Frequently Asked Questions

Have Questions? We're Here To Help

Where are you located?

Our address is: 

25-19 Borden Ave, Queens, NY 11101  (Buzzer 216)

If using public transportation, we are most easily accessed by the 7-Train at the Hunters Point Avenue subway station in Long Island City (which is just 4 stops from Times Square.)

 

 

How do I book a photoshoot?

We’d love to hear from you! Click here or navigate to the "Contact Us" button to be connected to our Studio Manager who will reach out via email to help get you started.

What are your rates?

Please reach out here to receive our information about pricing.

How far in advance do I need to book my appointment?

Our schedule fills up about 6-8 weeks in advance, but always reach out if you have a tighter timeline, and we will do our best to get you in for a shoot!

What should I wear? What do I need to bring?

Bring everything!  

It is not uncommon for our dancers to arrive with a suitcase full of leotards and styling. It’s better to have too many options than to wish you had brought something you have left behind.

A note on leotards:  All leotards, even your favorite ones, may not be the most flattering ones for a particular movement or pose.  We encourage you to bring your entire dance wardrobe as you’ll want to have as many choices as possible.

Download our latest leotard guide here!

Please bring or wear a top that can easily unzip or slip over your head to safeguard your hair and makeup while changing.

Do you have dresses and styling I can use?

Yes! We have a large variety of dresses, fabrics, and in-house styling. Just ask for the Wardrobe Add-on when scheduling your shoot to include access to all the beautiful dresses, fabrics, scarves, and fun styling in our studio Wardrobe Closet! All of our items are hand selected to photograph beautifully (!) and having access to so many designs and colors will help create the incredibly stunning images you want.

What pointe shoes should I bring?

Bring ALL of your pointe shoes! 

80% of dancers find harder shoes shoot better for a-terre shots and use softer shoes for jumps. We love pancaked skin-tone shoes. Don’t underestimate the power of a new pair of shoes, especially if you wear Freeds.

Please avoid too many elastics and ribbon combinations. We don’t want the extra fabric to break the line of your leg or have your feet look bandaged. One set of ribbons, or at most one set of ribbons and elastics, is best.

Do you offer Hair and Makeup services?

Yes! Our hair and makeup artists are extraordinarily talented and know what works on camera for every skin and hair type. We highly recommend adding hair and makeup to your photo shoot, especially for Creative photoshoots. Having great hair and makeup gives you confidence and adds polish and variety to your final images, as well as allowing you to relax and focus on your portion of the shoot.

How early should I get to the studio?

Please feel free to arrive up to 30 minutes early to settle in. However, warm-up time is built into your schedule, so arriving at your appointment time is also fine.

What should I do to prepare for a successful photoshoot?

We want you to be at your best energy! Good sleep, appropriate food to fuel your body, and a positive mindset promote success!

Once you have booked your shoot, we send a Questionnaire for you to fill out. Use it to your best advantage, and be as specific as you want with your answers. This will help us fine-tune your images to you’re specific goals, tastes, and aesthetics.

For Audition shoots: After years of shooting audition photos, we know what you need and how to get you there. But schools and companies will change their requirements. It’s best to review requirements before your shoot, especially if you are targeting a specific school or company (and then bring those requirements with you just in case!)

For Creative shoots: It’s helpful to have an idea of some favorite poses, looks, and styles. If you hope to achieve a specific aesthetic, you are more than welcome to share a mood board or have photos saved to your phone to use as inspiration during your shoot.

Here’s a blog post about how to best prepare for your dance photoshoot

What does “retouched images” mean?

All of our images that will be seen by the public get a little polish. Tidying up bits of wardrobe that have slipped, hair that may have gone rogue, or a sweaty forehead, is standard practice. It’s company policy for our images go through a finely tuned quality control post-production process. Each image is reviewed for color correction, cropping, blemish correcting, and any distracting elements in styling, props, and background are adjusted accordingly.

HOWEVER:

You should look like YOU. It does you a disservice when you show up to audition and you don’t look like your images. We do not change or alter dancers' bodies. We will not change your leg line or shape, and we will not make your feet look like Sylvie Guillem's.

We use our proprietary posing method and lighting techniques to ensure that your body and dance technique are captured at full integrity, in the camera, before we retouch anything. Using our methods, we have a plethora of lighting and posing tools to help highlight your best assets, while drawing attention away from anything you may feel less confident about.

How and when will I receive my photos?

Audition shoots: You make your selects on-site right after the shoot, and your images will immediately be entered into our post-production queue. You can expect to receive your images about 3 weeks after your shoot date.

Creative shoots; You will receive a proofing gallery within 3 weeks of your shoot.  Once you have submitted your selections, your final images will be delivered within 3 weeks.

If you need images right away, no worries!  We offer Rush Retouching on a per-image basis. 

All images will be delivered in a password-protected digital gallery in high and low res formats.  The high res images are optimized for printing purposes, and the low res images are optimized for all of your digital, emailing, and social media usage.

What airport/hotels are close to the studio?

 LaGuardia (LGA) is the closest airport. There are hotels relatively close to our studio in Long Island City. If you are staying in Manhattan and doing some sightseeing while in NYC, we are an easy commute via subway or Uber from Grand Central or Times Square.

Is there parking near your studio?

Yes, but street parking is difficult on weekdays, and easy on weekends.

Is there food in the area?

Not close or quick. Our studio is in an industrial area, so it is best to bring food and snacks. We have a small fridge and microwave you are welcome to use. Around here, food delivery services like Grubhub or Uber Eats are an easy way to order.

What are your payment terms?

We require a 30% non-refundable initial payment to reserve your shoot date. The final balance is due two days before your scheduled photoshoot.

What is your rescheduling and cancellation policy?

If you need to change your photoshoot date for illness or injury, we understand. Please give us as much notice as possible and we will work with you to try and find an alternate date.

If plans change with more than a 7-day notice, your initial payment is transferable to a shoot within 12 months of your original shoot date. Cancelations or postponements within 7 days of your shoot date will forfeit the initial payment. For cancelations within 24 hours or less, the full remaining balance is owed.

Still have questions?

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Get in touch with us!