Wheely Dancing: Strictly stars take to the road…
I had a (glitter) ball in my first shoot of 2026, working with the celebrity stars & pro dancers of the most recent BBC Strictly Come Dancing series, as they head out on a live UK arena tour.
All Aboard!
Working with producer Fiona Pearce of marketing consultancy Watch This Space and fellow photographer Matt Crockett, we devised a transport-themed brief for press shots centred around the idea of the dancers heading around the UK under their own steam: on skateboard, roller blade, Vespa, Morris Minor, or good old Shank’s Pony.
After a prelight day at Loft Studios working out how to light & manoeuvre the Morris in tight space, come shoot day Matt handled the brochure & key art imagery on colorama, while I asked the celebs and their partners to duck, dive, career and caper around on the mode of transport to hand.
And be they gladiator, youtuber, ex-footballer or actor, boy did they deliver, with energy, charisma & oodles of dancing moves!
Minor Miracles
The tight shooting schedule meant we only had each couple for 45 minutes: to get Vespa pair shots and images for two concepts based around the Morris Minor, Bluebell. A bit of a complicated composite job, but with careful planning and rigorous technical execution we were able to shoot the pairs to fit exactly the right spots in and around the car.
Our working/guide composite – who are these handsome fellows?
Wheely Something
Once ace retoucher Matt Brewin had worked his magic to add some extra motion, the set was ready to hit the press & socials. I was especially pleased with side on composite, which for the busy-ness and action reminded me of a Lowry or similar.
You have reached your destination…
And the set did the job, securing plenty of press coverage!
