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Dance Institute Photo Week 2026 – April 30 to May 3

Josh Brewster Photography will be offering dance portrait mini-sessions to the dancers of Dance Institute. This is your dancer’s chance to show off all the poses, leaps and skills they have been working on during the photoshoot time slot(s) they have reserved.

Sign Up For a Session:

This year we will be hosting two different sign up blocks, one for recreational/academy dancers on April 30th and May 1st, and another block for DI Performance Academy dancers on May 2nd and 3rd.

Please review the Session Details and FAQ below and use the links to sign up for your session!

Academy Dancer Sessions: Thursday April 30th  and Friday May 1st (F)

Academy Sign Up

DIPA Dancer Sessions: Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd

DIPA TEAM SIGN UP

Session Details

  • 5 Minute Sessions with as many poses as you can fit in wearing your spring show costume(s) or competition costume(s).
  • The dancer will be posed and assisted by a Dance Institute staff member.
  • One costume per session.  Please sign up for multiple time slots if the dancer has more than one costume.
  • After the photoshoot, you will receive an online proofing and order gallery via email.
  • The session fee will include 4 high resolution edited images. Extra images can be purchased a la carte for $45+tax image.
  • A headshot station will be available; it is up to the dancer/parent to decide if they want to get a headshot at the start of their sesion.
  • LOCATION: Dance Institute Ballet Studio

Session Costs and What You Get

Each time slot can be reserved for $85+tax. This cost will include the shoot time itself, as well as an emailed online proofing and ordering gallery. You can expect to receive 4-8 proof images on average per time slot, but this number does depend on dancer’s ability and complexity of the attempted pose.  The session fee will include 4 high resolution edited images; extra images can be purchased a la carte for $45+tax image.

How To Prepare

  • Arrive hair and make up ready.
  • Arrive in costume.
  • Make sure your costume is photo ready:  ironed, complete, ballet shoe laces tucked in, etc.
  • Plan to be ready 5-10 minutes prior to you scheduled start time.
  • If you are doing anything en pointe, please have your pointe shoes on and ready.
  • Be warmed up and stretched, especially if any advanced jumps/poses.
  • If you have signed up for multiple sessions for multiple costumes, make sure your costumes are organized well and be prepared to change quickly.  Do not try to change hair or make up if you have multiple time slots back to back.

FAQ

  • Q: How do I prepare for my shoot?
    A: Decide if you want to start with a headshot.  Prepare a good list of dance poses to photograph; this is the most important thing. You or your dancer knows their abilities the best, so make sure the photos you want to capture are things you can perform well.  If you are new to dance and do not have any ideas, we will have a staff member who will be available to help with posing. Also check out my photoshoot guide.
  • Q: Can I change costumes during my time slot?
    A:  No. Please sign up for multiple time slots to be photographed in multiple customs.   Note: this is a change from how things were done in the past.  This change was made as costume changes were taking too long resulting in long delays putting us behind schedule, frazzled dancers not being fully photo ready, as well as dancers getting injured because they were too rushed.
  • Q: I have two kids in dance, can they share one time slot?
    A: No, please sign each dancer up for their own time slot.
  • Q: Can we do a sibling photo?
    A:  Yes, sibling photos are allowed.  We recommend an extra time slot to allow for this.  Otherwise, please sign up back to back time slots for your multiple dancers and the final session will end with the sibling photo.
  • Q:  I am part of DIPA and have a solo/duet/trio.  Can I/we get photographed as well?
    A:  Solos, duets and trio sessions are allowed; be mindful that posing multiple dancers takes longer so come prepared with your dance poses.
  • Q:  Can I take a buddy photo with my friend?
    A:  No, buddy photos are NOT allowed unless they are being photographed as part of a duet/trio/etc.
  • Q: Will there be make up sessions if we cannot make any of the days?
    A: No; however, there will be two days for each group (Academy and DIPA) to choose a time slot for maximum flexibility.
  • Q: What if we arrive late to our session?
    A: We will try to find a way to fit your dancer in.  However, if the schedule is very full this may not be possible without a great deal of waiting.