Some jobs feel extra fun simply because of the connection behind them, and this dance team photoshoot with the Walla Walla High School Devilettes was definitely one of those. I’m a Blue Devil alum myself—although, for the record, I was absolutely not a dancer. But I did go to school with the Devilette head coach, so I reached out to her with an idea: get the team together outside of practice for a photoshoot that was just as much about bonding as it was about creating beautiful photos.
Dance teams spend so much time together throughout a season, but most of those hours have a purpose attached. There’s choreography to learn, routines to clean up, performances to prepare for, and approximately eight million little details that need to happen at the same time. A team-bonding session gives everyone a chance to step outside of that structure for a bit.
The girls showed up in white dresses with their blue and white pom-poms, and we spent the evening outside in the prettiest summer light. There was no choreography to remember and nothing they needed to get “right.” They could simply hang out, laugh with their friends, hype each other up, and enjoy being together. And yes, we still made some really cute photos along the way.
Why I Love a Dance Team Photoshoot for Team Bonding
Team bonding can sometimes feel like another thing to squeeze onto an already packed calendar, but I think the best team activities are the ones everyone actually wants to be part of.
A photoshoot gives the girls something fun to look forward to while creating space for relationships to grow outside of their usual roles. Freshmen get to spend time with upperclassmen. Captains get to step away from leading for a minute and join the group. Teammates who normally see each other while counting beats and running routines get to talk, laugh, and be a little ridiculous together instead.
There’s also something important about giving each girl her own moment. We photographed individual portraits throughout the session so every dancer had the chance to step in front of the camera and shine on her own. Being part of a team is beautiful, but individuality doesn’t disappear when you put on the same uniform. I wanted their photos to reflect both sides—the confidence and personality of each dancer and the connection they share as Devilettes.
That balance is part of what makes team-bonding sessions so worthwhile. Strong teams aren’t created solely through perfect performances. They’re built on trust, encouragement, friendship, and knowing the people standing beside you genuinely have your back. Sometimes building that connection looks like hours of practice. Sometimes it looks like putting on a cute white dress, grabbing your pom-poms, and spending an evening laughing with your teammates in front of my camera. I personally support both.
The Photos That Feel Like Them
Of course, we needed the classic photos. We photographed the entire Devilette team together, the captains, different grade levels, and plenty of individual portraits. But some of my favorite parts of the evening were when I let the girls decide who they wanted photos with. That was when all the little dynamics started showing up.
Best friends immediately found each other, smaller groups formed naturally, and personalities came out. Suddenly the photos weren't simply documenting who happened to be on the same dance team that year. They were documenting the friendships within it. And I think that matters.
Years from now, they’ll have the official photos that show what the Walla Walla High School Devilettes looked like that season. But they’ll also have the photo with the friend who made them laugh through practice, the girls they spent Friday nights with, the teammates who encouraged them when they were frustrated, and the people who became part of their high school memories.
That’s ultimately why I love team-bonding photoshoots. The beautiful photos are certainly part of it, but the experience itself matters too. Give everyone an evening to relax, feel confident, celebrate one another, and have a ridiculous amount of fun, and you’re creating something that goes well beyond another team activity on the calendar. Getting to do all of that with the Devilettes at my own alma mater? That was a pretty sweet full-circle moment for this Blue Devil.
Are you a senior looking for info on senior sessions? Click here for info on the SNP Senior Rep Program experience, real senior photoshoots, location ideas, and more.
