Backstage Photography

Backstage photography shines a light on the hidden world behind the curtain. Dressing rooms, costume changes, warm-ups, and quiet moments of reflection all tell a powerful story of preparation. Being in the wings allows me to capture the anticipation, camaraderie, and nerves that performers feel before stepping into the spotlight. These images reveal the teamwork and dedication that drive theatre, music, and dance productions. Backstage photography is all about showing the human side of performance—the laughter, the focus, and the community that makes every show special.

Two women in a vintage dressing room, one applying makeup with a brush and the other dressed as a waitress, smiling and giving a thumbs-up, with a mirror and various items on the table behind them.
Two women in a dressing room, one wearing a head covering, with various items and art posters on the walls in a room.
A woman, backstage in a dressing room with a big smile is talking to a man, while a boy in the background looks surprised.
A woman with face paint in a dressing room fixing her hair while others prepare backstage, with a mirror and makeup supplies visible.
A woman dressed as a clown with a pointed hat, makeup, and a ruffled collar, looking at her phone, standing next to a ladder. In the background, a person in a witch costume with striped tights and a pointed hat appears to be behind a door or mirror.
A person wearing a beanie and glasses standing in a small dressing room with various supplies on a table. Their head is bowed as they look down, and a window with curtains is behind them.
A woman in a hallway, smiling and playfully lifting her foot, wearing slippers, with a handbag and a notebook.
A man backstage in a dressing room looking into a large mirror, with his back to the camera, in a black and white photo.
Person sitting on a bench backstage, smiling and looking towards the stage, with a line of performers dressed in costumes and masks standing nearby in the shadows, preparing for a performance.
A woman backstage in a dressing room with long wavy hair sitting at a cluttered makeup table with a mirror and light bulbs, looking to the side with a focused expression.
Two young people backstage in a dressing room with face paint sitting indoors, with posters on the wall in the background, engaging in conversation.
A woman with long hair holds a mirror in front of her face, looking into it while sitting down. In the background, another woman with dark, styled hair stands in front of a mirror, adjusting her dress.
A backstage dressing room with a person sitting in a chair, a makeup artist applying makeup, and a reflection of a man in a mirror, surrounded by bottles and makeup supplies, in black and white.
Woman smiling backstage and making a peace sign at the top of a staircase as seen from above in black and white.
Two elderly men sitting and relaxing in a cluttered storage backstage with shelves full of various items, one man is reclining with closed eyes and hands behind his head, the other is sitting on a chair looking at his phone.
People sitting and standing in a backstage area, with racks of clothes and shelves in the background.
A person wearing a mask standing in a narrow, dimly lit backstage corridor with striped wallpaper and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Two performers with styled hair and makeup in a dressing room, applying makeup in front of a mirror with lights.
Silhouettes of smiling people in the wings during a performance, black-and-white photo with backlighting.
Three young women backstage in a dressing room, one adjusting a shirt on a man, another standing by a dresser with makeup and water bottles, and the third looking down while fixing the man's shirt.
Two people, a man and a woman, working together in the wings. The man is wearing a headset with a microphone, glasses, and a cap, pointing at the screen, while the woman is smiling and leaning forward, looking at the screen.
A woman stands backstage with crossed arms, watching a performer on stage. The performer is playing guitar and is in focus, while the woman backstage is in shadow, observing quietly.
A person in a dressing room behind a mirror with light bulbs, wearing leopard print clothing, adjusting their stockings. The dressing room is labeled 'Dressing Room 2' on the door.
Two workers are moving a large, heavy case up a ramp outside a theater marked as "Stage Door Theatre Royal". They are using a dolly, with one worker guiding and the other pushing. A traffic cone is placed nearby on a brick sidewalk.
A woman recording two performers on stage with a smartphone.
A man is receiving makeup on his forehead from a makeup artist. The man has his eyes closed and is wearing a striped shirt, while the makeup artist is bald and wearing glasses, holding a brush or tool.
Two performers backstage, speaking and preparing for their act in a theater, silhouetted against the light from the stage.
A backstage view at a theater, showing a woman with a saxophone leaning against the wall, wearing a cap and headphones, observing performers on stage in the background.
Women with face paint, smiling and applying makeup, in a dressing room
A man working in a backstage workshop filled with tools, shelves, and boxes, wearing a mask and focused on a task on the workbench.
A woman with glasses and curly hair tied up, laughing and dancing backstage with three other women in the background, preparing for a performance.
Two people wearing masks working in a stage behind-the-scenes area, surrounded by ropes and rigging equipment.
A person wrapped in flowing, translucent fabric holds the fabric outstretched; they are backlit, creating a silhouette against light coming from the stage as she waits to go on stage
Group of people in costumes laughing and talking backstage
A group of people sitting in a dressing room getting ready to go on stage, with one man smiling, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, crossing his arms and legs, and others partially visible.
Black and white backstage photo showing two dancers in costume sitting on storage boxes, with one performer in a metallic jacket and another with face makeup, and a woman in dark glasses sitting nearby.
A person in a costume with a tall hairpiece, wearing headphones, sitting backstage before a performance, with light coming from behind, creating a silhouette effect.
Two women seated in a backstage area with costumes, one is looking at her phone while the other is adjusting her hair. Another person is seen walking away through a doorway in the background.
A woman in a dressing room looks into a mirror with a serious expression, surrounded by various objects, seen in a black and white photo.
Three people dressed in elaborate, dark, glittery costumes with headpieces, standing in the wings of a theatre
An actor in costume waits to go on stage stage curtains with stage lighting and set design visible.
Black and white photo of three performers backstage, two women in frilly dresses and large hats sitting in shadow, and a man in the background adjusting his costume.
Black and white photo of a woman with dramatic makeup and elaborate costume, standing with her hand on her hip, backstage at a theater with other performers in the background.
Two women sitting in a backstage dressing room, one in a headscarf with an elaborate headdress, and the other with her hair tied back, surrounded by costumes and accessories.
A dancer kneeling on a wooden floor, with very dirty feet visible.

In the wings

Behind the scenes photography offers a glimpse into a world the audience rarely sees. From busy dressing rooms to last-minute rehearsals, these are the moments where the real work of theatre happens. Watching performers prepare, share nerves, or support one another before a show is as powerful as the performance itself.

Being in the wings adds another layer of storytelling. Backstage photography captures the anticipation, the shared glances, and the quiet focus just before stepping into the spotlight. It’s a side of theatre and performance that feels intimate and personal, and I love freezing those moments in time.