Chicago Choreographer and Freelance Dancer Photography Session | Mariah Eastman

Aug 20

Mariah Eastman is a freelance dancer and choreographer in Chicago. She works full time in dance choreographing and working as a studio manager for Dovetail Studios. Mariah is such a hard worker, is incredibly kind, and embraces her fun and quirky choreography. When we worked together, we wanted to capture just that!

Mariah originally contacted me when I announced that I would be back in Chicago for a week in August. I had opened my books for sessions of all sorts and she was one of the only people who I had previously worked with. We had last shot headshots for a mini session promo I was running in very early 2020 (before the pandemic hit…)

My entire process had changed between the last time we shot together and this time.

Here’s what I did throughout quarantine for my business:

I had implemented systems to make things more streamlined and efficient,
Brainstormed and worked tirelessly to create a unique,
Personalized, and beneficial client experience before we even shot together,
Had developed more of my photographic style,
Created a process that I could use on dancers and movers to capture each person’s individual movement style and personality through the photos to really serve a purpose for the client.

Our session together was so easy-going, playful, and empowered to try new things, just like Mariah! We shot at Lake Michigan at Montrose Harbor with a teeny glimpse of the Chicago skyline peeking through some of her photos. By the end of the shoot, Mariah was tired (who wouldn’t be after dancing for 90 minutes) and embraced the fatigue. I always tell my dance and movement clients that yes, you will feel tired by the end. Simply embrace it. And let me tell you, we always end up with some raw, beautiful, genuine photos by the end because at that point it isn’t about the impressive shapes or the “dancey” photos, it’s about the vulnerability, complexity, and dedication to your craft that really shines through.

Don’t just take my word for it, check it out yourself! Scroll through the photos from Mariah’s dance portrait session to see what I mean. And be sure to learn more about Mariah take a look at her choreography on her website here!