"Create what sets your heart on fire and it will illuminate the path ahead."
I've been so excited to share my experience with Native Spirit. I was approached by the Hammill family because they were looking for something "unique and artistic" to update their online presence and marketing. The Hammill family owns Native Spirit Productions, now located out of Benton Wisconsin, and is a cultural entertainment company; specializing in musical, cultural dance performances, and artisans.
NeDallas is becoming the face of the company. He is the lead performer, former Junior World Champion Hoop Dancer, and performed for the Super Bowl executives this past year. Formerly based out of Arizona, NeDallas has over 100 shows in Arizona scheduled between now and November. The need for updated marketing images was urgent.
Meeting with this family and discussing their needs and vision was exciting and a little intimidating. I knew very little about the culture and art surrounding this form of dance and entertainment, but I was up to the challenge and eager to learn. What I truly loved most was that the family expressed their want for me to "just be the artist" and trust my vision when capturing their passion.
NeDallas came into the studio for a Green Screen Session and performed both the Fancy Dance and Hoop. Everything is about the movement, the drama, and the storytelling. The wardrobe is detailed, colorful, and is a character, all it's own, within the story. The athleticism mixed with the beauty of these dances is just jaw dropping. I thank NeDallas for sharing his talent with me and for putting up with "go again" so many times during his session. Together, I think we captured the passion and the art that is Native Spirit.
Native Spirit is a family affair. Each member performs a different style / dance and we wanted to capture updated portraits as well as a family portrait. The Hammill family is genuine, very authentic, and absolutely hilarious. The personalities certainly came out during our time together. I love that we captured the Benton water tower in the background, a nod to their new home base. This is a talented family unit and I feel humbled to have been asked to capture these portraits.
I thank Brian, Toni, NeDallas, and Destiny for trusting me to capture the story that is Native Spirit. I'm proud to be part of creating work that will further and help grow another local business. Above all, I thank you for sharing your passion, talent, and culture with me. Enjoy.
Make sure to visit their website: https://nativespirit.com
Follow them on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nativespiritdancers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nativespirit2/
Native Spirit 2024
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