about rmp dance
Ron McKinney is a national leader in dance photography. Ron and his wife, Beth, are the founders and directors of Pas de Deux Dance Photo, an organization that supports the art and business of dance photography in the United States and around the world.
They manage the inaugural Pas de Deux Photo dance photography conference in 2020 with more than 200 dance photographers from across the world joining speakers such as Rachel Neville, David Cooper (Canada), Taylor Ferne-Morris (Australia) and Jordan Matter and many others. He has also moderated webinars with Lois Greenfield, Luis Pons, and others.
We are the official photographer for Ballet Chicago, the DePaul University Dance and Cheer teams, the Illinois State University competitive dance team, and we partner with more than 20 local dance studios and many high school and professional teams and companies. We have also worked for Hubbard Street, the Houston Ballet, the Grand Rapids Ballet, and at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and at Jacob’s Pillow.
Ron does more than just photograph dancers and adjust the lighting. He collaborates with the dancers, directs them to get the most out of their poses, tells them when they need to releve or a forced arch to improve their pose.
our studio
Our 3,250 square foot studio has two permanent dance floors with marley flooring (one white, one black). The white dance floor is 32 feet wide and 15 feet deep, the largest dance floor in a private photography studio in the country. Although he was never a dancer, Ron is quite knowledgeable in working with dancers and posing them, guiding their leaps, making those subtle adjustments that make all the difference in a photograph, and he’s also a master of lighting.
artistic studio portraits
Ron’s unique approach to dance and lighting technique combine to create modern and beautiful dance portraits in the studio. We can use white or back backgrounds or our reclaimed wood wall, one of our backdrops or our cement wall. All of these looks combined with innovative lighting are used to create unique dance portraiture.
rain machine
RMP offers dancers and athletes the chance to be part of exclusive rain machine pictures offered three times a year. Dancers come from all the over the United States to get unique images in a temperature-controlled pool of water.
Click here for more information about rain machine sessions and to book an upcoming date. They are offered in January, August and October of each year.
auditions - headshot and position pictures
When planning for summer intensives or college auditions, it’s important to impress with professional headshots and audition photographs.
We offer 8x10 prints as well as jpg packages. Come in for a mini session or stay for an extended session and take a variety of positive pictures or add an exclusive dance video to your experience.
We also waive the session fee if the dancer stays for an artistic session in the studio.
To schedule a session or learn more, click here.
Artistic Outdoor Portraits
On location at local parks, forest preserves, and waterfront beaches, outdoor dance photography allows dancers to take their skills of the stage in a fun and exciting way. We collaborate with dancer on the looks for their session and work together in choosing the best poses and positions for their portraits. The art pieces are excellent for using as wall art.
high school dance & cheer
Teams can meet with Ron on location or in the studio for portraits. Most teams take these annually. We get group shots, individual jumps and poses, headshots and small groups. Click here for more information.
college dance and cheer teams
Ron has worked with the DePaul Dance team and DePaul Cheer team, the St Joseph’s dance team, and the Illinois State University Dance team. For more information about a group session for your college team, click here.
dance studios
We believe dance photos should be taken by dance photographers. Let us support your studio and your dancers with engaging images and fun photo shoots. No more boring costume portrait sessions.
Powder sessions
We offer powder sessions in our studio a few times a year. Be sure to contact us to get on the list to be informed when we offer these sessions. Dance schools can also host an exclusive session for their dancers in their studio if they’d like.