What is a Dance team Branding portrait session?

In a dance team branding portrait session we are creating unique images for your dance, competition or performance team, which helps to stand out from other teams. A dance team branding photo session can help you share about the dancers in your team, show their skills and unity and create fine art or high end portraits that fit with your studio brand.


Team Colors & Uniform Design

We will make sure that the lighting, location and overall feel of your session matches with your dance studio or company brand.


Social Media Presence

Consistent content on social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc.) helps to engage your online community and share and promote the team's latest performance or fundraiser. You can think of rehearsal videos, short parts of performance clips, behind-the-scenes shots, or celebration of a certain member of your team.

A unified visual style can help make your team’s brand more recognizable.


Team Culture & Values

The culture of the team (inclusive, competitive, creative, etc.) should be a key part of the branding. A dance team’s values can be communicated through the way they interact with each other, their community service efforts, and how they perform or practice. It is important to show this in your photos as well.


Merchandise & Marketing

Promotional materials (posters, flyers, pull up banners) also help market the team, whether to attract new members, gain sponsorships, or share about your annual showcase.


Website & Digital Identity

A team website or landing page on your studio website can be a great way to share information about upcoming events, team accomplishments, and how to join the team. You can use up to date photos of your members or a group team photo to share more about your team.


Community Engagement & Public Relations

The way a team engages with its audience and community can be a key part of its brand. You can think of performances at charity events, community engagement, or local dance competitions. Positive relationships with sponsors, supporters, and parents can help your team in many ways.

Dance team branding is about creating a memorable, consistent image and experience that resonates with both the team members and their audience. The goal is to build a strong identity that stands out and is easily recognizable.

Why Is Dance team branding important for your studio?


Creates a Unique Identity

Branding your dance team gives your studio or company a distinctive image, making it easier for people to recognize and remember you. It is impoirtant to include elements like team colors, logos, uniforms, and even specific dance styles or philosophies that your studio is known for.


Builds Community & Loyalty

A strong brand fosters a sense of pride and belonging among your dancers and their families. When students feel connected to a brand they believe in, they are more likely to stick around, take more classes, and recommend your studio to others.


Attracts Sponsors and Partnerships

A strong, professional brand can make your dance team and studio more attractive to potential sponsors, collaborators, or local businesses. Companies often want to support teams that have a clear identity and show professionalism, which can lead to funding opportunities or partnerships.


Sets You Apart from Competitors

Dance is a competitive field, and having a distinct brand can differentiate your studio from others in the area. It gives you an edge in a crowded market by showing that you are professional, organized, and dedicated to a unique vision or style of dance.


Promotes Professionalism

A studio that invests time in creating a professional and recognizable brand is often perceived as more credible and committed to delivering high-quality training.

How can Dancers and their parents use the photos from the dance team sessions?


Social Media Sharing

  • Profile Pictures & Covers: Dancers can use their personal photos as profile pictures or cover photos on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook to showcase their team spirit and talent.
  • Highlight Reels: Create posts or stories featuring the photos with captions that celebrate milestones, performances, or upcoming events.


Team and Personal Branding

  • Personal Portfolio: For dancers with professional aspirations, high-quality images can be used in a portfolio to showcase their experience and style.
  • Dance Bio: Parents or dancers can use the photos in their personal bios or resumes when applying for scholarships, auditioning for other teams, or seeking representation in dance agencies.


Print Materials

  • Flyers: Dancers can use the photo in a printed bio that they can use for auditions or a model call.
  • Yearbooks or Scrapbooks: Parents can include the images in yearbooks, photo albums, or scrapbooks to preserve memories of the season and the dancer's journey.


Gifts and Keepsakes

  • Framed Prints: High-quality prints of the dancer or team photos make excellent gifts for parents, teammates, or coaches.
  • Custom Merchandise: Photos can be used on custom items like t-shirts, mugs, bags, or blankets, which can be a great way to support the team or commemorate a successful season.
  • Memory Books: A photo album with the professional photos along with performance highlights, achievements, and personal memories can be a treasured keepsake for dancers and their families.


Dancer Recognition & Motivation

  • Award Ceremonies: Photos can be part of award displays or certificates to recognize the accomplishments and milestones of individual dancers.
  • Memory Wall: Displaying professional images on a “team wall” or bulletin board can help foster team spirit and serve as a reminder of shared achievements.
  • Motivational Posts: Parents can share their dancer's photos along with motivational quotes or messages to encourage them, especially after competitions or challenging practices.


Graduation Events

  • For dancers who graduate, parents can create a poster board from the photos to celebrate their time with the team.


Thank You Notes

  • Gifts for Coaches & Volunteers: Professional photos can be used to create thank-you cards or gifts for coaches, assistants, and other volunteers who have supported the team throughout the season. YOu can also thank a donor of sponsor for a fundraiser this way.


Press and Media Coverage

  • Local News Features: Photos from the team’s photo sessions can be shared with local newspapers or magazines to publicize competitions, achievements, or community events.
  • Dance Blogs or Magazines: Dancers or teams can submit their images to online dance blogs or magazines to get additional exposure or recognition in the dance community.

How can Dance studios use the photos for their ( social media) marketing?


Studios can use photos from a dance team branding session in different ways for their marketing and promotion, showcasing their dancers and sharing about future performances.

Social Media Content

  • Regular Posts & Stories: Share the photos on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. These can be posted tgrough a content calendar, keeping the studio’s page active and engaging.
  • Behind-the-Scenes: Capture candid shots from the session to give followers a behind-the-scenes look of the photo shoot, showing all the fun activities that are happening at the studio.
  • Reels and Videos: Use the photos to create slideshows or reels highlighting key moments from the session with music and text overlays, which work well for platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
  • Theme Weeks: Create themed content around the photos— like “Meet the Team” posts or “Dancer Spotlight” features.


Website & Online Presence

  • Landing Page/Team Page: Use the photos on the studio’s website to showcase the dance team, and include sections for each dancer or group photo.
  • Blog Content: Feature a blog post or article that highlights the dance team’s journey, by thinking of future blog post when planning the session we can create content that helps you with the blogging.
  • SEO Optimization: Include keywords that highlight your team to create a higher Google ranking and more access to sponsors and new members.


Promotional Materials

  • Flyers & Posters: Use group shots or individual dancer portraits on printed materials to promote upcoming recitals, auditions, or competitions.
  • Brochures & Catalogs: Incorporate high-quality dance photos in brochures or catalogs given to prospective students or families.
  • Event Programs: Include branded photos in programs for showcases, competitions, or recital handouts.


Email Marketing

  • Newsletters: Include photos of the dance team in your studio's newsletters to keep current students and future team members engaged. Highlight the team's accomplishments, upcoming performances, or competitions.
  • Seasonal Campaigns: Use images to promote seasonal classes, camps, or auditions.


Dance Recitals and Competitions

  • Programs & Banners: Feature team photos in event programs or on large pull up banners at competitions and recitals.
  • Video Overlays: Incorporate stills from the photoshoot as part of a video montage played before or during performances, adding a polished and professional touch.


Advertising

  • Print Ads: Use images in local newspapers, magazines, or community bulletins to attract new students or promote upcoming events.
  • Online Ads: Use high-quality images for digital ads or sponsored posts on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Google Ads. Visual ads with strong branding attract attention and drive engagement.


Press & Public Relations

  • Media Kits: Include professional images of the dance team in a media kit for press outreach. This can help when you are sharing about your team in local magazines or news outlets.
  • Press Releases: Accompany press releases with high-quality images to make stories about the studio more compelling to journalists and editors.


Fundraising and Sponsorships

  • Sponsor Materials: If your dance team has sponsors, branded images can be used on thank-you cards, sponsor plaques, or in sponsor-related marketing materials.
  • Crowdfunding/Support Campaigns: If the studio needs to raise funds for a special project, competition, or event, using images of the dance team can humanize the cause and make the campaign more appealing.


Studio Wall Displays

Create a stunning visual display in the studio’s lobby or hallways with large-scale prints from the photoshoot. It can showcase the team in action and inspire both current and prospective students.


How do dancers and their parens get access to the photos?


Dance parents access the team photos through a service like Photoday, which is a platform that helps dance photographers to share and order the portraits from each session.

After Photo Day

The dance studio or coach will share a link to the Photoday website or app after the photos are published, this will be shared in an email, or on the team's communication platform (e.g., Band or Teams).

This email will also include information on when the photos are expected to be ready, what packages are available, and how parents can order photos.


Photographer Uploads Photos

After Sandrien B Photography takes the team and individual photos during the branding team portrait session, she will retouch and edit the photos before uploading the images to the Photoday gallery. These images will be organized by group or team (e.g., "2024 Junior team"), and you will find each individual portrait of the dancers in that group in the same folder to help parents find their child’s photos quickly. This gallery is password-protected for privacy and security. DO NOT share the link with others!


Accessing the Photos

Parents can log in using the provided credentials, or if they already have an account with Photoday, can use the code that is provided by the studio or coach. Sometimes there is the option to locate your dancer's photos through a facefind feature.


Photo Viewing and Ordering

Once in the gallery, parents can browse through the available photos, which includes individual portraits and group photos (depending on what the studio or team booked me for).

Photoday allows parents to purchase prints, digital downloads, or packages directly from the website. Parents can select their desired photos, add them to their cart, and proceed with payment for the order. Depending on the studio or company preference, the photos will be delivered to the studio in bulk or shipped to the parent's home directly. Digital orders will be sent to your personal email address.


Tips for Parents:

Check Email/Notifications: Be sure to monitor your email or text messages for the access link and other important updates from the studio or team.

Order Early: Sometimes we offer early-bird discounts, so it's worth placing your order sooner rather than later. There will be a limited time to order from a gallery, so make sure to don't miss the ordering deadline.