Khloe’s Sweet 16 at Castle Royale | Yonkers Sweet 16 Photographer Recap
Khloe’s Sweet 16 at Castle Royale – My First Sweet 16 Experience
Khloe’s Sweet 16 at Castle Royale in Yonkers, NY was not just a fun event to photograph — it was my first ever Sweet 16, and honestly, the whole night reminded me why I love doing this. I’ve shot a quinceañera before, but I didn’t really know what to expect walking into a Sweet 16. Turns out, these parties are a blast.
Arriving Early and Getting the Lay of the Land
I showed up about an hour and a half early because I hadn’t been inside Castle Royale since I was a kid, long before the remodel. I just wanted to take my time, walk around, figure out my lighting, and get comfortable so I didn’t feel rushed. Showing up early ended up being a huge advantage because the Sweet 16 court was getting ready in a room right upstairs.
I was able to capture some makeup shots, the dress hanging by itself, and a few behind-the-scenes moments before the night started. I also got to watch their rehearsal dance, which helped me prepare for where I needed to be once everything started happening for real.
If you can get to your events early — do it. It makes the whole night smoother.
Starting With Detail Shots
Before guests arrived, I grabbed my AD300 Pro and the softbox from the AD-S85 kit to capture some moody detail shots: table settings, decorations, little touches around the room. That extra lighting brings everything to life, and it’s one of my favorite ways to start an event.
The Lighting Setup
My main lighting setup for the night was:
Two Godox AD200s with grids, placed on opposite corners of the dance floor, angled across each other
Godox V1 on camera, with bounce flash for clean, vibrant shots
AD300 with umbrella for group photos at the Sweet 16 backdrop
That setup gave me control over a massive space — and that leads to the next challenge.
The Venue Curveball
Originally, this party was supposed to be in the smaller of Castle Royale’s two ballrooms. Since there were only around ten tables, this was a pretty intimate group. But because the smaller ballroom was double-booked, the family ended up in the large ballroom instead.
It was beautiful — but huge.
My goal for the night was to make this large room feel more intimate and energetic in the photos. So instead of shooting wide all night, I leaned heavily on my 70–200mm to compress the background and make the room feel fuller and tighter.
And honestly, I’m happy with how it turned out. The clients loved the images, and that’s what really matters.
Capturing the Moments
The entrances came out amazing. I shot some from ground level, then ran up to the balcony to get different angles and wider views. Once the formalities were done, the dance floor really came alive, and I experimented with shutter drag shots to show the motion, light, and energy.
Between the candid moments, the laughter, the hugs, and all the small interactions, the night just felt good to document.
Shoutout to My Assistant
My assistant, Melody, deserves credit here too. I handed her my R6 Mark II with the 28–70 f/2, dialed in the settings, and basically said:
“Move around, shoot whatever you see, and don’t worry about anything else.”
She got some great alternate perspectives that really helped round out the gallery.
One Mistake I Made (And Won’t Make Again)
At one point, I realized I had made a simple mistake:
I had the black side of my V1’s bounce card facing the flash instead of the white side.
It wasn’t until a couple hours into the event that I caught it. I flipped the card around, and instantly the light looked better.
Little things matter — so always double-check your gear.
Final Thoughts
For my first Sweet 16, this experience was everything I hoped for and more. Khloe’s family was warm and welcoming, the court was fun to photograph, and the night was full of genuine smiles and great energy.
If this is what Sweet 16s are like, I’m excited to shoot a lot more of them.
