How I shoot dancers
at any given location
Photographing dancers in any indoor location may seem simple, but I discovered that every situation is different. When you will think about it, a lot of the things I am about to share with you will sound obvious. But you quickly forget these simple things and when dealing with them the day of your shoot, you will certainly make mistakes and waste some precious time which will require more work in post, if you can fix it!
When scouting for locations, when visiting the spaces you will use for your future shoot pay attention to theses basic simple things:
Height of ceiling
Size/ Surface of each room
Possible accessories, furniture, and practical lights you can use
Pay attention to the Windows and the amount of light coming in at different times of the day and the Types of lights inside (Beware of color temperature)
And finally, all the colors surrounding you
Remember my last video about preparing your shoots... this video is kind of linked to it!
Do yourself a favor, prepare your photoshoot!
Now you have all you need to prepare your shoot... You can choose alone or with your team, the colors of the outfits, the type of lights you will bring with you, the focal lengths you will be able to use, the amount of gear and so on...
Depending on the project, on what you wish to tell, on what your client needs, you will have at your disposal all the information you need to make your decisions.
Let me share with you a few examples... Hôtel rooms are tricky it's not something I fancy but sometimes, you just have to make the images you asked to do. And I usually take this as a challenge.
Evie Ball Canon 5D Mark III 1/100sec f4 ISO100 at 24mm
Florencia Chinellato Canon 5D Mark III 1/160sec f4.5 ISO640 at 24mm
Clara René Canon 5D Mark III 1/50sec f2.8 ISO250 at 33mm
Working in the lobby of the grand Opera hôtel was fun but required multiple takes and tests to get it right.
Olivia Lindon Canon 5D Mark III 1/200sec f4.5 ISO640 at 24mm
We had enough room to have a few options in terms of focal lengths, no windows, just artificial light all around... and of course, mirrors everywhere.
Olivia Lindon Canon 5D Mark III 1/200sec f4.5 ISO640 at 26mm