Salt Flats
Aerobatics competition team photo day
September 12, 2026
hi high flyer
let's get you registered
Join us on the evening of September 12 for an exclusive Bonneville Salt Flats portrait experience, created especially for the Aerobatics Performing Arts Competition team. As a participating team, you'll enjoy a preferred rate reserved exclusively for Aerobatics attendees. We look forward to capturing your aerialist against one of the world's most breathtaking landscapes. Before securing your session, please review the tips and FAQs below.
Includes:
10 professionally retouched photos of your choice (additional photos are available for purchase, $20 per).
cost:
$120
Tips & Tricks
1. Stay in Your Best Light.
Good lighting makes all the difference. Think of the key light like a showerhead—your face should always be in the "water" for the best glow. Not sure where to be? We’ll guide you. If a pose takes you out of the "golden zone", no worries—just come down, and we’ll make small adjustments to get it right.
2. Prep.
Set yourself up for success—get a full night’s sleep, eat well, and stay hydrated. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Taking care of your body will help you look and feel your best.
3. Warm Up First.
A proper warm-up prevents injury and helps you show off your full flexibility and control. Take the time to prepare before stepping into the spotlight. We recommend arriving at least 20 minutes prior to when your shoot time begins.
4. Bring a List.
Sometimes when we’re caught up in the shoot we can forget our next skill. Write out your favorite combos, ranking them in order of preference so we can prioritize your favorite skills first. Having a physical list behind the scenes to refer to can help keep you on track.
5. Exhale Though the Lips.
A good smile is a timeless classic but if you're looking for some variety a slightly parted mouth can add a natural touch to your photos. If you have difficulty relaxing your mouth or lips, try gently exhaling through them. Also, remember to breathe regularly during your session to avoid holding tension in your body and face, as it shows on camera.
6. Simplify.
The camera favors simplicity. Instead of complex combos I’d personally opt for tried and true basics you know you can hold for longer periods of time with clean lines.
7. Familiar Skills.
Photo day isn’t the best time to experiment with new tricks. Learning on set takes up valuable time, and any uncertainty will show in your expression. Choose skills you feel confident in to ensure clean lines and a polished look.
8. Mind Your Hands and Feet.
Beautiful lines don’t stop at your body—engage your fingers and toes! Avoid "dead hands" or flexed feet unless it's an intentional artistic choice.
9. Details.
If you’re one to wear nail polish, I’d recommend a fresh manicure. Nails are one of those small details that can really pull the eye if not uniform.
Check your wrists! I'm talking about hair-ties and watches. Again, small details that can draw the eye. We can have one nearby but let’s avoid having it in the shot.
Sock lines - you don't like seeing them and I equally don't love editing them. Make sure you don't sleep in socks the night before and give your skin some time to breath while you warm up.
10. Have Fun!
Aerial and circus arts are passions worth celebrating, and all your hard work deserves to be captured. Relax, enjoy the moment, and soak it all in. Have a great rest of your season and we'll see you soon!
FAQ
can an aerialist be photographed on multiple apparatuses?
Absolutely. We recognize that aerialists train multiple disciplines, and we would be honored to capture each of them. Simply reserve a separate session for each apparatus you'd like photographed by submitting the registration form multiple times.
As part of this exclusive portrait experience created for the Aerobatics Performing Arts Competition team, we've extended a preferred rate that is considerably lower than our standard luxury outdoor sessions. This allows artists who wish to showcase multiple apparatuses to create a beautifully curated collection while taking advantage of this exclusive team offering.
What will the schedule look like?
From late afternoon until sunset, the sessions are projected to occur in the following order: personally provided apparatuses, hammock (light blue), specialty apparatuses such as moon, straps, or contortion loops and trapeze, red silks, lyra (36" taped black), and blush silks.
Registration will close no later than August 11th or when sign ups reach full capacity so an official schedule can be finalized. This allows us to optimize our time instead of racing against the sun. We kindly ask that you block out the afternoon and evening of September 12th until you have received your official time.
How are photos chosen?
An album with the proofs (unedited photos) will be sent your way through an emailed link within 72 hours of the shoot to make your selection. Want us to make the selection? No worries. If no selection has been made after 7 days we will curate a selection for you.
How many poses should my aerialist have prepared?
Each portrait session is approximately 10 minutes, allowing your aerialist ample time to perform at their best while keeping the evening running seamlessly for everyone.
We recommend preparing at least five favorite skills or poses before your session. There's no downside to practicing additional options as well—having a variety gives us flexibility if you'd like to try different angles or compositions.
We suggest beginning with the skills that are most important to you or those that require the greatest amount of strength and endurance. Capturing your priority poses while you're fresh helps ensure a refined collection of images you'll treasure. If time allows, we'll continue exploring additional skills to create an even more diverse gallery.
Can my student participate if I haven't completed the contract?
All students must have written consent from a legal guardian to be photographed. We cannot have an aerialist on set without complete paperwork in order to protect us and your student.
will you accommodate late arrivals?
Out of consideration to our other aerialists on the schedule, we cannot. Please arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your time slot for your aerialist to warm up. Late arrivals will not be worked in or refunded, so please plan to have your aerialist at the location early.
I'm not available this date. What are my options?
We'd love to photograph you another time. In addition to this exclusive Aerobatics team experience, we'll be hosting a public Bonneville Salt Flats portrait session the following evening, which is open to all aerialists. It's registration page can be found under the main menu above.
If you'd prefer an even more personalized experience, private portrait sessions are also available on a date of your choosing. These bespoke sessions offer complete flexibility and a fully customized experience. Please reach out for availability and pricing details—we'd be delighted to create something just for you.
Can my student do a costume change?
It's fun having some variety! Just know that your 10 minutes does not pause for outfit changes or adjustments. If you're a quick changer and don't mind the time loss, go right on ahead. If the wind is low we will have a changing tent, but it doesn't hurt to have a friend with a blanket on standby. A great way to optimize your time and options is for you and some friends to sign up for the same apparatus and rotate in 5 minute increments. While another aerialist is in the air you can change with little to no shooting time lost. So rope in your pals to optimize your experience!
What should they wear? What should I bring?
When your booking is finalized you will receive a Salt Flats Guide that provides targeted advice for our session such as recommended costume color pallets, what to bring, a skill checklist, and places to eat.
have any other questions?
I'm happy to help. Please reach out to my email nat@redfoxphoto.co with any questions you might have.
Why Expertise Matters
Choosing the right photographer for an aerial arts session is just as important as choosing the right location. Not all aerialist photography is created equally. The Bonneville Salt Flats present unique lighting challenges that require more than simply showing up with a camera. Creating timeless artwork demands technical expertise in both lighting and aerial arts.
Red Fox Photo specializes in photographing aerialists. With a background in commercial photography and firsthand experience as an aerial instructor, every session is guided by an understanding of movement, body positioning, and the unique demands of each apparatus. More importantly, professional lighting techniques ensure flattering skin tones, depth, and polished imagery regardless of the available light. The result is a collection of refined, gallery-worthy photographs designed to become lasting artwork—not images that are only suited for social media.
