Capturing Aerial Artistry:

Behind the Scenes at Aerial Expressions in Shreveport

In December of 2022, I had the privilege of photographing the talented students of Aerial Expressions, a Shreveport based school that trains young athletes in aerial silks, aerial hammock, and the lyra (aerial hoop). The opportunity came from Ms. Susie, the owner of the studio, who kindly reached out and asked me to capture her students’ athleticism, artistry, and grace in action.

When I first stepped into the studio to watch a practice session, I was stunned. The strength, coordination, and elegance these young ladies displayed was nothing short of awe-inspiring. I’ll admit, I felt a bit intimidated. But I was determined to rise to the occasion and give them the photos they deserved.

We scheduled the shoot for December 3rd. A couple days before, I returned to the studio to do a test run with Audrey, one of the students, who graciously modeled for me while I dialed in the lighting, camera settings, and gear placement. That session was vital, it gave me the confidence to walk into the big day with a solid game plan and a creative vision.

On the morning of the shoot, I arrived early. I stopped for breakfast at the McDonald’s just in front of the studio and picked up a vanilla iced coffee for Sabrina, one of the aerialists who would be assisting me that day. While sitting in the parking lot, I watched the sunrise and quietly said a prayer, asking for everything to run smoothly and for the images to reflect the beauty and power I’d witnessed during practice.

And that’s exactly what happened.

The young ladies arrived in staggered time slots, and soon we found a rhythm. One after another, they stepped into the light, poised, powerful, and ready to fly. The sessions stretched throughout the day, and by the time we wrapped up close to 6 p.m., I had spent nearly 10 hours behind the camera. I was physically worn out, but emotionally energized.

The spirit in that room was contagious. These young women encouraged one another, clapped, cheered, and lifted each other up. There was no competition, only support. It was an atmosphere of joy, strength, and sisterhood. Just being around it reminded me how powerful community can be.

Over the next week, I edited and delivered each gallery to the families, reliving those incredible moments one frame at a time. And through it all, one thing stood out clearly:

I’m truly grateful to Ms. Susie for trusting me with the honor of capturing these incredible athletes. It meant the world to be invited into that space and given the opportunity to preserve a small piece of what makes Aerial Expressions so special.

This experience wasn’t just about taking photos. It was about telling a story of dedication, grace, athleticism, and joy and I’m so thankful I got to be a part of it.

Since that first shoot, I’ve been invited back several times to photograph additional aerial sessions, video coverage of competitions, and even professional headshots for both the Aerial Expressions team and members of Team USA. It’s been a privilege to continue working with such a dedicated and inspiring group of athletes.

If you're interested in exploring aerial silks, hammocks, lyra, or any form of aerial arts, I highly encourage you to reach out to Ms. Susie at Aerial Expressions. They’re located at

1240 Shreveport Barksdale Hwy, Ste. 109 & 110,

Shreveport, LA 71105

you can call them at (318) 347‑2608

or email aerialexpressionsshreveport@gmail.com to learn more or sign up.

Thanks again to Ms. Susie and the entire Aerial Expressions community for welcoming me into this talented and inspiring space,

I can’t wait to see what heights y’all reach next..