Introducing the stunning Aliyah

I was very lucky to be able to create some serious magic during a shoot with the gorgeous Aliyah, who dances for a local Dance Academy in Wollongong, along with being a Physie girl at the club we both attend.

It was an amazing opportunity that aligned a day where we both had nothing on, and transport was no concern.

With Tutu and Pointe shoes in hand, we were off and in the hunt for some inspiration in the local CBD to capture some light and shapes, being Aliyah is almost ready for the next size up in Pointe shoes!

First Location

CBD alleway.

We scouted a few areas and streets looking for a brick wall we could utilize as a backdrop for some nice movement images, and after a little bit of driving around, Aliyah putting makeup on in the back seat, we found a poky little alleyway that was exactly what we had in mind. Adding that once we parked and I scoped the spot, it was actually better than I was expecting due to the opposite wall being a garage door, and the sun hitting it just perfectly with some epic apex shadows and really amazing light.

Second Location

Old Wollongong Courthouse.

This required a little more sorting and approval from the professionals (aka the very kind staff who work there in uniform) as long as I adhered strictly to their guidelines. Which, as a rule follower as I am, it was not difficult to stay within those lines.

We spent a good hour there utilizing the golden hour, and it was remarkable how quickly the light changed on the front of the historic building. So I worked in the door frames, setting Aliyah up with bold and strong en pointe positions so we let both the dancer and the building work harmoniously together in the image.

As we worked between the mix of archways and shadows, the light changed again and I was able to literally switch between creating some gorgeous back lit images on the front steps, and turning around to have Aliyah in the doorway in the splits. So it was fun mixing up the way I shot just following the light, or dodging it pending the outcome of the photo.

This is where we finished up on this very amazing urban photography shoot. We had such a wonderful time together experimenting and working together to create some really remarkable memories and allowed me to really experiment in unknown environments with all kinds of lighting conditions, working in a public space and making sure safety was of utmost importance to myself and the dancer.

Final thoughts

Overall it was a fabulous experience challenging myself to the different locations, and something I learnt along the way is being versatile and open to working with the environment, not try and fight against it and make my idea work. Going with a plan and vision and expecting to work with plan B. And honestly, Plan B can often be even better than what I had originally planned in my visual ideas.

I have truly loved this experience working with a young dancer full of potential and grit, without complaint or concern and with pointe shoes on feet and a song in her heart, it really motivated me to challenge myself with capturing the joy and purity of a dancer's love of movement.

I am really excited for the next opportunity to create some more magic.