I recently volunteered to shoot a charity event for pets, and it was a pretty fun burlesque show at the United States Art Authority. The best part about shooting performers is when they’re getting ready backstage. A lot of artists have rituals they do to calm themselves or psych themselves pre-show. And I prefer shooting people when they’re unaware anyways.
When I’m shooting a couple, I take many pictures, and generally it takes time for people to loosen up and let the intimacies and tenderness in a relationship show through. Especially to someone they don’t really know, who is carrying a giant camera. Here is one of the last shots I took of them. Just for a moment, they forgot I was there.
The bride works as a costume mistress for Ballet Austin, and I’m sure her wedding is going to be beautiful.
This is really beautiful, Nadine. I can’t wait to see more from this session. =)
They look like a really cute couple – I imagine the wedding will be fab!
Sweet π His expression is so filled with love. I really like the muted colors in your processing here, too.
I just love it when they forget you’re there, great shot!
Love the description of the time leading up to this moment. We’ve all been there, or at least wanted to get to this *exact* moment where the clients are so lost in each other that you disappear π
Gorgeous.
Mike and I would like to say thank you yet again. We absolutely adore this photo!
Dude, they look so into each other. Love it.
Can’t wait to see the wedding image, they look so absorbed in each other!
They’ll love this. =)
Stunning…. So romantic!!
It is quite a talent to be able to not only recognize these moments but also to capture them. Well done.
That’s the hallmark of a good wedding photographer. Make them comfortable enough to forget you. Great shot.
Fabulous shot. Well done!
I love the Esperanza in the foreground! It really completes the composition.
You can almost feel the love radiating off of them…I agree with Mark, very romantic!
What a beautiful moment, Nadine.
Well don, Nadine! What a beautiful moment.
This image is so tranquil, yet so loving.
I started taking classes at Ballet Austin at the ripe old age of 21. In the ballet world, this is way too old to be taking class. But many places now offer classes for adults, I suppose as a way to keep in shape, or for professionals to take additional classes.
I remember struggling with a pirouette, wobbling everywhere. The teacher, Kermit Allen, placed his hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eye, and said: “You can do it! I have faith in you!”
It was years later before I could manage to do a single pirouette turn with any semblance of grace. But I still remember how he inspired me to keep trying. I still try, with other adults who grasp at moments of gracefulness and beauty at the barre. While the younger kids lift their back leg almost to their ears, we strain to get it to at least 90 degrees, and feel so amazingly proud when we do.
Sometimes I look at the lithe 16 year old teenage nymphs and wonder what I’m doing here. But those moments are eclipsed by the myriad ecstasies of dance: flying through a powerful jump, arms and fingers moving in an ethereal flow, getting a combination just right with the music.
I watch my 70 year old friend lift her leg in an arabesque, her arms softly moving forward, and I am even more inspired.
A few years ago, I stumbled upon a summer camp for adult ballet dancers, Sun King Dance. Many of us call it ballet fantasy camp. It’s a bunch of adults who are infatuated with ballet. We learn choreography, variations, partnering during the day, then we go out drinking during the night. We laugh with each other… and at each other. There is the camaraderie of a shared ridiculous passion.
Here are our moments:
Aww Nadine, these are great! I love the toe socks with the ballet shoes π It’s great that you decided to do this, I think it looks like a lot of fun π
I don’t do much ballet.. π However I agree that you are never too old to dance! I find myself wanting to dance more as I get older actually. Love the photos!
How fun!! I took ballet for the first time at age 22 – I was hopeless, but it was a great workout, haha! Beautiful shots!
What a beautiful and inspiring post. Gorgeous pictures!
Wow Nadine…beautifully written. Ever so personal and poignant, really really captured how all we “older adult dancers” feel. And of course the piccies are GREAT! ;D
dance is a very difficult thing to capture. i think you did very well and the look of them is so cool. the one girl’s smile is priceless
Fabulous blog and photos! Thanks for sharing this. π
What a beautiful and inspiring post! Love the shots of the ballet shoes.
These are great. I love the first one especially. And I *totally* want to go to ballet fantasy camp.
Love the smiling dancer. π
That sounds like an amazing summer camp. You’re never too old to do anything! π And I love all the detail shots of the shoes.
I LOVE these! Really great job. I love the shot of the woman massaging her food with a little look of pain on her face. Great capture!
These make me smile and my feet hurt at the same time! Great job!
Wonderful. The first shot is stunning.
This is so lovely… the focus and colors are magic.
We spent some time chasing the peacocks at Mayfield Park, hoping that they would spread their glorious tail feathers and be the backdrop for Tim’s warrior pose, but they were shy that day. The summer evening was warm, and there were mosquitos out in full force, but that didn’t stop Tim from attacking his yoga poses with strength and vigor. It was a joy photographing him.
Great use of natural light in this photo series.
Love the light on that first shot. Fantastic!
Agreed. Nice light.
Make that 4 for fans of the use of natural light. Awesome.
wow! beautiful, beautiful light. these images are dripping gold… just beautifully captured.
Wonderful use of lighting. Great job!
I agree, the lighting is fantastic…very warm and inviting
Beautiful light; bendy back π
Did an engagement session with Luke and Bailey over at the Austin mural, which I’ve never seen before. There was a car parked in front of the A of the Austin mural. The bride tried to knock on doors but she couldn’t find the owner to have it moved. So not only was I in the middle of the street taking pictures, I had to adjust my angle to not get the truck. It was quite an adventure!
Awesome stuff!! Love the shot of them lying on the ground
Love these Nadine!! Cute couple.
These are just lovely.
very cute eshoot. good job π
Great set! Beautiful people.
The kiss under the bridge….is that THE bridge? These are great shots and artsy π
Thanks guys π
@sarah The bridge is Congress Bridge.
Andy Crouch - Beautiful lighting!
Lauren - Some awesome images, great lighting!
Marianne Taylor - You’ve really caught the atmosphere of the event well. Loving the saturated colours.
Alexander Gardner - I do oh-so love what you’ve done to process this set!
Ryan Brenizer - I love the behind-the-scenes glimpse. Sexy, funny, and narrative. Great job.
gabe aceves - hawt.
Alli Tink - Lovely!
Phill - Evocative, intriguing, potent images. You’ve really grabbed the soul of this and brought it to the surface Nadine.
Ashley Gillett - oh wow. These photos are so interesting. Love the angles and how you caputred the light.
And I just had to say, heart balloons on top?? Cutest thing ever!
Heather Elizabeth - Love those first two shots. Really inspires me to try to shoot some performance photographs.
Graymask - You did a good job capturing this, some of the images made me laugh. Awesome job on conveying the mode of the evening.
Heather - Love that first black and white shot! Very cool!
Sarah Kealing - LOVE that first shot! Beautiful!
James - NYC wedding photographer - These pictures are stunning and show creative people at their best.