EST.D 2007 Suzanne Taylor
Photography Turning Emotion into Art • Red Deer, Alberta •

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Red Deer Dance Photography | Suzanne Taylor Photography

Red Deer Dance Photography

Dancing has always been apart of my life. I started off as a child who did the compulsory ballet with the beautiful pink tutu, pink tights, and pink leotard. I loved every aspect of dance and the world of ballet. It was girly, fun and really – if costumes are involved who can go wrong? As time went on and I became older, I embraced the arts and found myself back in dance when I took musical theater in high school. There was a significant gap between elementary school and high school, but I always loved the idea of dance. When I became an adult, I spent many hours dancing in clubs and bars. I know that sounds super crazy, but my friends and I would just go dancing – not much more or less.

As an adult, I don’t get to dance nearly as much as I would love to. I have arthritis, bad joints, blah, blah, blah….but at the end of the day I feel that currently that those dancing days in Red Deer are over for me. Luckily for me, I have two little girls who seemingly love red deer dance as much as I do. I also have customers who have children who love to dance in Red Deer as well.

Red Deer Dance Photography captured by Suzanne Taylor Photography

Red Deer Dance Photography Talent

Since my girls entered ballet a few years ago at Dancer’s Edge in Lacombe, Alberta – I have been blown away by the talent that I have seen between there and Red Deer, Alberta dance students. This young lady’s name is Kaitlyn and she is a dancer with Dance Magic in Red Deer, Alberta. The best part about this Red Deer dancer is that she is only 9.

Kaitlyn’s Mom contacted me way back in the early spring about booking a Creative Child Portraiture session for her daughter, based on her love of dance. What we decided after several consultations (included in the session fee) was that we would plan for a beautiful ballet photography shoot. The family was eager to use the Gull Lake, Alberta area that I love and so we embraced the weather, the lake, and some seriously gorgeous ballet outfits.

Red Deer Dance Photography captured by Suzanne Taylor Photography

The Problem with Traditional Dance Photography

This portion of the blog post isn’t to poop on any traditional dance photographer out there. I highly value traditional photography styles and what they bring to the world of dance and anywhere else they are viewed. In the last few years though, and to be totally honest – chatting with a bunch of customers who have had dance photography done over the last few years in Red Deer and Calgary, typically the consensus is that the images don’t really flatter the dancers. I am talking about the posed photography that is done at the end of recitals. After being through this process two times now, to be honest, I know what my Red Deer Dance Photography customers are talking about. The technicality of the photos we have received is spot on – but the posing is rushed, often awkward and often reminds you of awkward school photos. I have heard from several young ladies that they don’t care for the photography that comes from those sessions and typically want something ‘different’ when they come to Red Deer Dance Photographer, Suzanne Taylor Photography.

All photography has a place – I really want to stress that. To be honest, many people would not like my work and I can tell you that the image that heads my Suzanne Taylor Photography blog post is one my own Mother wouldn’t choose – as I have written before, she hates black and white photography. Figures hey? My point is that we all have different tastes and I will ALWAYS stand by the point that so long as some kind of photography is done, you’re doing better than a lot of other people out there. We live in a digital world and if you can humor me, ask yourself, friends or family when the last time was they printed any of their cell phone images? All it takes is one catastrophic moment where your phone doesn’t back up, the information becomes corrupt, etc. and all of that is gone. I learned when I was hacked a year and a half ago (read THIS BLOG POST) that you ALWAYS need backups of your photography, but a hard printed copy is ultimately the best way to go. If you never take the picture – you won’t even have the opportunity to lose them.

Why Professional Red Deer Dance Photography Should Be Invested In

The reason I became a photographer was a very selfish reason years ago. All I simply wanted to be able to do was to take ‘good’ pictures of my kids when I had them one day. I figured I would be able to save myself a few dollars if I could take some pictures at least as good as the big box stores from my youth. As the last 10 years came and went, I refined my style and efforts so that I would be able to create images that were more artful and beautiful than the average photographer will produce. Photographing and producing beautiful images is what keeps my drive and passion alive.

As you can see from this very small sample of images from this session (there was over 90 that I proofed), the professional Red Deer dance photography session with Suzanne Taylor Photography is something that goes above and beyond images captured at the end of a recital. Suzanne Taylor Photography captures depth, movement, emotion, and beauty as the dancer moves freely to the music they are dreaming of in their mind during the session. Can you imagine the freedom, happiness, and love this young lady felt during this photo shoot near Red Deer, Alberta? Kaitlyn lives and breathes dance and this was truly one of the best gifts her parents could have ever given her.

These images not only capture Kaitlyn’s movements, but also her love for the art she has chosen to excel in. Watching her move being all of 9 years old was amazing and the confidence she danced with in front of my camera was magical. Think of your child having the opportunity to star in their own professional Red Deer dance photography session. The light in their eyes and the smile on their face…

If this session has inspired you to book your child’s (or your own if you are a dancer who would love the opportunity) Red Deer dance photography session, please fill out the contact form on my website menu HERE or send me an email at hello@suzannetaylorphotography.com. You can also give me a call at 403-550-9965 so that we can begin planning your Red Deer dance photography shoot.

Please enjoy the rest of this beautiful shoot as we moved from the forest to the water. What a gorgeous night and a session to remember forever with a beautiful young dancer and Suzanne Taylor Photography!