Dance Photography in Tampa


I am based out of Chicago, so why did I accept a photoshoot in Tampa, Florida of all places? I guess the cat is out of the bag — I traveled to Tampa for a dance photoshoot with Vashti, a stunning ballerina from Tampa City Ballet.


What caught my eye scrolling through Instagram was her lines — she's on the taller side, and the way she extends through a pose is genuinely gorgeous to watch, let alone photograph. Vashti turned out to be incredibly talented, professional and easy to work with from the first contact.


tampa ballet dance photography with ballerina in red skirt and leotard in pointe shoes extending her arm in the air
tampa ballet dance photography with ballerina in red skirt and leotard in pointe shoes leaping in the air
tampa ballet dance photography with ballerina in red skirt and leotard in pointe shoes extending her leg behind her back

Downtown Tampa Has Amazing Dance Photography Locations


Really enjoyed photographing in Tampa as there are great architecture. When I saw the stairs downtown, I knew I wanted to do a photoshoot here.


The clean, repeating lines gave me something graphic to play with alongside her own lines as a dancer — the kind of location that does half the work for you if you use it right.

Tampa Florida Dance Photography of a ballerina standing on pointe on stairs in downtown Tampa in pointe shoes and leotard
Tampa ballet dance photography of a ballerina in red skirt photographed on stairs in downtown Tampa Florida
Tampa ballet dance photographer capturing a tall ballerina in leotard and pointe shoes leaning back on stair railing

Use The Environment as Backdrop to Dance Photography


I've seen way too many location dance photoshoots where you couldn't what the intention was of the location. There are no discernible marking or monuments. I pride myself on location scouting and finding the best cityscape to capture the dancer and using the background to tell a story.


I also couldn't resist the bridge nearby. There was no discernible signage or monuments around it, so you couldn't immediately tell what the intention behind the space was — but something about the openness reminded me of Singing in the Rain, and I wanted to lean into that feeling.


It doesn't hurt to have such a stunning ballerina as the subject, either. This bridge and the light posts gave me Singing in the rain vibes. For the young dancers, it's an old movie called Singing in the rain, starring Gene Kelly.

tampa bay dance photoshoot of a ballerina on a bridge holding onto a lamp post in vibrant red skirt and pointe shoes
Tampa Florida Ballerina Photoshoot on a bridge while leaping in the air in pointe shoes and leotard.
Tampa Ballet Dance Photography of a ballerina leaping in the air with a vibrant red skirt flowing in the air

Incredibly Fortunate


I have been very lucky to have so many people who value my work and understand the importance of capturing these moments for dancers. Some dancers train not because they want to pursue a career in dance, but because it brings them joy. Some dancers have been dreaming about becoming a professional dancers their entire lives.


Regardless the reason, what better way to document your journey and reward the hard work and sacrifice, then to have photographs of you taken by a professional?

Tampa Dance Photography Black and White image of a ballerina on a ledge
Tampa Dance Photographer capturing a ballerina in bright red skirt pointe shoes and leotard
Dance Photographer in Tampa Florida captured a tall ballerina leaping in the air with pointe shoes and leotard

Whether you're dreaming about becoming a professional dancer, or you're already dancing professionally and want images that reflect the artistry and dedication behind your craft, a portrait session focused entirely on you is worth having. Life moves fast, and dance careers especially don't last forever — having genuine, high-quality images of yourself at your peak is something you'll be glad to have. Regardless of the reason, I'd love to help make that happen.

I specialize in dance photography for locations around Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota.


Explore more dance photography sessions here, or see how I've approached other travel sessions, like this one in Pittsburgh.

I take on a limited number of travel sessions each year, so if you're a dancer in the Tampa Bay area and want to plan a shoot around your schedule, reach out early — spots outside Chicago fill up around my regular calendar.