Audition photos are not simply beautiful dance portraits. They have a very specific job to do.

In this studio demonstration, Francisco will walk photographers through creating audition images for dancers pursuing summer intensives, college dance programs, trainee and second-company opportunities, and professional company auditions.

Drawing on his experience as both a professional ballet dancer and photographer, Francisco will explain what dancers and artistic staff are looking for, how audition requirements differ from traditional dance portraits, and how photographers can create technically accurate images while still helping each dancer look their best.

Using live dancers, the session will demonstrate both the photographic and dance-specific sides of a successful audition session. Fransisco will also go over posing, appropriate camera angles, lighting considerations, technical dance details, and how to work efficiently with dancers to produce accurate and flattering images.

Attendees will learn how to approach the most common types of dance audition photographs and how requirements can vary between summer intensives, colleges, training programs, and professional companies. Attendees will also learn how audition photography differs from creative dance photography and why understanding that distinction is essential when working with serious pre-professional and professional dancers.