Capturing Flight: An Aerial Silks Photoshoot with Ella

Recently, I had the opportunity to collaborate with aerialist Ella for a photo shoot at Room to Move in Edinburgh. Our goal? Ella needed some professional photographs to promote her act.

Ella holding on to the aerial silks by her ankles — Ella makes this look very easy.

The studio space itself wasn’t ideal for showcasing the elegance of aerial silks. Circus artists and parkour people use Room to Move for training, and there is a lot of equipment in the hall. This clutter in the background would have distracted the viewer.

Ella upright on the aerial silks and looking up — I like a stylised black background. It makes the subject stand out.

Ella upright on the aerial silks and looking to the left — Another slight variation of pose.

With a focus on highlighting Ella and her interaction with the silks, I used a lighting setup to create a dramatic effect. By experimenting with light placement and intensity, I achieved a gradual fade to black in the background. This simple technique transformed the studio space, drawing the eye solely to Ella and the graceful lines formed by her body and the silks.

Ella hanging upside down on the aerial silks — Slight change in wardrobe.

Ella hanging upside down on aerial silks — Slight change of pose.

Ella hanging upside down by one ankle — This is quite dangerous.

Ella doing the splits while standing upright and looking to the right — While the lighting setup remained basically the same I had to adjust it when Ella looked to the right instead of the left.

Photography offers a valuable tool for aerial circus artists. It allows them to:

Document Progress: Capturing photos at different stages in their training journey helps them track their development and celebrate milestones.

Showcase Skills: High-quality photographs can be used for portfolios, websites, and social media to showcase the abilities of aerial artists and attract new opportunities.

Artistic Expression: Photography allows them to push the boundaries of aerial arts beyond the physical performance. We can experiment with different poses, lighting setups, and angles to create visually striking images that capture the artistic essence of aerial silks. The combination of movement, form, and light can create a unique and captivating representation of this art form.

Ella hanging upside down, sitting on the silks — Aerial silks not only require strength and flexibility. One also needs an excellent balance.

Ella upside down hanging by the knees — During this shoot, I photographed Ella upside down more than upright. You can’t say that of all portrait sessions!

Ella doing the splits on the aerial silks — A classic silks pose.

Ella hanging by the ankles and waist — Another pose that requires strength and balance.

The photo shoot with Ella was a true collaboration. We bounced ideas off each other, experimented with different poses, and adjusted the lighting setup to achieve the desired effect. The final images are a testament to the power of teamwork and creative exploration.