dance

If this stunning young beauty seems familiar to you, there’s a reason for that.   She was the featured model in a blog I posted recently from a photographer’s shootout I was a part of in down town New Market.   Weeks after that session Lindsey and her mom contacted me about being her senior portrait photographer and the wheels were set in motion for this fabulous night.

Lindsey was full of ideas and plenty of energy to match.  She was such a joy to work with.   We discussed the plan for her session ahead of time and landed on meadow + traintracks + industrial dance backdrop= perfection!

Mom and Dad were wonderful to work with too.  They were quick to gather up chairs and bags of equipment to help keep the whole shoot running smoothly.    They helped with outfit changes and gear swaps—they were just there whenever we needed a hand and then quietly slipped into the background to observe.  Thanks again for all your help and allowing Lindsey’s creativity to help craft an amazing session!

The cattle were very curious and vocal about our stepping into their world with our plans!  A few stopped to watch us pretty intently with a look that can only be described as quizzical.

Little girls and dance just seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly.   Little girls spend hours throughout their childhood winding up their jewelry boxes just to watch their tiny ballerinas spin around and around.    They put on their tutus and just start spinning till they are so dizzy they fall over.   They waltz in time through their family rooms with Cinderella and her prince as the dvd plays.   Those same little girls grow up into women who will cajole reluctant husbands out onto dance floors at weddings.   I grew up a child of the 80’s always wishing for dance lessons but instead settled for leaping around the house as soon as the Fame theme song started up.  

I have vivid recollections of whirling and leaping as I screamed out  “Fame!  I’m gonna live forever , I’m gonna learn how to fly, high!”  So it was really cool to photograph a true ballerina who has spent years perfecting her craft and was able to leap up on point so gracefully.  The utter ease with which Lindsey danced and spun was evidence of the countless hours she’s spent in studio training.   

(Look for a new “Dance” section to be coming in my portfolio soon!)

Lindsey’s grace is not just something that is evident in her dancing, but her personal demeanor as well.  She may look like a super model; but she certainly doesn’t act like one!   Her beauty radiates from deep within and shines through her countenance. 

Lindsey’s been dancing practically since she could walk!  Mom was hoping to raise an athlete but Lindsey found herself out of sorts on the basketball court in sweats and tennis shoes.  She longed for her tutu, bun and point shoes and that’s where mom’s graciousness enters the scene. 

Mom realized the athletic field, while it had been where she felt most at home growing up, was just not where Lindsey did.  So, she packed up the basketballs and signed up for years of dance lessons, recitals and costume fittings.   And now her little ballerina will soon be graduating and leaping onto her next stage of life as a young woman.

Hold the phone!—can someone call Vogue or Top Model or something because I’m pretty sure this ballerina qualifies as high fashion!! 

As I was photographing Lindsey I mentioned that Degas was one of my favorite painters.  Since ballerinas were one of his popular subjects, I figured there was a good chance she’d seen some of his images, even if she didn’t know him by name.

“Degas—I LOVE him!  I love his work—I wrote a paper on him last semester!” Lindsey was quick to share.   So Lindsey knew exactly the vision I had for her dance photos and we created art with her life on this evening!  

It was clear that Lindsey’s dance training has her stamina fully developed.  When I asked her if she could jump again to do another susie her answer was always, ‘oh sure, I could do these all night!’  

An active session that links into a passion allows beauty to shine through.   Just seems nothing matches the joy on a person’s face when they are doing what they love most in life!   Lindsey—never stop dancing, leaping and whirling your way through this life and all it has to offer you!   Best wishes on an amazing senior year!