Sarasota Dance Photography

Sarasota Dance Photography – Redefined.

sarasota dance photography

I am MICHAELA RISTAINO of Ristaino Photography, and I cannot wait to create a one of a kind photo session for your dance studio. I am fine art portrait photographer in Sarasota FL with an intense passion for all things theatre and dance. I hold a degree in music and have a rich background in performance which gives me a unique ability to merge two loves, performance and photography. I bring a wealth of experience to Sarasota Dance Photography from my recent home in San Francisco. While there, I worked with top performing groups and performers in the Bay Area. I am truly passionate about capturing performance in action and I have a unique talent for putting individuals at ease to create authentic and stunning headshots and individual portraits.

I am a member of Sarasota’s professional vocal ensemble Gloria Musicae and have enjoyed a long history of performing with various music and theatre groups throughout the country. All this and more makes me the perfect choice for capturing your performers in their most authentic and passionate element. With a rich history in performance, I know exactly how to bring out the best in your dancers to showcase their unique talents and individual personalities.

Photo experiences may include pro bono headshots of faculty and staff*, live performance photography, dance studio student mini-sessions, or student headshots.

Not your typical photography studio, I truly partner with YOUR studio for the most personal experience possible. Not only do I come to YOU, but each mini-session experience includes a CASH DONATION back to your studio or school.*

See the galleries below for examples of faculty headshots, student mini-session portraits, and performance photos. Each session is fully customized for your studio’s needs.

Call 941-957-8088 or contact me today to set up a consultation! I can’t wait to work with you!

*inquire for details

Follow Me on Facebook & Instagram

Your teen isn`t being difficult. They`re being a teenager.

There`s a reason they shut down the second you pull out your phone. And once you understand it, getting photos of them actually gets easier.

Swipe through to see what`s really going on, then grab the free 5-day email series at the link in my bio.

Five short emails. Real shifts. No camera gear required.

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Open post by michaelaristainophotography with ID 17944164987154637

Your teen isn't being difficult. They're being a teenager.

There's a reason they shut down the second you pull out your phone. And once you understand it, getting photos of them actually gets easier.

Swipe through to see what's really going on, then grab the free 5-day email series at the link in my bio.

Five short emails. Real shifts. No camera gear required.

Swipe through. If any of this sounds familiar, you`re exactly who I made this for.
Free 5-day email series for moms of teens who want better photos without the pressure. Linktree: Snapshots to Stories

9 1

Open post by michaelaristainophotography with ID 18062495213487334

Swipe through. If any of this sounds familiar, you're exactly who I made this for.
Free 5-day email series for moms of teens who want better photos without the pressure. Linktree: Snapshots to Stories

She showed up knowing exactly who she was. That energy, that confidence, that specific kind of ‘I’m not trying to be anyone else’ - it made my job easy.

This is what I love most about senior sessions. When a senior walks in feeling like herself, the photos just follow. We moved around, laughed a little, and by the end we had a whole gallery that actually looked like her.

Not a generic senior portrait. Her.

If your senior has a session coming up - or you’re just starting to think about it - I’d love to hear about her. What is she into? What does she want her photos to feel like? Let’s start there.

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Open post by michaelaristainophotography with ID 18075455198184605

She showed up knowing exactly who she was. That energy, that confidence, that specific kind of ‘I’m not trying to be anyone else’ - it made my job easy.

This is what I love most about senior sessions. When a senior walks in feeling like herself, the photos just follow. We moved around, laughed a little, and by the end we had a whole gallery that actually looked like her.

Not a generic senior portrait. Her.

If your senior has a session coming up - or you’re just starting to think about it - I’d love to hear about her. What is she into? What does she want her photos to feel like? Let’s start there.

Here`s what I hear most after a session wraps up: "I didn`t expect to feel like that."

And honestly, that`s my favorite part.

Not the gallery reveal, not the final edits. The moment a mom sees a photo and says, "That`s her. That`s really her."

Senior portraits aren`t just a box to check before graduation. They`re a record of who your daughter is right now, in this specific, fleeting, irreplaceable season of her life.

The way she carries herself. The style that`s completely her own. The look she gives the camera when she forgets to feel awkward and just exists.

That`s what I`m always chasing.

If your senior is class of 2026 or 2027, my calendar is filling up and fall books faster than most families expect. Where are you at in the planning process?
Drop a comment or send me a message. I`m happy to chat, no commitment needed. 🤍

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Open post by michaelaristainophotography with ID 18119401981724823

Here's what I hear most after a session wraps up: "I didn't expect to feel like that."

And honestly, that's my favorite part.

Not the gallery reveal, not the final edits. The moment a mom sees a photo and says, "That's her. That's really her."

Senior portraits aren't just a box to check before graduation. They're a record of who your daughter is right now, in this specific, fleeting, irreplaceable season of her life.

The way she carries herself. The style that's completely her own. The look she gives the camera when she forgets to feel awkward and just exists.

That's what I'm always chasing.

If your senior is class of 2026 or 2027, my calendar is filling up and fall books faster than most families expect. Where are you at in the planning process?
Drop a comment or send me a message. I'm happy to chat, no commitment needed. 🤍

One photographer. Ten seniors. Zero cookie-cutter sessions. 🤍

Every session is built around one thing: who your kid actually is. The beach girl. The downtown girl. The "I hate having my picture taken but somehow these are amazing" girl. (My personal favorite.)

Which vibe is your teen? Drop it below. 👇

Free 5-day email series for moms who want better photos of their teen before this season flies by. Link in bio.

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Open post by michaelaristainophotography with ID 18117466330563990

One photographer. Ten seniors. Zero cookie-cutter sessions. 🤍

Every session is built around one thing: who your kid actually is. The beach girl. The downtown girl. The "I hate having my picture taken but somehow these are amazing" girl. (My personal favorite.)

Which vibe is your teen? Drop it below. 👇

Free 5-day email series for moms who want better photos of their teen before this season flies by. Link in bio.

Julia showed up in pink taffeta, striped tights, and platform pink sparkle boots.

Not for a costume party. For her senior portraits.

She is my favorite example of what happens when a senior shows up completely as herself.

We shot downtown — murals, alleyways, urban texture — because that`s where her energy belonged. The classic shots happened too. But the ones nobody could scroll past?

Pure Julia.

That`s what personality first looks like. When you stop trying to fit your senior into a template and let them show up as who they actually are, the photos answer themselves.

Location, outfits, mood — all of it follows.
You just have to start with the right question.
🔗 The full guide is on the blog — locations, outfits, how I plan every session. Link in bio.

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Open post by michaelaristainophotography with ID 18452110924128474

Julia showed up in pink taffeta, striped tights, and platform pink sparkle boots.

Not for a costume party. For her senior portraits.

She is my favorite example of what happens when a senior shows up completely as herself.

We shot downtown — murals, alleyways, urban texture — because that's where her energy belonged. The classic shots happened too. But the ones nobody could scroll past?

Pure Julia.

That's what personality first looks like. When you stop trying to fit your senior into a template and let them show up as who they actually are, the photos answer themselves.

Location, outfits, mood — all of it follows.
You just have to start with the right question.
🔗 The full guide is on the blog — locations, outfits, how I plan every session. Link in bio.

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Contact

Michaela Ristaino Photography
michaela@ristainophotography.com | 941-957-8088 | Sarasota FL