Sofia and I got together for a shoot in San Francisco, California. We photographed at SF City Hall, and then various parts of Golden Gate Park. (We also got extremely lucky and happened across some cherry blossom trees right as they were in bloom)
We had a blast creating and really lucked out this entire shoot with the lighting and environments.
You can follow Sofia on social media here.
Till next time,
-Oliver
A photographer friend of mine, Pat Berrett, and I got together with dancer Adeline Wylie for an outdoor photoshoot in the early morning.
Pat knew of some cool locations in the area and introduced Adeline and myself to this amazing white rock structure, as well as a lovely trail that had a large view of a valley.
Below are my favorite shots from the shoot, as well as a short interview with Adeline.
What’re 2 favorite ballets of yours? (And why are they your favorites?)
As far as classical ballet goes, I love Romeo and Juliet. Juliet has always been one of my dream roles, and the music is so so great. John Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is also super fun and whimsical. My favorite stuff to dance and watch is new mixed rep stuff. My mom would take me to see the Houston Ballet mixed repertory shows with cutting edge contemporary ballet, which really sparked my motivation to become a professional dancer.
What’s your favorite soda flavor?
Root beer and cream soda. Specifically root beer made by breweries or craft soda companies.
What is the role of art in society?
Art is a form of expression and entertainment, but it can also persuade change, foster connection, communication, and education.
I love the way art can produce feelings and different perspectives even if the audience speaks a different language or comes from a different culture.
Also love this quote lately about art: "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable."
Have you ever boogie boarded backwards?
lol No
What are some of your hobbies/passions outside of dance?
Connecting with nature and people, eating good food, reading fantasy, rock climbing, and making art.
How has your relationship with dance changed through the years?
My love for dance hasn’t changed, but my time focused on it has. Dance used to take up so much of my mental space and energy. It’s still a huge part of my life, but no longer my main measurement of success. Being a dance school director has also opened my eyes to how students should be treated with more encouragement and support. You don’t have to beat someone down to achieve successful.
If you had to eat cold pizza, what would your topping preference be?
Black olives, fresh basil, bell peppers, and ranch.
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Instead of comparing yourself to dancers around you, absorb and learn from them. I was so hard on myself.
If you could replace any one of the three flavors in Neapolitan ice cream, what would the new flavor be?
Let’s swap the normal chocolate for Ben and Jerries brownie core.
Where do you see the art of ballet going?
It’s hard to say, but I can think of where I would like it to go. Hopefully more diverse in terms of everything. I think we can diversify and expand while still preserving classics.
You can follow Adeline on Instagram at @Addy.Wylie
Till next time,
-Oliver Endahl
Today we’re going back in time to 2009 to my second photoshoot ever.
Kristina Lind and Myles Thatcher at the Lands End Trail in 2009
Since this was my second shoot ever, I borrowed a Canon 50D camera with a 50mm lens, enlisted my friends who I trained with at the San Francisco Ballet School, and we shot outdoors at the Sutro bath ruins and lands end trail in San Francisco, California.
The canon 50D by the way had 15 megapixels. To put that in perspective, the latest iPhone here in 2025 has 48 megapixels. (Of course, photography isn’t all about the megapixels, but it’s still wild.)
My friends in this shoot are Kristina Lind, Myles Thatcher, Dylan W and Nicole Voris. During this timeframe, we had all recently finished (or were close to finishing) our training at the San Francisco Ballet School. We were all hungry for life and at the start of our professional careers.
This shoot hugely propelled my confidence forward in photography. At the time I was guessing I could create images that entailed high level ballet technique, but on top of that, I also wanted to convey a sense of movement, a sense of whimsy, and a sense of emotion. (All the things I think ballet itself is.)
I’m still a big fan of these images. I can see where my photographic flaws were, but overall, I look at these images with joy. We had a lot of fun creating them and the reception they received at the time was so strong, I recall it hugely motivated me and gave me the confidence that I could actually achieve the photographic goals I wanted to.
What’s also fun when looking at photos from the past is to see where the dance careers of everyone ended up. Kristina Lind danced with the San Francisco Ballet, then Dutch National Ballet and then Bayerisches Staatsballett. (And she is currently a principal dancer there)
Myles Thatcher joined San Francisco Ballet the year of this photoshoot as an apprentice, and he is now a soloist there and a respected choreographer in the dance industry.
Nicole Voris (Who is also my wife as you all know!) Toured with San Francisco Ballet, then danced with Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Austin, and then danced commercially in Los Angeles. She now does repertoire dance work with our friends who are choreographers, and she also choreographs herself. (She is also an exceptionally talented dance teacher)
Till next time!
-Oliver Endahl
Kate Huntington and I got together for a quick shoot at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California.
It had rained the night before our shoot so the air was extra clear, which created beautiful light for our early morning shoot.
You can follow Kate on IG here @K8Huntington
-Oliver Endahl
Zahna Simon is a deaf dancer located in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the company and festival assistant director at the Urban Jazz Dance Company and is extremely talented.
We used a variety of locations in SF, including the Sutro Bath Ruins, Ocean Beach, the Hidden Staircase, and Sutro Heights Park.
You can follow Zahna on Instagram here @DeafEnPointe
-Oliver Endahl
