Studio Photographs – 27 to 31 December 2021
Cary Ballet Conservatory- Studio C
* 27, 28 & 31 December – Dancer, Headshot and Portrait Sessions by Request
e-Mail “brooke@brookemeyer.com” or Call / Text 919.238.9654
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* 29 & 30 December – Mini Audition Sessions – Click for Info & Sign Up
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An Artist Makes A Photograph Of An Artist
Dancer, Actor and Teacher. The best.
Hauled a lot of gear to her home studio and did what we planned. Saw a window.
Both of us are in this. Except the part where I’m in awe of her.

Liza Ashton Parker
I Saw It In Paris

An exhibit of Anders Zorn’s portraits stopped me cold at the Petit Palias in Paris, 2017
The limited pallete of his portrait of Rosita Mauri ….
I was trying to set rim lights and this was an exposure mistake, turned right
Dancer Sydney Upchurch – Cary Ballet Conservatory – 24 August 2021
For A Dancer

Dancer Julia Walden – Costume Caroline Fagan
Photograph for Caroline Fagan at Cary Ballet Conservatory 15 August 2021
Studio Availability – 17 to 23 August
It’s what I do. Head Shots, Portraits, Dance Portfolios.
e-Mail brooke@brookemeyer.com or text/call 919 238-9654

Lighting Stand In

Setup for Dancer Photographs – Cary Ballet Conservatory Studio Recital 4 June 2021

I’d metered my lights but still needed a Stand In for a test shot.
Ended up with a Sit In but she worked with me!
Studio Dog aka “Lucy”

Dancer Headshot
I mentioned Grace Kelly and of course, she didn’t know who that was. Her Mom just smiled.

Julia Walden at Cary Ballet Conservatory 13 June 2021
High Key
He put up with me test driving home brew, hot rod lights for three hours

Willie Hinton at Cary Ballet Conservatory 13 June 2021
2021 Showcase Studio Photographs
Yep, they’re on line, T-Ball to Triple A
Galleries here: 2021 Showcase Studio Photographs

Cary Ballet Conservatory Studio Recital – 5 June 2021
Tough Customer
Bookings since late May (hallelujah!) have delayed the edit of these Studio Recital photographs until today.
Aiming to finish and post by late Saturday. This was the first of a long and unusual day. Which I loved.
I’m anxious to see them too and sure I better deliver – or else!

Pre-Ballet 4-6 Year Old
Cary Ballet Conservatory Studio Recital – 5 June 2021
Why I Know Everything Will Be Okay
Pre-Ballet 4-6 Year Old
Cary Ballet Conservatory Studio Recital – 5 June 2021
Just One More
When a Dancer asks, my answer is always, yes!
Dancer Isabelle Burke
Cary Ballet Conservatory – 5 June 2021
“Chasing The Bird”
Refreshing my Portfolio site, I let go and reached back in the memory bank for moments when you just know. My hunch is, it happens to dancers and musicians too. It’s practice and planning and work and sometimes it all becomes something more. Alchemy.
I’ve put maybe 700 or 800 K shutter actuation’s on 11 DSLR’s since 2007. My Lighting Class students make jokes about all the light gear I haul into class. The Sales Manager at Mole Richardson in Hollywood emails engineering drawings of obsolete accessories. There are replacement reflectors heading my way for the ones I used to modify theater ellipsoids. Also in transit is a 10″ Top Hat from eBay and some Gobos for the Mole Focal Spot. And there’s a triple riser wheeled Junior in the upstairs hall next to my old tripod with a new quick release assembly that came via Royal Mail (wore out the casting). “The Bird”, Charley Parker understood it: “You’ve got to learn your instrument.”
And I took some more of Bird’s advice: “Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.”
My work has changed in the 3 years since I made this but it was five years after my Epiphany. This is a fresh edit from the Digital Negative from the part of the session that was all improv, real jazz. Portraits are always a collaboration and when there is mutual trust, man, you can wail.
Studio Session with Ms Olivia Vessillo
Professional Training Program at Cary Ballet Conservatory – 26 Dec 2017
The Indulgence of a Muse – Redux
In 1979, MoMA in NYC presented “Ansel Adams and the West” [MoMA Exh. #1273, September 5–October 28, 1979]
It was a retrospective that included versions of prints he made from the same negative, over 20 years.
Like Eric Clapton sang, trying to “get the music right”
This only took me 3 years
Her patience and trust allowed the slower pace and uncertain outcome of film
I’ve been very lucky – when I needed a Muse, the Muse was there
Studio Session with Mikayla McKean – Cary Ballet Conservatory, 20 May 2018
Only Yesterday

I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a phone call about this. And take a Mk 1 Mod 0 Butt Chewing
The morning he was born, I walked an empty Shopping Mall, waiting for “One Hour Film” to be be developed.
Wasn’t walking, I was floating. And scared silly I was responsible for this new life and had no clue.
Commissioning Ceremony at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – 24 May 2008
Hollywood Lights IX
Difficult to make portraits right now.
Easy to take a second look at the Digital Negatives of previous sessions
Dancer Keira Kapner – 6/14/2019 Cary Ballet Conservatory
Hearing Santa’s Heart
From 2011 to 2015, I made photographs of Santa when he visited Ole Time Winterfest in Cary
This from 2012 is still with me. In 2020, his heart is still true. And he knows. So be good.
“I leave you my portrait…”
“…so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you.” Frida Kahlo
Portrait Session at Cary Ballet Conservatory