A candid image library created during real adult dance classes
In October 2025, I photographed two adult classes for Footsteps School of Dancing in Letchworth Garden City.
Business owner Nigel needed an updated collection of professional photographs for the Footsteps website and social media. The priority wasn’t to manufacture a polished version of the classes. He wanted the photography to show what attending Footsteps genuinely feels like - the movement, concentration, interaction and enjoyment of the people taking part.
The result was a varied library of around 200 edited photographs, captured across two sessions without interrupting the classes or changing how they normally ran.
The project at a glance
Client: Footsteps School of Dancing
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
Date: October 2025
Photography time: Approximately two hours across two sessions
Classes covered: Two adult classes at different ability levels
Final delivery: Around 200 edited photographs
Image use: Website and social media
Photography style: Natural, candid and observational
Creating authentic commercial photography
We discussed staging a few photographs using a smaller selection of dancers, which would have provided more control over positioning, expressions and backgrounds.
Nigel preferred to keep everything authentic.
Apart from a group photograph, the sessions were therefore photographed as they actually happened. The dancers followed the normal class while I worked around them, looking for useful moments without directing people or repeatedly stopping the lesson.
This approach suited Footsteps. Someone considering joining a class can see the real environment, the people involved and the atmosphere they can expect rather than a heavily staged version created purely for the camera.
It is also a good example of how corporate photography can work for smaller businesses. Corporate imagery does not have to mean formal offices, suits and posed handshakes. It can simply show a business, its service and its customers honestly and professionally.
Photographing live classes without causing disruption
Photographing a real class requires a different approach from directing a conventional photoshoot.
I needed to move carefully around the room, anticipate the dancers’ movements and avoid becoming a distraction. That meant observing routines, finding clean shooting positions, and waiting for moments where movement, expression, and interaction came together naturally.
I captured a mixture of:
- Wider photographs showing the full class and venue
- Closer images of individual dancers and smaller groups
- Nigel teaching and interacting with the class
- Genuine smiles, conversations and reactions
- Movement and dance routines in progress
- Group photographs showing the wider Footsteps community
Most of the photographs were taken horizontally for use across the website, but I also created vertical images that would work more effectively on social media.
Footsteps organised the necessary photography permissions with everyone taking part before the sessions.
Working with movement and available light
The classes took place indoors under the venue’s existing lighting. I deliberately avoided using flash because it would have changed the feel of the room and could have distracted people during the lesson.
The technical challenge was balancing the available light with a shutter speed fast enough to photograph continuous movement clearly.
I worked primarily with 24-105mm and 70-200mm lenses on professional Canon mirrorless camera bodies. The 24-105mm allowed me to respond quickly as groups moved around the room, while the 70-200mm helped me capture closer expressions and interactions from further away.
Using a longer lens also meant I could remain outside the immediate activity and photograph more natural behaviour. People generally become less conscious of the camera when the photographer is not constantly standing directly in front of them.
My experience photographing people, workplaces, events and live activity meant I could adapt quickly without needing to control every part of the scene.
Delivering a versatile business image library
Across the two sessions, I delivered approximately 200 fully edited photographs.
Rather than receiving several slight variations of the same moment, Footsteps received a broad collection covering different people, abilities, interactions and parts of the classes.
This gave Nigel enough variety to update key website pages while retaining a useful supply of photographs for future social media posts.
A well-planned commercial shoot should create more than a handful of attractive images. It should provide a practical library covering the different formats, subjects and messages a business regularly needs.
My guide explaining what corporate photography includes looks at the wider ways businesses can use professional photography across websites, marketing, PR and social media.
The result
The strongest indication that the photography worked is that Nigel later booked me for another shoot.
A repeat commission carries more weight than a vague claim that a client “loved the photographs”. It shows that the images were useful enough for the business to invest in working together again.
The first sessions also gave us a clearer understanding of what worked for Footsteps, making it easier to plan future photography around the school’s changing content needs.
Commercial photography for local businesses
Although this project involved a dance school, the same approach works for many businesses and organisations that provide an experience or service.
That might include:
- Fitness studios and gyms
- Hospitality businesses
- Training providers
- Activity groups and membership organisations
- Independent retailers
- Healthcare and wellbeing services
- Workshops and creative businesses
Natural commercial photography helps potential customers understand what happens, who they will meet and what the environment feels like.
For another local example, see my commercial photography and video case study for Meow Lounge in Hitchin.
Frequently asked questions
Can you photograph a class or business while it is operating normally?
Yes. I regularly work around real activity rather than requiring everything to stop for the camera.
Before the shoot, we can identify any essential photographs and agree how I can capture them with minimal disruption. Some situations benefit from a mixture of candid photography and lightly staged images, while others can be photographed entirely as they happen.
Do you always use flash for indoor commercial photography?
No. Whether I use flash depends on the location, available light, type of activity and the desired look.
For the Footsteps sessions, I used the venue’s existing light because flash could have distracted the dancers and changed the natural atmosphere of the class.
Who is responsible for photography consent?
The organisation commissioning the photography should ensure that participants have been properly informed and that any necessary permissions are in place.
Footsteps managed consent for the adults photographed during these sessions. I can provide guidance before a shoot if a business is unsure what arrangements may be needed.
How many photographs will we receive?
The number depends on the length and complexity of the shoot.
Footsteps received approximately 200 edited photographs from two classes photographed across two sessions. For other projects, I agree the intended coverage beforehand and deliver a carefully edited collection that reflects the brief.
How much does commercial photography cost?
Pricing depends on the photography time, location, number of sessions, intended image use and the amount of planning involved.
You can see my current starting rates and a breakdown of the factors affecting a quote in my guide to corporate photography prices in the UK.
Do you only photograph dance schools?
No. I provide commercial and corporate photography for businesses, brands and organisations across Hertfordshire, London and the UK.
Projects can include people at work, customer experiences, services, workplaces, marketing imagery, website photography and complete business image libraries.
Need updated photography for your business?
I provide natural commercial photography for businesses and organisations that want to show real people, services and working environments without relying on generic stock images or uncomfortable posing.
Based in Hertfordshire and working across London and throughout the UK, I can photograph a single session or help create a broader image library for your website, social media and marketing.
Get in touch to discuss your business, the photographs you need and how the images will be used.
About the photographer
Lee Charlton is a Hertfordshire-based commercial and corporate photographer with more than 16 years of professional experience.
He previously worked as Global Photography Manager at TUI, where he was the company’s sole in-house photographer, creating imagery for international marketing campaigns, websites, brochures, and events. Lee also worked at the RHS for four years, photographing people, workplaces, gardens and major events across the organisation.
Today, he works with businesses, brands and organisations across Hertfordshire, London and the UK, creating natural photography for websites, social media, marketing, PR and internal communications.
