Don Quixote dress rehearsal at Birmingham Royal Ballet in February 2026.

Dress rehearsals are a bit of a sweet spot. You can get yourself properly set up in a good position in the auditorium, take your time, and not feel like you’re constantly in someone’s way. It’s usually just the dancers, crew, and a small handful of photographers, so there’s space to think, adjust, and actually enjoy the process a bit.

That said, there’s always that low-level buzz of nerves—especially when it’s a production you haven’t seen before. Ballet doesn’t hang about. If you miss a jump or a lift, that’s it, it’s gone. No second chances. Everything moves quickly, so you’ve got to stay sharp the whole time, anticipating rather than reacting. You start to read the rhythm after a while—spotting when something big is about to happen—but you’re still very much on your toes.

Lighting was fairly kind this time around. A few darker moments, but overall it was nicely lit and nowhere near as tricky as some of the gloomier productions I’ve had to wrestle with recently. You still have to watch your highlights and skin tones, but it felt manageable rather than a battle.

What really stood out was the variety. Different sets, bold costumes, and lively choreography—it all gives you more to work with as a photographer.

All in all, just a genuinely lovely production to shoot. The kind where you come away knowing you’ve got a solid set of images—and a few that might even surprise you.