Rainroom Ballet: Rain Room Ballet: Fine Art, Fitness, and Boudoir Photography in Downtown Los Angeles
Our downtown Los Angeles rain room studio isn't just for dancers. Fine art, boudoir, and fitness sessions in a space where your brain can't quite believe it's raining indoors.
There's a moment when you walk into our rain room studio in downtown Los Angeles where your brain genuinely can't make sense of what's happening. It's raining. Inside. The sound hits you first, surprisingly loud, almost industrial. Then the water. Then the light moving through it. Your instinct is to step back but what you actually want to do is walk straight into it.
That disorientation is exactly what makes this studio one of my favorites to work in.
My session with Emma started as a fine art ballet project and became something I keep coming back to when I think about what photography can do at its best. Emma didn't perform for the camera. She inhabited the space. The rain room has a way of demanding presence from whoever steps into it and she gave it everything.
When the Environment Becomes Part of the Image
Most studios are neutral. White walls, controlled light, a blank canvas you bring meaning to. Our downtown Los Angeles rain room studio is the opposite. It has an atmosphere you can't fake and can't manufacture anywhere else. Falling water refracts light in ways that shift from frame to frame. Reflections appear and disappear. The sound creates a kind of focus that quiets everything outside the room.
For ballet, that environment does something specific. The stillness of a dancer holding a line against the constant motion of falling water creates a visual tension that doesn't exist anywhere else. Line, form, restraint, presence. Every element Emma brought to her poses was amplified by the room itself.
The images from this session weren't designed for a trend cycle. They were designed to last. Legacy photography isn't about capturing a moment. It's about creating something that still means something decades from now. The rain room makes that easier because the environment itself is already cinematic.
This Studio Isn't Just for Dancers
Here's what I want you to know. The rain room isn't exclusively for ballet or fine art sessions. It's actually one of the most compelling environments I've worked in for fitness photography and boudoir sessions in Los Angeles as well.
If you've ever considered a boudoir session in Los Angeles and wanted something that looks nothing like the standard studio setup, the rainroom changes everything. Water moving across skin, dramatic light, the surreal quality of indoor rain. It creates images that are intimate and cinematic at the same time. There's nothing ordinary about them.
The same is true for fitness boudoir photography. A woman who has put in real work, who has built something with her body, deserves an environment that matches that energy. Our rain room studio in downtown Los Angeles does that. The industrial vibe, the sound, the water, it all adds up to something that feels earned.
You don't need to be a professional dancer. You don't need any prior experience in front of a camera. You just need to be willing to walk into a room where it's raining indoors and see what happens.
What Legacy Photography Actually Means
In an era of fast content and disposable imagery, rain room photos stand apart. Every image from this session was designed to feel archival. Something meant to be lived with, revisited, and passed down.
Photography that prioritizes longevity over immediacy is a different kind of work. It asks more of everyone in the room, the photographer and the subject both. Emma brought that commitment to every pose. The result is a body of work that documents more than what something looked like. It preserves how it felt.
That's the foundation of legacy photography. And our downtown Los Angeles rain room studio is one of the few environments where that work feels completely natural.
Ready to Create Something in the Rain Room?
Fine art sessions, boudoir sessions, and fitness photography are all available at our downtown Los Angeles studio and other curated locations throughout the city. Whether you're a dancer, an athlete, or a woman who's simply been curious about what a water boudoir session in Los Angeles could look like, I'd love to talk through what's possible.
Every session is thoughtfully planned and paired with an environment that supports your vision. The rain room books out. If you've been thinking about it, now is the time.
3x published cover photographer. Untold Magazine and Le Desir.
Every woman who walks in is nervous first. Every single one.
The woman on that cover is in her 30s. Great photography does not change who you are. It reveals who you have always been.
Untold Magazine. Photography by Rick Feldman.
Every woman who finds this page is in a different place. Some of you are ready to book. Some of you are curious but not quite there yet. Some of you just have a question you have been too nervous to ask. I get it and I have an option for wherever you are right now.
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"There is a big time understanding of projects and executing them magnificently. I know I am also safe in all aspects. Respect is definitely key and I am grateful."
Bee. Boudoir and Fine Art Client.
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Helmut Newton and the Photographer Who Cannot Look Away | Black Kat Studios Los Angeles
There are photographers whose work you study and photographers whose work stops you cold. Helmut Newton stopped me cold.
Helmut Newton and the Photographer Who Cannot Look Away
There are photographers whose work you study and photographers whose work stops you cold. Helmut Newton stopped me cold.
I came to his work the way most photographers do — through the images themselves before I knew anything about the man behind them. Hard light cutting across a woman's face. Deep shadow pooling in architectural space. Subjects who looked like they owned every room they were ever photographed in.
I did not know what to call what I was seeing. I just knew I could not stop looking.
The Light
Newton's lighting is what gets me first every time. Bold, hard, unforgiving and completely intentional. He was not interested in flattering light that smoothed everything out and made everyone look comfortable. He wanted light that revealed. Light that created structure. Light that said something.
There is a minimalism to how he used light that I find endlessly compelling. He was not filling shadows to make the image easier to look at. He was letting the shadows do the work. The contrast between what he lit and what he left dark is where the tension lives in his images and tension is what makes a photograph worth looking at twice.
That philosophy is deeply embedded in how I shoot. I am not trying to create images that are easy. I am trying to create images that are true.
The Subjects
Newton's women are never victims of the camera. They are never passive. They look directly into the lens with an expression that makes very clear who is actually in control of the situation.
I have read the debates about his work. The conversations about the male gaze, about power, about what it means for a man to photograph women the way he did. I understand those conversations.
What I always come back to is the subjects themselves. They look powerful. They look confident. They look like women who knew exactly what they were doing and chose to be there. That reads differently to me than images where the subject looks like something is being taken from them.
Whether that was Newton's intention or the women's own presence asserting itself through the lens I cannot say. Probably both. But the result is images that have lasted decades and still feel modern because confidence does not age.
The Commercial Work
Newton shot for Vogue, for Yves Saint Laurent, for every major fashion house of his era. And somehow none of it feels like advertising. It feels like art that happened to be paid for.
That is the standard I hold myself to. Every session I shoot is commissioned. Someone is paying me to create something. But the images I am most proud of are the ones where you cannot tell. Where the result feels inevitable rather than manufactured. Where the subject and the light and the moment came together into something that would exist whether anyone was paying for it or not.
Newton understood that commercial work and fine art are not opposites. They are the same thing when you refuse to lower your standards for either one.
What He Left Behind
Helmut Newton died in 2004 but his visual vocabulary is everywhere. The hard light. The strong female subject. The architectural use of space. The refusal to be soft when sharp serves better.
Photographers working today whether they know his name or not are working in a language he helped create.
I know his name. I know his work. And I am grateful for both.
The Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin preserves his archive and continues to exhibit his work. If you have never spent time with his images properly visit helmut-newton-foundation.org and give yourself an hour. It is worth it.
If bold light, strong contrast and images that do not apologize for themselves sound like what you are looking for, let's talk. Schedule your free consultation and let's create something that lasts. 909-234-2711
Helmut Newton inspired photos taken by Rick Feldman at Black Kat Studios
Helmut Newton inspired fine art glamour portrait by Rick Feldman at Black Kat Studios Los Angeles
Hard light fine art portrait session by Rick Feldman at Black Kat Studios inspired by Helmut Newton
Black and white fine art glamour photography by Rick Feldman at Black Kat Studios Los Angeles
Pole Fitness Photography Los Angeles | Black Kat Studios
Pole Fitness: More Than Just a Dance
Pole fitness has gained immense popularity in recent years, not only as a form of exercise but also as a means of self-expression and empowerment. This physically demanding and mentally challenging activity offers numerous benefits that can enhance your overall well-being.
What Happens When Strength Becomes Art
I have photographed a lot of women. Models, executives, athletes, dancers, new mothers, women celebrating milestones and women who just needed to see themselves clearly for the first time.
Pole fitness women are something else entirely.
There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from building something with your body over time. Not the passive confidence of being told you look good. The earned confidence of training for months, mastering something genuinely difficult, and discovering what your body is actually capable of.
That confidence photographs differently. And it is extraordinary to witness.
Kris
These images feature Kris, a pole instructor and 2024 IPSF PoleSport Professional Masters champion who has been competing and training since 2018. The strength and precision you see in these images did not come from a camera trick. It came from six years of work.
When you spend months and years developing strength, flexibility and artistry at that level the camera does not have to manufacture anything. It just has to be in the right place at the right time.
That is my job.
Follow her journey at @kris_onapole on Instagram.
One creative decision defined this entire session. Every image was backlit. No front fill, no traditional studio lighting. Just light behind the subject and shadow in front.
It was an artistic experiment and it paid off. Backlighting strips everything back to what matters most — shape, line, form and strength. There is nowhere to hide and nothing to distract. Just the body doing what it has trained for years to do, rendered in light and shadow.
It is one of my favorite sessions because it proved something I already believed. The most interesting images come from making a committed creative choice and following it all the way through.
Why Pole Fitness Women Are Natural Photography Subjects
Pole fitness requires the same things great photography requires , body awareness, intentionality, control, and a willingness to be fully present in the moment.
Women who train at pole fitness understand their bodies in a way that most people do not. They know their lines. They know their angles. They know how to hold a position with purpose rather than just falling into it.
That translates directly to extraordinary images.
It also means that a pole fitness session often goes deeper than the pole itself. The confidence you have built in the studio does not stay in the studio. It shows up in every frame , in the way you hold yourself, the way you occupy space, the way you look directly into a lens without flinching.
Documenting What You Have Built
Fitness changes. Bodies change. The version of you that can do what you can do right now will not exist forever in exactly this form.
That is not a sad thought. It is actually the most compelling reason to document it.
The images we create together are not just photographs of what your body looks like. They are a record of what you built, what it cost you, and who you became in the process. That deserves to be on a wall not just on an Instagram story.
What a Pole Fitness Session Looks Like
Sessions can be photographed at your pole studio. Many studio owners are happy to open their space for a private shoot so it is worth asking. You could even organize a shoot for your entire studio and make it a day ,a group experience where every woman walks away with images that celebrate what she has built. We can also work at select premium locations throughout Southern California depending on your vision. If you have a space in mind I will work with it. If you need suggestions I have options.
Professional hair and makeup is available as an add-on and is worth considering. The combination of the physicality of pole fitness with a polished finished look creates images that sit right at the intersection of athlete and fine art subject.
No experience in front of a camera needed. You already know how to perform. I will handle the rest.
Whatever you're feeling right now there's a next step for you.
Not ready for any of the above
Grab the free Boudoir Clothing Guide. What to wear, what to bring, how to feel prepared.
Get the guideReady to document what you have built? Schedule your free consultation and let's talk about creating something extraordinary. 909-234-2711
Glamour Photography with a Burlesque Performer | Black Kat Studios Los Angeles
Behind the Scenes Glamour Photo Session with Cherry Gwendolyn at Black Kat Studios Upland CA by Rick Feldman Photography.
What Happens When a Showgirl Walks Into Your Studio
Some sessions surprise you.
The moment Cherie Gwendolyn walked through the door I knew this was going to be one of those sessions.
Cherie
Cherie is a Los Angeles showgirl, pinup performer and burlesque artist who has performed alongside Hailee Steinfeld, Chris Brown, Don Toliver, Anderson Paak and more. She is the kind of performer who has spent years learning exactly what her body can do and exactly how to use it in front of an audience.
What I did not fully anticipate was how completely that translates to the camera.
Follow her at @cherie.gwendolyn on Instagram.
Want to see the session in action? Watch the behind the scenes below.
Dancers Are a Different Experience
I have said before that the women who are most hesitant going in are often the ones who walk out the most transformed. Cherie was the opposite of hesitant. She walked in professional, warm, ready and completely at ease.
Performers know their bodies. They understand line, angle, expression and presence in a way that takes most people years to develop. Cherie did not need to be taught how to pose. She needed to be pointed in a direction and given the creative freedom to inhabit it.
What that means for a photographer is that you stop directing and start collaborating. The session becomes a conversation rather than an instruction. That is when the most interesting work happens.
When Glamour Becomes Vintage Glamour
Some sessions have a direction before you ever pick up a camera. This was one of them.
Cherie is a burlesque performer. That means the old Hollywood sensibility, the deliberate femininity, the theatrical confidence — that is not a style she puts on. It is who she is. The moment she walked in it was clear that this was never going to be a standard glamour shoot. It was always going to be vintage. It was always going to be cinematic. It was always going to have that pin-up edge.
I did not redirect the session. I just followed where she was already going.
The result is images that feel like they belong in a different era while still being completely, unmistakably her.
What This Session Taught Me
Shooting Cherie reminded me why I love this work. When a woman walks in already comfortable in her skin, already fluent in her own beauty, the camera becomes almost secondary. You are not creating confidence. You are just documenting it.
The result is images that feel effortless even though they are not. Every frame has intention behind it. Every pose tells you something about who she is.
That is what separates a great session from a good one. Not the equipment, not the location, not even the lighting. The person in front of the lens.
Glamour and Vintage Boudoir Photography in Los Angeles
If you are a performer, dancer, burlesque artist or entertainer who has been thinking about creating images that document who you are at this point in your career, I would love to talk.
Sessions are available at my private studio in Upland and at select premium locations throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Professional hair and makeup available as an add-on.
No session brief required. Just show up and let's see what we make together.
Ready to start the conversation? Schedule your free consultation and let's talk about your vision. 909-234-2711
Glamour Photo Session with Cherry Gwendolyn at Black Kat Studios Upland CA by Rick Feldman Photography.
Why black and white boudoir photos are a classic choice
In this age of technicolor and vivid hues, there is something timeless and classic about the simplicity of black and white.
There is a certain elegance and sophistication to black and white photography that cannot be denied. Without the distraction of color, the viewer's focus is drawn to the subject and the delicate interplay of light and shadow. The absence of color also allows for a more dramatic use of contrast, creating a striking image that leaves a lasting impression.
Black and white boudoir photography has a way of evoking emotions that color simply cannot match. It has a unique ability to capture the essence of a moment, to reveal the raw and intimate beauty of the subject, and to convey a sense of nostalgia and timelessness that transcends the present moment.
The beauty of black and white boudoir photography is that it is a classic choice that will never go out of style. Whether it is a vintage-inspired shoot or a contemporary take on a timeless theme, black and white will always remain a sophisticated and elegant choice.
The enduring appeal of black and white boudoir photography lies in its ability to capture the raw and intimate beauty of the subject, its dramatic use of contrast, and its ability to evoke a sense of timelessness and nostalgia. It is a classic choice that will continue to stand the test of time, and one that will always be treasured for its elegance and sophistication.
Black and white Boudoir Photo from my published photo shoot in Untold Magazine shot from Los Angeles Studio
Black and white boudoir “booty shot”, session was in our orange County Studio Location