I always arrive to ballerina sessions with a slightly elevated heart rate- these portraits are something I care so deeply about, a product of my very soul, and I get nervous that I’m going to come up short. But with dancers like Ali, all that fretting was pointless- I drove away from the Kennedy Center last week feeling as though I could fly. We planned, we shot, she danced, we raced against the clock to make it to the Kennedy Center in time, and in the end, the result was one of my all-time favorite ballerina portraits.

Ali, I’m so grateful you entrusted me with such a gorgeous session! It was an absolute joy to spend the evening with you; you’re gorgeous beyond words and I loved having the chance to photograph you in your element!