{"id":52290,"date":"2025-03-19T11:38:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T15:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=52290"},"modified":"2026-06-21T23:21:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T03:21:27","slug":"dance-photography-studio-lighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/dance-photography-studio-lighting\/","title":{"rendered":"Dance photography – studio lighting setup"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dance<\/p>\n

Dance photography – studio lighting setup<\/h2>\n

Before we even start discussing this specific studio lighting setup, I might need to quality if by saying this is but one lighting setup of many, many possibilities. The consistent idea behind this (and other lighting setups), is that the lighting should be dynamic — and have that interplay between light and shade that really flatters the dancer, and enhances the mood of what you are trying to capture as the photographer. Ideally you don’t want your lighting to be flat – for me, there has to be at least a little bit of drama to the lighting.<\/p>\n

In this photo is Arya, a young ballet dancer, photographed in my studio. She was wonderful to work with, and so athletic. It was one of those times where I got the sense that the person I am photographing will be quite prominent one day.<\/p>\n

We used several different lighting setups, to offer her variety in the final images she could select from. I changed the lighting for every outfit she changed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

The lighting setup<\/h2>\n

Four Profoto D1 flashes<\/a>\u00a0(B&H<\/em><\/a> \/ Amazon<\/em><\/a>) in gridded softboxes, as well as a Profoto A2 and Clickbox on a boom arm above her for, you know, more light.<\/p>\n