Ballet Portraits - After Dark

Part of Sony Scene Festival 2026

This workshop is an official Sony Scene Festival 2026 event. Attend and receive an entry into Sony's draw for the chance to win one of five photography trips to Tokyo & Kyoto, Japan. The more Scene Festival events you attend, the more entries you can receive, subject to Sony's competition terms.

Everyone is welcome - You do not have to be a Sony Shooter to join Sony Scene Events. Sony events are for everyone

About the Workshop

Take ballet out of the theatre and onto the streets of Melbourne.

Join us for an evening photography workshop combining the elegance and movement of ballet with fashion and environmental portraiture, using Melbourne's CBD as our backdrop.

We'll meet at Hyde Melbourne Place before heading into the surrounding city streets, laneways and urban spaces with our ballet dancer.

Using portable continuous lighting, we'll create a series of different looks—from elegant classical ballet portraits to contemporary ballet-fashion and more dramatic urban images.

What We'll Explore

• Ballet portraiture and fashion-inspired imagery

• Posing and directing a ballet dancer

• Using Melbourne's architecture, streets and available light

• Combining ambient city light with continuous lighting

• Light positioning and shaping on location

• Creating separation, depth and mood

• Full-body compositions and environmental portraits

• Capturing movement, form and elegant ballet poses

• Working quickly and creatively as locations and light change

This is a hands-on shooting workshop, with attendees getting the opportunity to photograph a professional ballet dancer across multiple locations and lighting setups.

What to Bring

Bring your camera, charged batteries and memory cards. A versatile portrait lens such as a 35mm, 50mm or 85mm is ideal, while a 24–70mm is a great option for combining the dancer with Melbourne's city environment.

Continuous lighting will be provided for the workshop.

Sony Scene Festival – Attend to Win

By attending this event as part of Sony Scene Festival 2026, eligible attendees can receive an entry into the draw for a chance to win one of five 6-day Sony-hosted photography experiences in Tokyo and Kyoto, including flights, accommodation, meals and photography/video activities.

If your ticket is booked directly through Sony Scene, entry is added automatically once your attendance is recorded. If booking through an external platform, you'll need to complete Sony's competition entry form after attending.

Ballet. Fashion. Melbourne after dark.
One dancer. City streets. Endless creative possibilities.

• Ballet portraiture and fashion-inspired imagery 
• Posing and directing a ballet dancer 
• Using Melbourne's architecture, streets and available light 
• Combining ambient city light with continuous lighting 
• Light positioning and shaping on location 
• Creating separation, depth and mood 
• Full-body compositions and environmental portraits 
• Capturing movement, form and elegant ballet poses
• Working quickly and creatively as locations and light change

• Your camera
• Memory Card
• 24-70 | 70-200 (Ideally one wide angle and one telephoto lens)