Most photographers see a dancer. I see echoes of myself – the nerves, the dedication, the pride, and the passion that lives behind every performance. Growing up dancing in Minnesota gives something no photography course can teach: a genuine, firsthand understanding of what it feels like to be on that side of the camera.

Dance Background

Like so many of my clients, I grew up in Minnesota’s dance community. Competing at studio until age 14 before joining my high school team, I understand the sacrifice behind the sparkle – the early mornings (shoutout to the time I totaled my car on black ice at 5am on the way to a comp and still took home first place), the sore muscles, the pressure to perform, and the joy that makes it all worth it. My coaches are still coaching, and hiring me to capture it! This shared experience creates an instant connection with my clients that no amount of professional experience alone can replicate.

How Being a Former Dancer Shapes Her Photography

I don’t have to guess when the peak of a leap is coming – I know it, instinctively, because I’ve lived it. Though, let’s be real – I could NEVER jump as high as Izzy Gordon:

I understand the anatomy of dance movement: which angles are the most flattering, which moments carry the most emotional weight, and when to press the shutter.

Where another photographer might see a blur and scramble to react, I am right there “on the floor” with the dancers – following transitions, reading choreography and anticipating peak moments that I can instinctively feel coming.

The Difference It Makes for Her Clients

Dancers feel immediately at ease knowing their photographer truly gets what they do and how hard they’ve worked to do it. The amount of time and sweat that dancers put in just to make strangers feel something for two minutes is one of the most inspiring things in the world to me (and I’ll talk about it forever if you let me).

Additionally, I am able to direct with language and cues that dancers naturally understand. Athletes and coaches alike appreciate this efficiency and my ability to know when I can push a dancer to achieve the shot or what to suggest instead if they aren’t quite ready yet (ALWAYS encouraging them to bring that trick to next year’s shoot after more progress has been made).

Parents notice it too – there’s a warmth and intentionality in our sessions that goes beyond professionalism. I regularly receive messages talking about what a self-esteem boost the photo session was for their daughters and sons, and helping give them that confidence is the heart of why I do what I do.

Why It Matters for the Final Photos

• Studio owners and coaches trust me to capture their programs because I respect the art form the same way they do. I was built in these same environments where high standards, attention to detail, and fearless emotion are rewarded. The lessons I learned in the studio are at the forefront of my brand, and are naturally reflected in the collaboration between the studios and teams who book me.

• Time is precious! Where other photographers may ask you to do a jump 10+ times just to hit peak (and often still never truly capturing it), I get there MUCH faster so we can focus on details like facial expression, hair, optimal skirt flow. If your jump is at peak in every shot, we can choose the winner based on other aesthetic factors.

• Coaches and teachers do not need to lead or be active during our photo shoots. They can focus on other tasks – like office admin, or making a dent in the endless pile of costumes that need to be stoned. They can be confident in knowing that I will safely push their dancers’ technique and lines even if they can’t be in the room.

That’s what happens when the person behind the camera has truly been in front of it – in the studio, on the stage, and in the heart of Minnesota’s dance community.

If you’re looking for a photographer who will treat your dancers’ art with the same respect and passion she brough to every practice, you’ve found her.