Spotlight: Capturing Strength and Grace with Dance Photographer Rick Belden

Photography often meets movement in unexpected ways, and for Rick Belden that connection has turned into a long-standing passion. With over three decades behind the camera, more than 100 magazine covers, and experience across genres from motorsports to lifestyle, his focus on dancers has become one of the most powerful parts of his work.

Finding a Niche in Movement

“I first started studying photography a little over 35 years ago,” he explains. “I’ve always been drawn to athleticism and strength — it’s probably because I’m a retired professional athlete myself and I’ve owned a sports nutrition company for 25 years. About eight years ago, one of my interns at that company was a professional ballerina. I asked if she wanted to be photographed, and after that shoot, I completely fell in love with the genre.”

Since then, he’s photographed around 500 dancers, from five-year-olds just starting out to principal ballerinas performing at world-class companies. He even published a book called Art on Pointe: A Photo Book of Amazing Dancers. “Dancers represent immense strength and beauty,” he says. “I love showcasing that, even to people who might not know anything about dance.”

Balancing Vision and Spontaneity

When it comes to planning shoots, he walks the line between preparation and spontaneity. “I always go in with an idea of the type of images I want to capture and talk it through with my clients first,” he says. “But once we start, I like to go with the flow. We’ll lay out different outfits, match colors and backgrounds, and adapt based on the dancer’s abilities.”

His technical approach is paired with a deep respect for precision. “For dance photography, knowing the correct positions and timing is everything. You have to know when to click the shutter at the perfect moment.”

Advice for Aspiring Dance Photographers

His biggest piece of advice? “Know the genre you’re shooting. If you don’t know what’s correct, a dancer will notice — and they won’t want those photos shown to anyone,” he laughs. “That’s especially true for classical ballet.”

He also recommends learning hands-on. “Hire an experienced dancer if you’re just starting, or take a workshop to learn from someone who knows the nuances. I even teach a dance photography workshop for that reason.”

Experiment and Evolve

Even with all his experience, he still values creativity and experimentation. “Don’t be afraid to try new things,” he says. “Some of my favorite shots are the ones that break convention — they still show strength and beauty, just in unexpected ways.”

Want to see more from Rick Belden? Follow his work on Instagram at @rickbeldenphotography, or check out https://rickbeldenphotography.com/ to see more of his work!