Matric dance photoshoot ideas for solo portraits
Start with full-length portraits, so the whole gown or suit is in the frame. Then move in closer.
- Standing full length, weight on the back foot, hands relaxed.
- Seated on a bench or a step, with the skirt spread around you.
- In profile, to show the bodice, the back or the cut of a jacket.
- A twirl or a lifted skirt, for movement.
- A glance back over the shoulder.
Seated, then side-on
On a grey garden bench, a matriculant in a blush ball gown sits upright, a bright pink bouquet at her side and the tiered tulle spilling over the lawn. Turned side-on against a dense green hedge, she looks back towards the lens, and the beaded flowers on the bodice and the sheer wrap at her elbow show clearly.
Photograph: Lee-Ann Alicks
A twirl on the sand
On a wide beach under a heavy grey sky, she spins so the pale blue tulle flares out to one side, smiling towards the camera. Mountains stretch across the bay behind her, and the overcast light keeps the soft blues of the gown and the flowers on the bodice even.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksCouple poses for the matric dance
- Side by side, then turned towards each other.
- Her hand on his shoulder or chest, his on her waist.
- Walking towards the camera, laughing.
- Pinning the corsage or the buttonhole.
- A colour link, such as a tie that matches the dress.
A seated pose, or a step for the shorter partner, evens out the frame when one partner is much taller. Hands look relaxed when they hold something: a bouquet, a lapel or the other person's hand.
Teal against the creeper
A wall of climbing greenery fills the frame behind a matric couple. Her teal sequin gown and his teal tie match, her hand rests on his chest and she looks back at the lens over her shoulder. The green leaves make the sequins look brighter still.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksDetails worth a close-up
- The corsage on the wrist and the buttonhole on the lapel.
- Shoes, earrings, a necklace or a watch.
- The bouquet or the clutch bag.
- Beading, lace or sequins on the dress, and the cufflinks on the suit.
Details photograph best in open shade, against a plain background such as a wall, a step or the car door. Shoot them early, before the corsage is crushed in a hug.
Ideas for suits and matric partners
- Jacket over one shoulder, the other hand in a pocket.
- Adjusting a cufflink or a tie, photographed close.
- Leaning on a wall or a car, arms crossed.
- Seated on steps, forearms on knees.
A suit looks sharper with the jacket buttoned when standing and unbuttoned when seated.
Friends and family ideas
- The reveal: parents seeing the outfit for the first time.
- Parents and grandparents with the matriculant, a photo the family keeps.
- Siblings, serious and then silly.
- Friends together, if a group meets at one house before leaving.
For a group of friends, put the tallest people in the middle and stagger the rest, or have everyone walk towards the camera in a loose line. Family photos come after the solo portraits and before the departure.
Location ideas: garden, beach, walls and buildings
- Garden: lawns, hedges and benches give space for a full skirt.
- Beach: open sand and a big sky; wind adds movement but tangles hair.
- Walls and doors: creepers, painted doors or stone steps as a simple backdrop.
- Buildings: a covered courtyard or atrium stays dry on a wet or windy day.
- Home: the front steps, the stoep and the garden, with no travel time.
Choose a spot close to home or on the way to the venue, so you are not late for the dance. An overcast sky is no problem: it gives soft, even light and true colours in the gown. If rain is likely, a covered stoep, a garage with the door open or a building's entrance gives you a dry backup.
Among the seahorses
In a tiled atrium, a matriculant in a grey-blue tulle gown with blue floral beading looks back over her shoulder. Tall metal seahorse sculptures stand around her, one blurred in the foreground, and the balconies above add depth.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksThe car and the departure
- Seated in the open car door, skirt spilling out.
- Leaning on the door or the bonnet.
- Stepping in, and waving goodbye from the window.
- A car in a colour that matches the outfit.
Keep the car photos for last, once everyone else is ready, so the departure is not rushed. A family car works as well as a hired one: what matters is a clean car and room to open the door fully.
In the doorway of the car
She sits sideways in the open door of a pale green car, hands folded and looking straight at the lens, while the layered blush tulle pours out over the sill. The car's soft colour sits close to the dress, so nothing clashes.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksTiming and light on the day
Plan about an hour of photos and start roughly two hours before you need to leave. Work back from the time the school asks you to arrive, and leave room for traffic. In Cape Town the sun sets at about 18:10 at the end of July and about 18:45 in late September.
| Shot | Best light | What to bring |
|---|---|---|
| Solo portraits | Late afternoon, soft light | A brush and lipstick |
| Couple | Open shade | The corsage and buttonhole |
| Family | Even light, not into the sun | A list of who is in each photo |
| Beach twirl | Overcast or low sun | A hair tie for the wind |
| Departure | Last light | The car, clean |
An hour covers each of these ideas with a matric dance photographer in Cape Town. Compare photoshoot prices in Cape Town, or see every session Lee-Ann covers as a photographer in Cape Town.
Questions people ask
Should matric dance photos be taken before the dance?
Yes. Before the dance, hair and make-up are fresh and the late-afternoon light is soft.
Is one hour enough for matric dance photos?
Yes. About an hour covers solo portraits, the couple, family photos and the departure.
Can we take matric dance photos at the beach?
Yes. Expect wind and sand: tie hair back between photos and keep shoes in a bag until you are in position.
Do the dress and suit need to match?
No. A shared accent, such as a tie or a corsage in the dress colour, links the couple without matching them.
