Competitions and Juried Shows
These juried exhibitions and competitions provide meaningful feedback and recognition for our dance portraits. Since each show has its own style and strengths, we tailor our submissions to the jury and the work they value most.
Take your time. You can learn more about specific juries and shows and see all of the photos that earned awards, or continue on to this year’s award-winning collaborations.
Welcome to the Awards Gallery
Images are in reverse chronological order based on the most recent awards.
Most Recent Awards: 2025 Color Awards, 2025 WPC, 2025 IPC.
Breaking Free – A Six-Second Choreography
Dancer: Brooke Adkins
School: UNCSA HS
Created: 2024
Six seconds isn’t a lot of time, but you can make it count like Brooke did. We iterated on this a bit, noticing how the multiple exposures stacked and planning our next iteration accordingly. The final result is a stunning testament to Brooke’s artistry and the creative retreat process.
Awards
- PPNC 2025: NC Excellence
Keeping a Low Profile
Dancers: Clara Woody
School: International Ballet Academy
Created: 2024
While Clara is a gifted young ballerina, she shines equally in her contemporary movement and sculptural stylings. Her attention to detail and ability to finesse the shape are inspiring. The physique is amazing, but really it is the emotion that is exuded through the form that makes this image special.
Awards
- PPNC 2025: NC Excellence
- IIC 2025: Gold Award in Figure Studies
Reverie
Dancer: Peyton Lilly Bond
Company: South Carolina Ballet
Created: 2024
So much worked so well in this image. It’s been an honor to work with Peyton on multiple occasions, and you’ll see her work throughout the galleries. Alas, it may be a while until I can work with her again, as life has taken her across the oceans.
Awards
- ASP/IOD 2025: Seal of Distinction
- PPNC 2025: Image Excellence
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Dance Photography
- In color as “Rhapsody in Blue”
Ripple Effect
Dancer: Mckenna
School: UNCSA HS
Created: 2024
Mckenna (and no, I didn’t forget to capitalize the ‘k’) is a crazy talented young artist, and just plain fun to work with. She carries a sense of ease and regalness in everything she does. After a lot of ballet, she wanted to do something more architectural, and I think we can agree that she understood the assignment.
Awards
- PPNC 2025: NC Excellence
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Figure Studies
Ominous Pretense
Dancer: Luke Slavich
School: International Ballet Academy
Created: 2024
Seriously? Luke owned this pose and homed in on the final version rapidly. The symmetry is fabulous, but it is the facial expression that creates the art.
Awards
- PPNC 2025: NC Excellence
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Monochrome Portrait Photography
Rendevous
Dancers: Calista Loftis & Elize Helbig
School: UNC Charlotte Dance
Created: 2024
This single image is a reworked version of the storytelling set, “Stolen Moment”. Calista and Elize were exceptional in creating this series, and this one image stood out. They are fun to work with, both individually and as a team, and you can see the benefits of being dance partners for over three years.
Awards
- PPNC 2025: Merit Image
- IIC 2024: Gold Award in Fine Art Minimalism
- Submitted as “Interlude”
- IV Awards 2024: Excellence in Minimalism
Taking Flight
Dancer: Chloe Isenhart
School: International Ballet Academy
Created: 2024
Jumps and big flowy skirts are great partners and sometimes a bit more like a “frenemy.” Chloe took direction so well on how to move and hold the fabric, and the relaxed arms and hands were her reward. Such a beautiful jump, and the movement in the fabric was stunning—no Photoshop trickery here!
Awards
- PPNC 2025: Merit Image
Barefoot Cinderella
Dancer: Julianna Brown
Company: UNCSA BFA
Created: 2024
I’m not sure when she stopped thinking about the movement and just iterating over it lost in the idea and flow of the fabric. Her movement is so ethereally effortless.
Awards
- ASP/IOD 2025: Seal of Approval
- PPNC 2025: Merit Image
- IIC 2025: Bronze Award in Portraits (1 Person)
Princess of the Stage
Dancer: Keilani
School: Carolina Dance Center
Created: 2024
This single image is a reworked version of the storytelling set, “Stolen Moment”. Calista and Elize were exceptional in creating this series, and this one image stood out. They are fun to work with, both individually and as a team, and you can see the benefits of being dance partners for over three years.
Awards
- PPNC 2025: Merit Image
- IIC 2024: Gold Award in Fine Art Minimalism
- Submitted as “Interlude”
- IV Awards 2024: Excellence in Minimalism
Fading Away
Dancers: Anastasia
School: UNCSA HS ’25
Created: 2024
This image was a reimaging of the original that has much more contrast and is in full color. I was taken by the drama that Anastasia creates, and reducing the contrast and tonal range felt like it did her movement and emotion justice.
Awards
- IIC 2024: Gold Award in Fine Art Minimalism
Boundless
Dancer: Michela Semenza Poynter
Company: Greensboro Ballet
Created: 2021
Michela is a beautiful artist and creative. We spent a day building her portfolio and having a ton of fun. Getting the proper fabric movement and expression to all come together is always a challenge, but she was up for it. The ease with which she is moving forward is gorgeous, and the fans created just a little wisp in her hair.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Gold Award in Fine Art Minimalism
- IPC 2023: Imaging Excellence and Diamond Award
- Art of the Arts: Accepted in Show
- PPNC 2022: NC Excellence
- ASP Print Competition 2022: Merit Image
Lost in the Moment
Dancer: Zoe Ross Parker
Company: Charlotte Ballet Second Company
Created: 2020
I’m pretty sure Zoe was my first professional dancer, as she was on her way to Charlotte when we worked together. We had a couple of fun and funky retreats over the spring and summer (penches in Docs). This particular image was from a white on white series. The “skirt” is just some chunks of tulle with a Zoe-sized hole in the middle stacked up.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Gold Award in Fine Art Minimalism
- IPC 2021: Loan Collection
Intertwined
Dancers: Katherine Nettles & Antony Reyes
School: UNCSA BFA
Created: 2024
This image of Katherine and Antony was a joy to create. They are excellent dancers who have spent three years at UNCSA dancing together. The twisty shape and the interaction they have are stunning. They arrived with the initial idea set, but it took a lot of thinking and testing to work out the final form that enabled Antony to have an elegant leg line while keeping the interaction and beautiful sculptural lines—and a secure base for Katherine.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Gold Award in Figure Studies
- Color Awards 2025: Nomination (Color Version)
- WPC 2025: Bronze Medal Natural Portrait
- IPC 2025: Gold Award Natural Portrait
- IV Awards 2024: Excellence Award & Third Place in Figure Studies
- B&W Spider Awards 2024: Nomination
- ASP/IoD 2024: Seal of Distinction
- PPNC 2024: Merit Image (color version)
Arm Day
Dancer: Ava Strickland
School: UNCSA BFA
Created: 2024
Ava is so very talented, and seeing her move is a real treat. This idea came out of a piece of improv, and we worked the details to create this moment. We chose to lean into the blacks and make the whole about the arm lines. The final shape is gorgeous; thank you, Ava!
Awards
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Fine Art Minimalism
Contemporary Dance Avalanche
Dancers: The Pluck Project 2024
School: UNCSA BFA
Created: 2023
Working with the UNCSA Pluck Project each year is such an honor. These contemporary dancers are incredibly talented, and seeing where their collective vision for their group photos takes them is always a surprise in the best possible way. I met with them beforehand to discuss a color palette and landed on skin tone tops for the ladies, bare-chested tops for the men, and jeans. Getting everyone seen was a bit of a challenge, but it was all captured in a single shot. They are masterful!
Awards
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Dance Portrait
- Color Awards 2025: Nomination (entered as “Dance Bodies”)
- IPC 2025: Bronze Award Group Portrait
- ASP/IoD 2024: Seal of Distinction
- PPNC 2024: Merit Image
Defying Gravity
Dancer: Sofia Strobl
School: UNCSA HS
Created: 2022
Sofia exudes energy. We built a wide-ranging portfolio of contemporary and acrobatic dance and truly had a fun day of it. It was thrilling to see her get accepted into her first-choice conservatory program and now live her dream. One juror commented that he was convinced we had removed a box that was under her. Ummm. Nope. We don’t do that. I felt vindicated when the image became a Grand Imaging Award finalist at IPC and part of my diamond case.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Dance Photography
- IPC 2023: Imaging Excellence and Diamond Award
- PPNC 2022: NC Excellence
- ASP 2022: Merit Image
Justice Denied
Dancer: Peyton Lilly Bond
Company: South Carolina Ballet
Created: 2024
This image of Peyton developed organically as she improved with dual cage skirts. At one point, I noticed the way the straps moved across her face, and we worked in that area with more intention. She brought such great emotion into the moment that it completed the story.
Awards
- ASP/IoD 2025: Seal of Approval
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Monochrome
- Color Awards 2025: Nomination (Color Version)
Going Separate Ways
Dancers: Lucia Quarles & Clara Woody
School: International Ballet Academy
Created: 2024
This image is part of a series called “Six-Second Choreographies,” where we use multiple pops of light in a single exposure to create a story. The process is fascinating, and this was the first pas de deux. The image starts in the center and moves outward in both directions, which adds to the complexity. As we danced, analyzed, refined, and performed, the final choreography came into focus.
Awards
- ASP/IOD 2025: Seal of Approval
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Dance Photography
Power Lines
Dancer: Kenzie Landis
School: Pace University Commercial Dance
Created: 2021
Kenzie was a dream to work with. As a commercial dancer with strong ballet training, she was versatile and created unique styles. This piece came together little by little as we saw opportunities to refine the shape. The journey was worth the reward. It has been amazing watching Kenzie’s career unfold after college!
Awards
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Dance Photography
- IPC 2023: Imaging Excellence and Diamond Award
- Arts North International 29: Accepted in Show
- PPNC 2022: NC Excellence, Best in Show, Judges Choice
- ASP 2022: Merit Image
Protecting Spirits
Dancer: Ava Strickland
UNCSA BFA
Created: 2025
Ava was my first dancer to work on what I’ve dubbed “Six-Second Choreographies.” We created several compelling stories using a variety of timing techniques and lighting patterns. The idea behind this image is that her other selves are caring for her in a moment of pain. Ava is a gifted dancer and worked within the constraints of the photography effortlessly.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Dance Photography
- ASP/IOD 2024: Seal of Approval
Sacred Geometry
Dancer: Jillian Kerr
School: UNCSA HS
Created: 2021
Jillian was a senior in the high school program at UNCSA when we created this. Her ballet dancing is soft and elegant. It belies her strong architectural contemporary side. This image evolved just a little from the original as the hand placement was critical to completing the sculpture. It’s been an honor to continue working with Jillian as her career has continued.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Figure Studies (submitted as “Spirals”)
- Arts North International 29: Accepted in Show
- IPC 2022: Merit Image and Bronze Award
Strutting Her Stuff
Dancer: Audrey Malek
Company: Pacific Northwest Ballet
Created: 2024
It was amazing getting to know Audrey and working with her over two years as the Tutu.com professional model. Each year, we hosted two retreats: one to create images for Tutu.com and another to fulfill her artistic vision. Her fusion of glamour and exquisite technique is simply gorgeous.
Awards
- ASP/IOD 2025: Seal of Approval
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Figure Studies
Taking Flight
Dancer: Jett Lecamu
School: English National Ballet School
Created: 2024
Jett has been a regular fixture in the studio for years. It’s been amazing to be a small part of his story as he navigated high school and now ENB School overseas. This image was created when he was home on break and needed to enhance his portfolio. There’s so much to love about the image beyond technique.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Silver Award in Dance Photography
Big Dreams
Dancer: Lucille
Company: Cary Ballet
Created: 2024
She had such a beautiful, quiet presence in all she did. We had a fantastic day creating images to mark where she is in her journey, and I look forward to seeing where that path leads for her.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Bronze Award in Portraits (1 Person)
Breaking Away from Your Own Chaos
Dancer: Ava Strickland
Company: UNCSA BFA
Created: 2025
This is another of a multi-exposure six-second choreography that we did as an experiment. This was one of our earlier versions where the lights were popped at very regular intervals, catching many moments. Ava worked the constraints masterfully and told this fantastic story.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Bronze Award in Stories
My Selves
Dancer: Ava Strickland
Company: UNCSA BFA
Created: 2025
As we evolved the Six-Second Choreography we changed how we triggered the light and slowed things down to create less chaos and more intention. This was entered as a single-person portrait very intentionally, and I’m pleased with the result. It could have been entered in any number of categories. I’m grateful to Ava for her creativity and patience as we worked through a new process.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Bronze Award in Portraits (1 Person)
Confidence
Dancer: Brooke Adkins
Company: UNCSA HS
Created: 2024
Brooke is an emotive and creative mover and simply a lot of fun to work with. The ebb and flow of ideas is energizing. The movement changed substantially from the original as bit of what would become the final form emerged through iterations on the theme.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Bronze Award in Dance Photography
Light in the Darkness
Dancer: Madeleine Smith
Company: UNCSA HS
Created: 2025
Madeleine came with three friends as a way to mark the end of high school. She has since moved on to being a member of studio company. It was a day filled with lots of laughter and beautiful dancing.
Awards
- ASP/IOD 2025: Seal of Approval
- IIC 2025: Bronze Award in Dance Photography
Table for One
Dancer: Stella Morse
Company: UNCSA HS
Created: 2025
This was a fun jump to create. We started with a minimal plan and created some sample shapes. Then, we refined it a bit, made some adjustments, and ended up with some cool legs. We thought it looked like she was sitting on a stool, so we suggested she lean in, as if she were at a table.
Awards
- IIC 2025: Bronze Award in Dance Photography
Remorse
Dancer: Garrett Lucero
School: International Ballet Company
Created: 2024
When you have a dance/choreographer with a passion for theatrical makeup and a particular focus on horror, you get something like this. Garrett is truly a gem of a dancer, but he wanted to do something less dancy and more emotional. The theme of his work was about how pushing emotions down tears you up inside until…
Awards
- Color Awards 2025: Nomination
- IV Awards 2024: Accepted to Show
Just Take It
Dancer: Ava Strickland
School: UNCSA BFA
Created: 2024
Working with Ava is always a treat as her movement is both very organic and very intentional. We started with an inspiration image, but did not love how it came together for her. She rapidly modified the legs, but the arms took a little work. After discussing, we came up with the sense of resignation and ceding defeat that worked for her.
Awards
- Color Awards 2025: Nomination
Explore Past Inspiration Galleries
Each gallery celebrates the dancers and images that earned awards in juried competitions that year—offering a glimpse into the artistry, individuality, and creative collaboration behind every frame.