New York School of Ballet had posted a video of their ballet students dancing through New York City. I shared it with my friend and asked if her daughter and some friends might be interested in doing something similar in Harrisburg. The capital is absolutely beautiful and provides the perfect backdrop for these 5 ballerinas. 

We went to have fun and capture photos of the girls in their element...dancing! They have been dancing together at The Hershey School of Dance since they were little and you could tell. Their attention to detail and collaboration was remarkable. 

Here's a little bit about why it was an amazing day: 

1. Creativity: it started with a small idea and grew into something awesome. There was a lot of "what if we tried this" or "what if I did this or you did that." They let their creativity flow and bounce ideas off of each other. We would then take a "test" picture, study it, and then readjust for the final photo. 

2. People: These 5 girls partnered together, and there was a level of trust and vulnerability in sharing thoughts and ideas. It was beautiful to listen to them work together. These skills are going to take them far in life. 

3. Location: We thought through a few location ideas and were so happy that we went to the Capital in Harrisburg, PA. There were so many beautiful areas that we could capture video and photos. At different parts of the capital, it felt like we were in Europe and not Pennsylvania. It's worth a trip if you've never visited. 

4. Lighting: We had to adjust based on the lighting. It was an early morning shoot but as the sun rose higher in the sky there were times that we needed to work around the harsh sun and shadows. Flexibility was key. We would find a spot that would make a great backdrop and then think through the dance pose for five girls based on the lighting.

5. Fun: We had fun! The only missing part was music which I will be sure to add to my camera bag for next time.

It truly was a fantastic day. A huge thank you to Katie for organizing a date that worked for her friends and Stacy for being the mom who came along to assist and support the girls.

Thank you for teaching me to count... 5, 6, 6, 8! 

XO,

Wendy