Case study: Creative photo session with a ballerina in Warsaw
Imagine an evening when the sun is already down, somewhere in an urban corner of Warsaw, under a bridge. Only a few people pass by. The air is calm, almost quiet. And right there, in the middle of it, stands a ballerina in full outfit, jumping, spinning, and throwing Holi powder into the air as part of a creative photo session.
Curious, right? Let me tell you the story of one of the most interesting creative projects I have taken part in, and how we created some truly standout images together.
How the idea was born
It all started when Ania, my photographer friend, whom I met during photography workshops and with whom I had already done a few collaborations, reached out to me. She described an idea she had been wanting to bring to life for months.
Ania specializes in photographing movement — people in action, dancers, athletes and anyone whose body is in motion. She wrote to me on short notice and asked if I would like to join this creative ballerina session and support with the lighting setup. For me it was an easy yes.
I was genuinely impressed by how much preparation she had already put into it. She had scouted locations under one of Warsaw’s bridges from both sides to find the exact spots we could use. Some of them were a bit wild and raw, others had graffiti on the walls that perfectly reflected the urban mood we wanted for this ballerina photoshoot.
The team and the dancer
On the day of the session Ania came to pick me up, together with all the gear I was bringing. We planned to use a three-light setup, with a hexagonal octabox as the main light and two side kickers.
On the way we had a great, inspiring chat and then headed to pick up our hero of the day — our model and amazing ballet dancer, Veronika.
From the first moment I felt how lovely, open and warm she was. On the drive she shared real stories about what it takes to become a professional ballet dancer.
For context, Veronika has danced ballet for many years and has been preparing for this life since childhood. She performed in ballet halls in Kyiv and Lviv and has been on many international tours. She is a true top-level professional.
We heard about the price you pay to become that good: all the injuries, the fatigue, the strict routine, the lack of free time, the constant training. I had read about this before in articles, but never heard it so directly from a person who lives it. I was impressed by how hard the path is and how strong your spirit must be to stay on it. For me it was not only a creative shoot, but also a powerful learning experience.
Arriving on location
We arrived at the location after a few attempts to get as close as possible with the car. Once we finally found the perfect spot, we started to unpack all the gear.
The first priority was to find a flat, safe piece of ground where Veronika could jump without risk — no rocks and a solid surface. We also wanted an area where her ballet outfit would stand out against the background.
We quickly set up the lights and did a few test shots. Veronika was warming up, stretching and preparing her body for the intense jumping that was coming. Another colleague of Ania, also named Anna, joined us on set and helped a lot with assisting Veronika as well as supporting me and Ania with the lights and powder.
We found a framing we loved and then started working in turns on two cameras connected to the same lighting system. I was using three Godox AD200Pro lights, which I really enjoy working with.
From flour to Holi powder
We began by experimenting with flour. Veronika was throwing it in the air while jumping, and we tried to capture the exact moment when the movement, the expression and the powder all aligned.
In this kind of action photography, it is all about timing and communication. You need to feel the perfect moment when your subject reaches the top point of the jump. You need to explain clearly what you expect in terms of choreography, specific moves, position of arms and legs, and when to release the flour or powder so that everything comes together perfectly in the frame.
It was a really exciting experience, and I learned a lot from it. Once we were satisfied with the test shots using flour, we moved to the main event of the evening — Holi powder.
You might know Holi powder from colour runs or festivals. Thanks to Ania we had a whole set of different colours, which gave us the freedom to experiment with various combinations and shapes in the air.
The technical challenge and a happy accident
When shooting a creative ballet session like this, it is almost impossible to capture the perfect moment with a single frame. To catch that one magic image, you need to shoot in short bursts. So that is what we did, capturing a series of 5 to 6 frames each time Veronika jumped and released the powder.
Because it was already quite dark under the bridge, we used more power on the main key light. This meant that within a burst of 5 to 6 images, at least one frame was taken while the main light was still recycling and did not fire. The side lights, which were set to a lower power, were able to keep up and fire every time.
That was our small “aha” moment.
Simply by accident — or maybe by a creative decision from the universe — we noticed how beautiful some of those frames were where only the two side lights fired and the main light stayed off. The result was dramatic and mysterious. The ballerina’s shape was sculpted by rim light, with powder glowing in the air around her.
We liked the effect so much that I suggested we intentionally shoot a series using only the side lights, without the key light at all. The images that came out of this experiment were, in my opinion, some of the best photos from the entire session.
Working with a true professional
I want to highlight how easy and enjoyable it was to work with Veronika, Ania and Anna. When a team of creative people comes together, they can create something much bigger and more meaningful than any individual alone.
I admired Veronika’s professionalism and dedication. She jumped almost non-stop for a long time, and we did not hear a single complaint from her. Of course we gave her breaks when we were changing settings or adjusting the scene, but her energy and commitment were incredible.
The whole experience reminded me why I love photography so much. It is not only about the technical side, but also about the human connection, trust and shared excitement of creating something unique together.
Wrapping up the shoot
By the time we finished, the sun was long gone and the city lights were taking over. We started to pack up, carefully cleaned the ground to make sure we did not leave any powder or trash behind, and slowly headed back home.
We were tired, covered in tiny particles of colour, but at the same time completely energized. There was this quiet feeling of gratitude and joy in the air. We knew we had created something special together, and that feeling is hard to describe.
If you ever dreamed of a creative portrait session that goes beyond standard studio photos, this is the kind of experience we can co-create together.
What I learned from this creative ballerina session
Always make safety a priority, especially when working with jumps and fast movement. A flat, solid surface is just as important as the lighting.
Use burst mode and accept that not every frame will be perfect. The magic often hides in just one or two images from a whole sequence.
Do not be afraid of so-called “mistakes” with lighting. A misfired key light or an unexpected shadow can reveal completely new creative options.
Communication with the dancer is just as important as camera settings. Clear guidance on timing, movement and poses makes it possible to capture their best expression.
The team behind the project
This project would not have been possible without this amazing team:
Ania, movement photographer and project creator
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fotografia_w_ruchu/?g=5Veronika, professional ballet dancer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitesymphony.art/Anna, dancer and assistant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna.klimaszewska.dancer/
If you like this kind of creative photography and would love to plan your own unique portrait or dance session in Warsaw, feel free to reach out to me through the contact form on my website. I would be happy to explore ideas together!
