A dramatic low-lit interior scene with a vintage chandelier illuminating a person in a white dress on stairs.
A couple dancing in a dimly lit ballroom with elegant chandeliers casting a warm glow overhead.
Moody interior shots of a dimly lit historic building with ornate chandeliers and arched ceilings creating dramatic shadows.
A dimly lit concert hall interior with elegant chandeliers and arched ceilings creates a dramatic atmospheric ambiance.
A series of dark, moody wedding photos captured in a dimly lit ballroom with elegant chandeliers creating dramatic lighting.
A figure in a black top and beige skirt sits on red steps under a dimly lit chandelier in a dark, dramatic interior.
Elegant dance performance in a grand ballroom with ornate chandeliers casting warm light across the polished floor.
Dramatic silhouettes dance in a dimly lit historic ballroom with arched ceilings and vintage chandeliers.
A person sits in a dark hallway illuminated by dramatic lighting while reading against an ornate wooden wall.
A sequence of interior shots showing an ornate historic ballroom with classical architectural details and polished wood floors.
A figure emerges from shadows in a dimly lit ornate theater with decorative ceiling and red carpeting.
A series of dark, moody interior shots showing a figure in formal attire illuminated by dramatic lighting in an ornate hallway.
A dark theater stage with ornate ceiling details and dramatic lighting illuminates a figure in black performing.
Ornate theater interior with golden decorative ceiling and dramatic lighting creates an elegant ambiance.
A dramatic scene in an ornate historic theater with chandeliers and a flowing red scarf in motion.
Two children in white dresses twirl and dance beneath ornate vintage chandeliers in a grand hallway.
A person in a gold cape and crown poses regally against a curtained archway in warm lighting.
A figure in a long black dress stands dramatically in an arched doorway of a historic building with ornate architecture.
Two performers in green sequined and velvet costumes interact dramatically on a dimly lit stage during a theatrical scene.
A couple poses together in formal attire, with one wearing a dark sequined dress and the other in a green velvet suit.
A figure in a flowing sage green cloak stands dramatically backlit in a dark gothic hallway at night.
A person in a purple lace dress poses dramatically against an ornate gold gate in moody low-key lighting.
A figure in a black dress and red velvet cloak stands on a dark bridge with ornate railings and glowing lights.
A figure in a golden dress stands on a dark balcony at night with illuminated lights in the background.
A dramatic low-lit interior scene with a vintage chandelier illuminating a person in a white dress on stairs.
A couple dancing in a dimly lit ballroom with elegant chandeliers casting a warm glow overhead.
Moody interior shots of a dimly lit historic building with ornate chandeliers and arched ceilings creating dramatic shadows.
A dimly lit concert hall interior with elegant chandeliers and arched ceilings creates a dramatic atmospheric ambiance.
A series of dark, moody wedding photos captured in a dimly lit ballroom with elegant chandeliers creating dramatic lighting.
A figure in a black top and beige skirt sits on red steps under a dimly lit chandelier in a dark, dramatic interior.
Elegant dance performance in a grand ballroom with ornate chandeliers casting warm light across the polished floor.
Dramatic silhouettes dance in a dimly lit historic ballroom with arched ceilings and vintage chandeliers.
A person sits in a dark hallway illuminated by dramatic lighting while reading against an ornate wooden wall.
A sequence of interior shots showing an ornate historic ballroom with classical architectural details and polished wood floors.
A figure emerges from shadows in a dimly lit ornate theater with decorative ceiling and red carpeting.
A series of dark, moody interior shots showing a figure in formal attire illuminated by dramatic lighting in an ornate hallway.
A dark theater stage with ornate ceiling details and dramatic lighting illuminates a figure in black performing.
Ornate theater interior with golden decorative ceiling and dramatic lighting creates an elegant ambiance.
A dramatic scene in an ornate historic theater with chandeliers and a flowing red scarf in motion.
Two children in white dresses twirl and dance beneath ornate vintage chandeliers in a grand hallway.
A person in a gold cape and crown poses regally against a curtained archway in warm lighting.
A figure in a long black dress stands dramatically in an arched doorway of a historic building with ornate architecture.
Two performers in green sequined and velvet costumes interact dramatically on a dimly lit stage during a theatrical scene.
A couple poses together in formal attire, with one wearing a dark sequined dress and the other in a green velvet suit.
A figure in a flowing sage green cloak stands dramatically backlit in a dark gothic hallway at night.
A person in a purple lace dress poses dramatically against an ornate gold gate in moody low-key lighting.
A figure in a black dress and red velvet cloak stands on a dark bridge with ornate railings and glowing lights.
A figure in a golden dress stands on a dark balcony at night with illuminated lights in the background.

Sometimes a Shoot Starts With Careful Planning...


Other times it begins with a trip to a convention… and a camera that just happens to be in your bag.


I originally traveled to the Los Angeles Romantasy Convention with my sister-in-law and my best friend, excited for a weekend of fantasy books, costumes, and the grand finale — a fantasy ball hosted at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. What I didn’t expect was how quickly the weekend would turn into an impromptu portrait session with a whole crew of new friends who were just as excited about dramatic lighting and epic gowns as I was.


Between the incredible architecture of the hotel and a ballroom full of stunning fantasy fashion, it quickly became clear: we had to make some portraits.


Here’s how the shoot came together.


The Location – Historic Art Deco Drama


The Biltmore Hotel is one of those places where you walk in and immediately feel like you’ve stepped into another era. Built in the 1920s, it’s a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture, complete with sweeping arches, intricate moldings, massive chandeliers, and gold accents everywhere you turn.


While the grand lobby is breathtaking, we ended up wandering into quieter corners just off the main hall, hunting for the most interesting light and architectural details. Those hidden spots gave us everything we needed — dramatic wall sconces, towering arches, grand staircases, and rich wood paneling that added warmth to all that gold and marble.


The combination of cozy wood textures and extravagant detailing made the perfect backdrop for fantasy-inspired portraits. It felt intimate and cinematic at the same time, like a secret hallway in a royal palace.


The Lighting – My Ongoing Off-Camera Flash Obsession


If you’ve read any of my recent posts, you know I’m currently deep in my off-camera flash era — and this shoot was no exception.


The ambient lighting at the Biltmore is gorgeous, but it’s also quite dim. Rather than fight that atmosphere, I leaned into it. I exposed the camera to preserve the rich tones of the environment — the glow from chandeliers, the moody shadows in the arches, the warmth of the sconces — and then added flash to illuminate the subject.


Thankfully I had my crew with me, who happily volunteered to hold the off-camera flash in dramatic positions next to the subject. By moving the light off to the side or slightly above, we were able to sculpt the light in a way that felt intentional and cinematic.


This technique allowed the subjects to stand out while still preserving the beauty of the environment around them. The result was portraits that felt dramatic, elegant, and just a little bit magical.


The Styling – Fantasy Ballgowns for the Win


If you’re going to shoot portraits at a fantasy ball, you might as well go all in.


Everyone was dressed to the absolute nines, and honestly the styling alone could have carried the entire shoot. The gowns were extravagant, whimsical, and dramatic in the best way.


My crew looked incredible:


I wore a dramatic black ballgown, perfect for brooding hallway portraits.


Erin stunned in a purple gown with a flowing green cape, giving serious royal sorceress energy.


Amanda wore white with a hand-sewn gold cape, which looked absolutely incredible against the hotel’s warm lighting.


Stephanie channeled full Queen of Hearts energy in a striking black and red ensemble.


The styling elevated the entire shoot. The gowns matched the grandeur of the space, making the portraits feel less like snapshots from a convention and more like scenes from a fantasy film.


The Composition – Balancing Grandeur and Intimacy


When shooting in a space this dramatic, composition becomes everything.


My goal was to balance two competing elements:

the commanding presence of the subjects and the breathtaking architecture surrounding them.


Some compositions leaned into the environment — wide frames that showcased towering arches, staircases, and chandeliers to emphasize the scale of the hotel.


Others zoomed in closer, capturing the details: the texture of a cape, the glow of a sconce behind a shoulder, the reflection of gold accents in the background.


By switching between wide, environmental portraits and tighter detail shots, we were able to tell a more complete story of the space and the people inhabiting it — capturing both the vastness of the setting and the intimate magic of the moment.



 

If there’s one lesson from this shoot, it’s this: sometimes the best portraits happen when you follow curiosity, wander beautiful spaces with friends, and aren’t afraid to pull out a flash and see what happens.


And if you ever find yourself in a historic hotel filled with chandeliers and fantasy ballgowns… you absolutely should take the photo.