There are several rights of passage when a new pole dancer or aerialist starts their journey; booking onto their very first course, purchasing their first matching outfit, the first time their feet lift from the ground in a spin or an invert. The list could go on forever. But the focus for today’s blog is a different milestone for any student, instructor, or professional alike – booking onto a photoshoot.
In case you have never attended one before – photoshoot days are wonderful. Excited participants arriving one by one, with outfits galore, and a list of their favourite tricks and screenshots from Instagram of beautiful poses that they will recreate with their own personal flair. A whole half hour (or whatever arrangement was made with the photographer), dedicated to them to show off how amazing they are, and capture their very best side.
Irrespective of the incredible confidence boost your studio family will get from their amazing photos at the end of the process – here are three reasons why you need to get a photoshoot booked in at your studio.
Giving Your Students a Focus – I’ve spoken on the blog before about the perks of putting on a showcase, and the focus your students can benefit from by having a routine to train. But the reality is, whilst an immensely fun event, there is a limit to how many showcases and performance opportunities you can create within a year – after all, with all the work that goes into the evening, many studios can only do one, or two a year! So, it is good to consider alternative ways to keep your students focused on building up their catalogue of moves. An excellent way of doing this is by hosting a photoshoot or two.
Working towards new movements and tricks is a huge part of many people’s training programmes. After all, we can measure our progress pretty well this way. But it is important to continue to revisit things, too – after all, without keeping our leg adduction (and that pesky skin grip) conditioned with seats, inevitably when we come to train our laybacks, we will have a harder time (and it’ll be much pinchier). When we think about what moves to put into our photoshoot rolodex, we may look at the newest, shiniest poses, but we also look at our old favourites. The moves we can do without even thinking. Moves that we can hold for absolutely ages whilst we wait for the apparatus to spin round to the exact right angle. By providing photoshoot opportunities, you will in turn be encouraging your students to revisit and practice all those moves, which will inevitably help their pole and aerial journey in the long run!
Social Media Content – We all know that the presence of social media is an ever-growing, ever-changing part of pole and aerial life. What trick may be trending one day, or what section of flow may go viral, is anyone’s guess. But there is certainly one thing that never goes out of style – a really beautiful photo.
Make sure that when you are looking at getting a photographer booked at your studio that you find someone reputable. In an age where practically every business is online, it’s fairly easy to find someone with an extensive portfolio showcasing their previous photography. Don’t be afraid to ask around your local (and wider) aerial community to find out about the photographer's reputation – after all, you’re inviting them into your studio safe space, to interact with your students. You want to make sure that whoever you get in is reliable and friendly, as well as providing great final images.
Once the coveted final edits are released from the shoot – reach out to your students and see if they’re open to share them with you in exchange for a shoutout on your social media pages. What better way to show off your amazing attendees than with their fantastic photos, displaying all their pole and aerial skills at their very best?
For Every Level – Photoshoots are for everyone. I’ll say it again – they are for everyone. Load up your Instagram and have a little search though your favourite pole star’s photoshoot images. The very best photos are more often the not, the most simple poses.
Your student base is made up of a wide range of people, with different ability levels and goals. When you are advertising your photoshoot, be sure to point out how the best images are the easy-to-hold, tried and tested poses. You can even lead by example – go through your own previous photoshoots and find your photos that demonstrate this exact point. Make sure that everyone knows they are welcome, and included.