In the performing arts, photography is often the first and most powerful invitation to your audience – and it can determine whether they ever step through the door.

As I scanned negatives from my first photography class in 1980, I was struck not by what I lacked—but by the beauty, simplicity, and joy already present in the work.

After 35 years behind the lens, I’ve come to see theatre photography as storytelling – choreography with a camera. Each image captures the fleeting magic of performance, that lives on long after the curtain falls.

If you shoot lots of portraits, one of your most important post-production tools is producing a flawless skin for your clients.