Author Archives: mvanec

Jennifer

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Jennifer balancing her sword

Jennifer's Sword © 2011, Matt Vanecek

Mother. Wife. Daughter. Business Owner. Dancer. Jennifer.

I had opportunity to create some photographs of Jennifer at her studio. Jennifer is the proprietress of Sole Groove Dance Studio in Flower Mound, TX. Jennifer was a real pleasure to work with. She’s intelligent, has an easy sense of humor, and is pretty laid back.

Jennifer in her burnt orange costume

Jennifer on Green © 2011, Matt Vanecek

Jennifer had a couple of costumes that she wanted to have pictures in . We started out with the blue outfit, and worked in a couple of shots with her sword. Then we moved on to an orange outfit that really went very well with her hair color. It was pretty easy to move Jennifer into different poses and positions to emphasize her elegance and that bit of playfulness. It didn’t take her any time at all to pick up on such obscure posing terms as “dancers’ hands.” Which was actually pretty impressive, since not only was that posing term obscure, it was also made up on the spot. By me. :)


Jennifer's headshot in black and white

Jennifer in Black-and-White © 2011, Matt Vanecek

Jennifer’s infectious smile and collaborative spirit helped make this session very fun. With my lovely assistant (AKA my wife!) we were able to get in and set up quickly. After that, we made some wonderful images with Jennifer, and got everything packed up and loaded just in time to see a rather spectacular sunset and lightning show.


I’m truly looking forward to the next opportunity I get to photograph Jennifer! :)
Take a look at my Portrait portfolio, that includes the above images of Jennifer and some others not shown here.


The Orient Express

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Vivienne Vermuth speaks about Stephanie's breast cancer

Vivienne Vermuth © 2011, Matt Vanecek


Broads and Panties presents The Orient Express! Showing at The Bone in Deep Ellum (Dallas), TX on September 22, 2011. The profits from this show will benefit A to Zed Photography, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to the wonderful United States healthcare system, she is unable to afford treatment. So, the community has rallied around her. In addition to the excellent services provided by The Bridge Breast Network, Stephanie’s circles rallied to collect funding to help her cover additional costs. I’m sure this help will continue until Stephanie is able to beat this scourge.


Bang Bang Lulu provides a rousing, energetic set of performances. Her enthusiasm and flare was fun to watch. It was hard to continue taking pictures instead of just watching her performance, honestly.

Bang Bang Lulu Poses on a Chair

Bang Bang Lulu © 2011, Matthew Vanecek


Zamra Dollskin Eats Fire

Zamra Dollskin © 2011, Matthew Vanecek

Zamra Dollskin of Dollskin Designs gets hot on stage. Probably because of all that fire she’s playing with! Of course, when one gets hot, clothes may come off! Also a purveyor of latex clothing, Zamra is a woman of many talents. :)


Pixie O'Kneel teases

Pixie O'Kneel © 2011, Matthew Vanecek


Pixie O’Kneel is always a popular performer. She shows a more serious side in this performance, but as always, ends with a flare!


Miss Red provides an amusing look at how the body seems to have a mind of its own. Through shimmies, belly rolls, and chest shimmies, her body does its own thing.

Miss Red

Miss Red © 2011, Matthew Vanecek


Please visit the gallery and see the rest of my pictures from this show. Feel free to leave comments or ratings. Also, please consider donating to The Bridge, and to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.


Heavy Metal

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Modern burlesque is an eclectic mix of tease, humor, and innovation. Sometimes it reaches back to the glory days of vaudeville, perhaps adding a modern cultural spin. Sometimes, it reaches back, but not quite that far. Sometimes, burlesque gets stuck in the head-banging 80s. A time when a sweet child may be caught smoking in the boys’ room. A time when the thorn on a rose might leave a bit of poison on a white snake. A time when hair was long and metal was heavy. This is burlesque, baby, Heavy Metal Unchained-style!

Blaze Does-Burlesque

© 2011, Matt Vanecek

Blaze lit the stage on fire with her energy and beautiful blazing red mane.


Trees hosted this epic show produced by Vivienne Vermuth. I was lucky enough to be able to take pictures of the event from a handy vantage point in a balcony overlooking the stage. It was a very exciting show that brought back teenage memories.

Lady Liquor Channels KISS

© 2011, Matt Vanecek

Lady Liquor brought a bit of KISS to the stage with her ever-unpredictable antics.


The luscious Angela Ryan steams up the air as she glides like a White Snake that goes again.

Angela Ryan performs to White Snake's "Here I Go Again"

© 2011, Matt Vanecek



Heavy Metal Unchained was a fun show, and I heard music I hadn’t heard in years, or even a couple of decades. I loved the performances! The show did, however, remind me why I need to carry earplugs in my camera bag. Heavy metal music is LOUD! :)

Please be sure to check out my entire gallery of Heavy Metal Unchained!