Pole and Aerial Photoshoot Hacks, Tips and Tricks!
Hello, you gorgeous dancer you! I hear you want to participate in a pole or aerial photoshoot! Maybe it’s your first and you’re a little nervous about what to expect. Or, maybe you’ve already experienced the magic of getting your photos taken for the first time and you’re just looking for some tips to make your next one that much more magical! Either way, I’m glad you have found this blog and I hope to offer you some simple but useful advice to take with you on your next adventure!
I’ll be discussing some hacks, tips and tricks that I have learned from the hundreds of photoshoots I have participated (and hosted) in the last decade. Keep reading to dive in!
What Do I Bring To A Photoshoot?
Some items may or may not be provided if your photoshoot is an organized event. I’m going to write out this list as if you will be providing most everything you need (besides camera and lighting equipment - that’s your photographer’s job!).
Your Apparatus (Kind Of Important)
If your apparatus is not already provided at the event, don’t forget it! Especially if it’s your first shoot, you could be thinking about a million things and accidentally leave it behind. Yes, this has happened to me before. Don’t have your own aerial silk or hammock yet? Check out Vertical Art Dance for all your aerial rigging needs and use code “hollyannjarvis” at checkout for 10% OFF your order!
Your Photoshoot Outfits
Depending on how much time you have, plan for 2-3 outfit changes if you want a good variety of images. Any more costume changes than that and it gets to be a bit overwhelming. Don’t forget to consider what kind of apparatus you will be on. Will you be able to wear any jewelry or accessories without damaging your equipment? Do you have an idea of what the lighting/background will look like and what your color scheme will be? Plan ahead!
Rag/Cleaner/Baby Wipes For Your Dirty Feet!
We are all guilty of it. You get the most perfect shot and it’s sabotaged by muck on the bottom of your feet. Baby wipes are awesome for this purpose to quickly wipe before you jump on your apparatus.
Warm-up Tools
Whatever you need to get your body warm before physical activity - bring it with you (within reason of course). Yoga mats, foam rollers, massage balls…all things you might find in my bag on a photoshoot day. You will definitely want a proper warm up before you get up on your apparatus.
Your Makeup
Even if you come to the photoshoot event/location make-up ready, still bring some of the essentials with you. Maybe you want to touch up your lipstick, powder your face when it gets sweaty, comb your hair halfway through or your eyelashes start to fall off and you need a bit of glue. I always try to bring a few “makeup fix” essentials, especially during longer shoots.
Water and Snacks
Depending on the length and intensity of your photoshoot, you can get pretty tired and hangry, fast. Bring some energy boosting snacks that are light and quick to eat. Make sure you hydrate well before your event and bring water with you! Water helps you glow :)
Photos for Inspiration
Photo-shooting can make your brain freeze up. You could have a whole plan in your mind of what your photoshoot will look like and then you get up on your apparatus and your brain just melts. It’s a good idea to have a list written down or make a Pinterest board of inspiration to help you stay on track. I would discourage you from ripping off another person’s concept / photoshoot look / pose entirely…try to make it your own and get creative. If you do happen to do something very similar, make sure you check with the original artist first and/or give them the credit they deserve!
An Aerial Pal Assistant
If you attend any of my photoshoot events, I will always be there to coach you, fix your hair and fluff your silks. Some of you maybe aren’t so lucky to have a pose coach on standby, so in this case, bring a friend! Check with your photographer first to see if it’s okay. Your friend can help you with ideas, fix all the weird flyaways, remind you to point (or flex) your toes and basically be your moral support. It’s very valuable to have an extra hand aside from the photographer, especially when you start spinning around in circles on your aerial apparatus and can’t seem to stop.
Loose Fitting Warm-Ups & Slip-On Shoes
Save your cute outfits for the pictures! When you’re not behind the camera, you can basically look like a hobo. Bring your loose fitting sweatpants, tees and sweaters to keep your body warm in between, especially if you are shooting in a cold environment. Maybe even just a robe will work wonders for you. Slip on shoes that you can take on/off really fast are a must! Shoes are extremely important if you are taking photos in a location where you can’t really walk around barefoot…imagine a downtown photoshoot where you need to do a bit of walking in-between photos—it would really suck to be wearing your heels!
Your Preferred Grip Aid
You don’t want to be stuck without your favorite grip product for the tough poses. Some of my favorite grip for aerial is Dry Hands and a mixture of rubbing alcohol and rosin. You can check out my other blog post I wrote on pole & aerial grip aids!
Things to Consider About Your Photoshoot
Where Will Your Photoshoot Be Held?
Are you going to be inside? Outside? Do you need to worry about bugs, scorching sun, freezing cold temperatures (hopefully not!), will you be able to walk barefoot?
Don’t forget about your mani/pedi!
Maybe you don’t care much about your nails in the photos (and that’s totally fine!). If you do, however, make sure you have a fresh nail before your photoshoot. I have had a few regrets when I got photos back and saw disgusting old nail polish. It sticks out like a sore thumb! Pun intended.
Hair Color/Root Touch Up
If you really want to get serious about your photoshoot look - consider your hair color, cut and style. Do you desire a fresh color or touch up? Make sure you schedule your appointments before your “big day.” Sounds like a wedding and sometimes the preparations can definitely make it feel like one.
The Dreaded Hair Ties
I will see if I can find any photos (I am sure they are somewhere), but early in my aerial career I made the total rookie mistake of leaving my hair ties on my wrists. My photographer had to keep reminding me until I finally got the hang of it. It’s such a small thing, but the details are really what make some photos incredible works of art. Photographers also get really annoyed if they have to edit a bunch of things out that could have been avoided.
Communicate With Your Photographer
Do you have a solid plan with your photographer? Do you have concerns you want to express? Questions to ask? Maybe you have a certain “side” that you don’t really like captured…communicate your vision and make sure you are on the same page. The photographer might be cuing you throughout the session and you want to make sure you speak the same language.
Be Prepared To Feel Utterly Exhausted After 10 Minutes
Photoshoots are so strange because you can feel like you’re not doing much, but it can also feel like the hardest workout of your life. Photoshoots can be tough especially when you are trying to hold a perfectly straight line or squeezing yourself into a crazy backbend. Pace yourself, take breaks when you need to, but don’t expect it to feel easy especially if it’s your first time. I often feel like photoshoots are more exhausting than performances.
TIPS FOR POSING
One, Two, Three - Eyes Open!
A trick my friend and trusted photographer Todd Collins taught me many years ago. If you are trying to capture a certain facial expression and you keep furrowing your eyebrows or squinting your eyes, try this method. Close your eyes and on the photographer’s count you POP open your eyes. I don’t know why it works, but it does bring some life to your face.
Exhale Through Your Lips & Don’t Forget About Breathing!
Speaking of smoldering looks, a parted mouth can really capture raw beauty. If you have a hard time relaxing your mouth/lips, try just exhaling gently between your lips. On a similar note, don’t forget to breathe throughout your session so you don’t hold tension in your body/face. Tension shows on camera!
Practice Your Smolder & Your Smile
Is this photoshoot on a more serious note? Something playful? Something vogue? Do you feel comfortable smiling in the air? Do you know what your aerial smile looks like? I know that’s weird to say/hear, but sometimes we wrap ourselves up into different aerial moves and positions and suddenly our face forgets how to smile. A smile can look strained. Think about what kind of facial expressions you want to portray, just as if you are performing on a stage…how will you captivate the lens?
4. Consider What You Look Like Upside Down
I’m mostly just talking about hair and costuming. When you are upside down, does the dress you picked out fly into your face? Does your hairstyle look really great right side up, but the moment you flip over not so much? Think about all the ways you might orient your body and try to plan for gravity as best as you can.
5. Have A Planned Mixture Of “Upside Down” and “Right Side Up” Poses
Again, see #3 on this list. But also for variety! Don’t be afraid to mix it up a little bit.
6. Don’t Over-Complicate Your Poses
What might look amazing in an aerial performance might not necessarily look stellar behind camera, and vice versa. If you have a complicated sequence in your head you might get caught up in “doing the things” vs. relaxing and focusing on the poses themselves. Photoshoots are a slower pace, generally, so plan accordingly. When you rush through things, the photos will also translate as being rushed. As a rule of thumb, the camera often favors simplicity.
PHOTOSHOOTS FOR UTAH LOCALS
If you’re a Northern Utah local, I frequently host photoshoots and would love to see you at my next event! You can find upcoming photoshoot info under the “EVENTS” tab in the main navigation. Make sure you are also subscribed to my newsletter so you get updates on photoshoot events and new blog posts too!
I’m sure I will add more to this list as I think of it - but hopefully this feels like an informative start for you. Let me know in the comments what you think of this list!
Did you take any advice from this post and if so, how did your photoshoot go? I would love to hear! Also, feel free to drop a comment if you have an idea on a future blog you would love to read from me. I am always looking for new topics to write about.
Wishing you an amazingly successful photoshoot experience,
xo
HOLLY
PHOTO CREDIT: TODD COLLINS PHOTOGRAPHY
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