Photo Membership Q&A - everything you need to know before signing up!
Q: Why is the photo membership required for all company dancers?
A: We're requiring 100% participation because this program supports the full team experience. Just like choreography, costuming, and travel, professional photo coverage is part of what it means to be on company. It ensures every dancer is represented consistently across team visuals, recitals, and promotional content.
And honestly? We’re taking the photos anyway - so it just makes sense to be a part of it and enjoy the full benefits. :) It keeps everything streamlined, fair, and fun, and avoids the impossibly difficult admin on my end of piecing together and keeping track of who’s in and who’s out for each moment.
Q: What if my dancer only has one or two routines?
A: The photo membership is priced as an annual team experience, not per number of dances. Your fee includes team photo day, all recital and team costume portraits, and access to add-on options later in the year. It also ensures that every dancer is represented equally in team visuals, regardless of how many dances they're in - every dancer matters!
The program is designed to grow with your dancer. You may just have one or two dances this year, but as your dancer advances, their schedule and costume count will grow - likely significantly! This model allows us to keep things fair, consistent, and sustainable without adding a la carte fees every time a new routine or costume is added for you.
Q: Can you explain the value?
A: Absolutely! This one-time fee covers multiple photo opportunities across the season. The membership is built on a volume photography model. This keeps the program streamlined, affordable, and sustainable. Comparable to a single night in a competition hotel, or a costume or two - it's a great value for season-long professional photography. It also saves you from a la carte pricing, charges for admin time, and missed opportunity.
Q: What if we miss a photo shoot?
A: If a dancer misses a scheduled portrait day due to sickness, injury, or being out of town, we are not able to set up a separate re-shoot, as these opportunities are based off of an established volume photography model. We will do our best to accommodate photographing missed costumes on another occasion when we are already set up and photographing, but cannot make individual promises. Missing a photo day does not decrease the value of the season-long membership and no portion of the subscription would be considered for a refund.
Q: When do I need to pay this fee? Are payment plans available?
A: The goal is to make this accessible for every family while still honoring the time, gear, and care that go into capturing your dancer's entire season. Order forms and payment are due by the start of choreography week. It may be possible to apply fundraising dollars to your amount due, and there are Klarna options available. Feel free to reach out for more details.
Q: Can we request certain shots or opt out of some? My dancer doesn't love being photographed!
A: Our team photo days run on a very tight schedule and move quickly to keep things efficient for everyone. That said, dancers are always welcome to bring a few favorite poses if they have them, or they can be guided by an instructor if one is available.
Nerves are totally normal for some dancers, especially younger ones, and I do my best to create a calm, positive space where they can settle in and shine. The goal is for all dancers to feel comfortable. Each student is posed thoughtfully and beautifully, with attention to their comfort level, personality, and technique — whether they bring their own flair or follow gentle direction.
This is a system that moves efficiently because it’s designed with intention and experience. My goal is to highlight what makes each dancer special while keeping the day flowing smoothly for everyone.
Occasionally, dancers may not LOVE a particular costume and choose to take only the required group shot and that’s completely okay. Just keep in mind that may mean a smaller gallery for that number.
Q: Are stage/performance photos included?
A: I'm sure you've seen me side stage, covering the shows! Though I focus mainly on video for these for the company's social media and marketing purposes, I do grab some shots here and there. The nature of these is candid and not guaranteed. These will not be included inside of your individual collection, but as a bonus to your membership, you would receive access to a group folder and the ability to choose and download the images that you may want. Performances outside of the Winter and Spring recitals are not guaranteed to be photographed by me, but if I cover them, I will be happy to add those images as well!
If you ever need more reassurance about what to expect or how the process works, I’m always happy to chat! As a fellow dance mom, I’m truly grateful to be part of these memories with you and I appreciate you helping make it possible and sustainable for me to continue offering this experience to all of our dancers with care and ease.