaning on a Grecian column in front of a vase full of flowers.

Here are a couple from last season.

1

2

3

4

5

6

I have to agree, this are absolutely amazing. I hope to get to this level one day, but i just cant seem to pull it off.

Thanks or the recommendations everyone, and yes the photo shoot has passed. Its getting large enough that I cant do it by myself, and I will look at getting more help next time. The Dance Teacher wants the shots done in her dance studio, and it is so narrow that its very hard to get any separation between me and the subject and the backdrop.

I think total distance from wall to wall maybe 12-15 feet.

Once again, thanks everyone, I will take notes down and implement them next shoot.

Matt

 

[extreme8]

Thanks for the kind comments all.

10dedfish, I was dealing with a situation similar to yours (but not quite as severe) with a shallow dance studio which limited my subject to background distance.
I struggled with getting some separation between the dancer and the background without being so far forward that I ended up with wide angle distortion. I ended up with the background a little more in focus than I would have liked but I adjusted for it by adjusting my strobes and grids to give me a more pronounced fall off.

There's really no magic here. As a photographer friend of mine says "see the light and shoot it".
I'm no pro, just a guy with a camera having some fun so I may not be the best guy to be giving advice but here's some info on the pics I shared if it helps.

Most of these were shot with 2 lights - a background light and a beauty dish on a boom (sometimes gridded, sometimes not). #4 was just a single source. I may have used a large softbox opposite the BD for fill on some of these but a foamcore reflector would have worked just as well.

All of the fall off was done with the lighting, no PP involved.
I know it's darker than some prefer but I like a more dramatic style.

Try to nail the white balance, exposure, and focus. Keep some light in the eyes (watch out for all those hats dance teachers like so much - see my last one for my solution ), and try and shoot with an aperture to soften the background but keep your subject in focus.
Easier said then done, I know!

If you're anything like me you'll get better every time out.

 

[NLD]

Extreme8, your shots are beautiful.

Do you use strobes or continuous lights?

Would you mind sharing what lights you have? Been thinking about some as a next investment...

 

[extreme8]

NLD, Glad you like 'em!

I've been using Alien Bee B-800's for the last couple of years along with the PCB modifiers.
They're great lights for the cost. Far better quality and support than the Ebay imports for not much more $$.

I'm seriously considering moving up to the Einstein though. The idea of setting a fixed color temp regardless of flash power is very appealing.