Student Union Annual Ball Photography at Younger Hall, St Andrews
On the 22nd of November 2025, I made the short drive from home to St Andrews, heading to the iconic Younger Hall at the University of St Andrews to capture the annual ball for one of the university’s largest student unions.
This was one of those jobs where I didn’t know anyone involved personally - and there’s always a real sense of pride that comes with that. Knowing that the committee had discovered my work online and chosen to book me based purely on what they’d seen was incredibly rewarding.
A Late Night, Full of Energy
I was on site from 7pm until 1am, making it a late night, but one that was packed with energy from start to finish. The entertainment was brilliant - a fantastic ceilidh band had the dancefloor constantly full, and the winner of the union’s recent talent show also took to the stage to perform several Frank Sinatra numbers, which was a lovely contrast to the high-energy dancing.
The venue itself had multiple areas that worked perfectly for group photos, candid moments, and quieter conversations, which allowed me to capture a well-rounded story of the evening.
Creative Event Photography in Challenging Light
In many ways, this felt similar to working as a club night photographer. The room was very dark, so I had my flash on for the majority of the evening. Thankfully, the fairy lights strung above the dancefloor added a beautiful atmosphere and gave me the perfect opportunity to use my shutter drag technique once again.
The result was a collection of bright, colourful images that really show off the movement, energy, and joy in the room - especially as everyone threw themselves enthusiastically into the ceilidh dances.
Capturing the Atmosphere Without Taking Over
With events like this, my priority is always to blend into the background, allowing people to enjoy themselves without feeling distracted by a camera. That said, ceilidh dancing naturally creates moments where the photographer can be right in the middle of the action - particularly during the final dance, when everyone rushes into the centre of the room.
Being able to stand there, camera raised, as people came towards me laughing and dancing, made for some incredibly fun and dynamic images that truly captured the spirit of the night.
A huge thank you to the Student Union committee for inviting me along. It was a brilliant evening to be part of, and I’d love to return again next year to capture it all over again.
