Years ago, when we envisioned these portrait sessions, we suggested that students wear their Berest class code...the "uniform" they wear to class. Since then, some girls have made the choice to wear tutus, dance dresses, floral dance skirts, etc. They are your portraits, so your child should wear what you want them to, BUT here's a suggestion. These portraits are shot in the upstairs studio. There are barres, windows and mirrors in the background. What looks the most "authentic" in this environment are practice clothes...not bedazzled costumes. The "look" that we shoot for is that of a "dancer practicing by him or herself in the studio." In my opinion, the tutus look good on either very little girls or on older girls wearing pointe shoes.

Please make sure that ballet skirts aren't wrinkled.

Good question!

Again, they are your portraits. What would you like to see? For the younger kids, I do suggest that if girls wear ballet slippers, they wear their ballet skirt. If they wear tap shoes, they should wear their tap shorts over their leotard. Tap shoes paired with a ballet skirt looks a little odd...but it's up to you!

If an older dancer wants a modern, contemporary, African, or lyrical portrait, they should be barefoot. Jazz portraits should have jazz shoes. Hip hop dancers should wear their hip hop sneakers, etc.

Hair should be neat and tidy. I can retouch a few fly-a-ways, but if the hair is a mass of fly-a-ways, please try to tame it with some hairspray. We suggest that girl's hair is styled as it is for class in a bun or ponytail, but that is up to you.

A little makeup goes a long way. Older girls can do natural day makeup. Younger girls also benefit from a little makeup to define their features. Nobody should wear bright red or pink lipstick! A nice light color or neutral lip looks best. If you don't want to use color, Aquaphor looks great. No makeup for boys.

Yes, I do. I strive for poses that are in keeping with the classical nature of the Berest training. Obviously, younger kids are posed differently than older kids, and three year olds are posed differently than nine year olds. I do not pose them in challenging positions that require technique beyond their years. It is better to have a beautiful portrait of them relaxed or standing at the barre, then it is to have to reject proofs because their legs are not quite straight or a foot isn't fully stretched. The gallery of sample images show how I pose dancers of various ages.

If your dancer is cooperative, you will receive a gallery of many different poses from which to choose your final image.

I like to say that I've seen pretty much everything...and I have...until I haven't!

For the most part, I find the Berest dancers to be smart and cooperative. Sometimes a very young dancer will not want to be posed and we have to make due with more non-traditional images.

Not for these sessions. The natural light portrait sessions utilize the light in the studio to capture the mood and essence of the school. Movement shots require more light. We may offer movement sessions on a backdrop with studio lighting in the near future.

As I said in the "what should my child wear?" section, these portraits look best with practice or class attire. If there is an interest in having portraits done in recital costumes, please let Olga (or Linda) know and we will consider scheduling some costume sessions on a white background.

Yes! Five very important things!

1) Remember the dance shoes! I have had numerous people forget their child's shoes!

2) Please remove temporary tattoos unless they are VERY small. I will not remove tattoos from the proofs, but will remove small ones from the pose you select for your print package. I can remove larger tattoos but it takes about 30 minutes of editing time and I will have to charge you my $60/hour editing fee for it.

3) Please make sure your dancer's hair is neat and tidy. Photoshop can only do so much.

4) Remember the dance shoes!

5) Remember the dance shoes!

Believe me, I wish you didn't have to...it's a hassle for me too!

Unfortunately, I have had trouble with people scheduling sessions and either canceling that day, or just not showing up. I've had to turn people away because the slots were all full, and then had last minute openings. I now require payment before your session is confirmed. After you email me and we agree on a date and time slot, I will send you a Paypal link for payment. (You don't need to have a Paypal account to pay the invoice, just a credit or debit card.) After the invoice is paid, I will confirm your appointment.

Within two weeks of your session, you'll receive a link to a password protected gallery of proofs.

• You select the pose you'd like from the gallery
• You select your print package
• I'll edit the image and order your print package
• You will receive an email when your package is ready at Berest for pickup.

When you receive your proofs you'll notice that they may need some editing. For your final image(s)

• Retouch skin blemishes, and small fly-away hairs. (Please make sure you brush and style your child's hair. If their hair is a mass of fly-aways, please use hair spray to make it tidy.)
• Remove any obvious scuff marks on the floor or mirrors.
• Remove the tape on the gray flooring.
• If your child is young and I use the small black bench, I will retouch the scratches on the bench.

As noted above, temporary tattoo removal will incur an additional editing charge (unless it's very small.)

About two weeks after your session, you will receive an email with a link and password to a private online gallery. When you’ve made your selection, please respond to that e-mail let me know which pose you’ve chosen, and which package you would like. All of the portraits in this package will be of the SAME pose/image. You may also purchase prints of additional images. Payment for those additions will be due before your order is placed. Instructions will be provided so that you may pay by credit card.

Photo Packages * Package A - 1 8x10, 1 5x7, 8 wallets * Package B - 1 8x10, 2 5x7s (most popular) * Package C - 2 8x10s * Package D - 3 5x7s

Al La Carte Items – in addition to the package included in the $175 (plus tax) session fee, you may order the following al la carte items of that same pose. * 1 8x10 $25 * 1 5x7 $20 * 8 Wallets $20

The a la carte pricing above pertains to additional prints of the one pose you select as part of the $175 portrait session fee. If you would like to purchase prints of additional poses, the following pricing pertains to those poses. (The higher price reflects the processing of the additional image.)

Additonal Poses Entire package $75 * 1 8x10 $45 * 1 5x7 $30 * 8 Wallets $30

Digital Options

As part of your package, you will receive a digital copy of your image. This file will print up to 8x10.
If you would like to purchase additional digital images, they are $55 each or $200 for 5 images.