Five Essential Steps for Planning your Fitness Photoshoot
You have put in all the hard work to achieve your level of fitness. A professional fitness photoshoot is a great way to reward yourself and showcase your accomplishments.
Preparing for a fitness photoshoot can be tough at times, but with the right preparation, it can be an exciting and empowering experience. It also cuts down on the stress and anxiety you may have about your photoshoot. There are a lot of reasons to book me for your fitness photoshoot, but here are the five essential steps to follow when planning a fitness photoshoot with Savage Creative.
Step 1: Set a Goal
The first step in preparing for a fitness photoshoot is to set a goal. You need to determine the purpose of the photo shoot and what you want to achieve. Make sure your goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, are you doing it to document your fitness journey, to inspire others, or to build your own fitness brand? Or, have you been preparing for an NPC, IBFF or WBFF competition? Maybe you have done all that and you want to get published in a fitness magazine? Whatever your goal, staying true to that purpose is important.
My job as your photographer is to achieve YOUR goals and purpose. So often I see people work with photographers who don't specialize in sports and fitness, or only shoot their specific style. What ends up happening is you end up with images you don’t like or that aren’t marketable.
This is a collaborative process and every photoshoot starts with a consultation call. From there we create your personalized fitness shoot. Schedule your consultation call here.
Step 2: Look for Inspiration
If you're feeling stuck or uninspired during the preparation process, it can be helpful to look for inspiration from industry sources. Look at magazines, influencers, models, or brands whose style and values resonate with you. Analyze their social media accounts, advertisements, videos, images and look at their clothing, hair, and makeup choices, and their posing and expressions. You can learn a lot by studying their content and identifying what photos and imagery you like and what you don't like. This all goes back to Step 1. You want a photo shoot that reflects your personal style and mission.
Step 3: Create a Mood Board
After a while, you will start to see patterns forming in your inspiration. That's good. We all like what we like. Creating a mood board is a fun and creative way to gather that inspiration and ideas for your fitness photoshoot.
A mood board can help you visualize the overall look and feel of your photo shoot, from the location, lighting, and props right down to the hair and makeup. Gather images, screenshots, or whatever you can that inspires you. It’s a helpful reference for your photographer (Hi… this guy!), the makeup artist, and/or stylist. Creating mood boards is one of the first steps to any commercial shoot with agencies or brands. You should have one too. I can also assure you that at some point during your photoshoot your mind will go blank. It's nice to have a mood board and a plan to refer to and get the photoshoot back on track.
You can create a physical mood board by cutting out images from magazines or printouts, or you can use digital platforms such as Pinterest or Canva to create virtual ones. Some of my clients have physical three-ring binders and some just have a lot of screenshots on their phone. Regardless the method, you need to have a collection.
Check out this past Pinterest Mood board…
Personally, I collect digital images and assets from a lot of different places constantly. With these assets and your input, I create contact sheets in photoshop based on each theme. I might also create lighting diagrams to go with the different looks. Then that all goes on my ipad as the “Shot Guide”. During the shoot we can refer back to the ipad to review the Shot Guide and any tethered images we have. Each photoshoot and client are unique and this process is custom each time. Looks may be reused, but each mood board is built uniquely.
Here is the mood board for a recent shoot with NPC competitor Courtney Byas that was featured in Fit Glam Magazine
Step 4: Choose Your Outfits and Accessories
Your outfits and accessories are essential in making your photoshoot a success. Choose flattering outfits that compliment your body type and that enhance your physique. Try everything on well ahead of time and arrange them accordingly. You don’t want to buy a whole bunch of clothes online at the last minute and realize at the shoot they don’t fit right, or fit at all. I think online retailers like Fashion Nova, Yandy and Shein are great, but fit can be an issue sometimes. Be sure to plan your outfits well ahead of the shoot.
Also, make sure you're comfortable in the outfit and can move freely during the shoot. Dynamic action shots are a big part of any fitness shoot. Leaping, lunging, flexing… oh my.
Accessories are sometimes a HUGE part of this that often gets overlooked. Consider accessories that add an extra flair to your outfit, such as hats, hair accessories, jackets, jewelry and shoes. Picking a statement piece of jewelry, or having the right complementary accessories really makes the image. Props are also good if needed. Both give you something to “do” in your photos. Which alleviates some posing stress by using accessories or props that have purpose.
Props can really help support our brand goals.
Try to have at least five or more full wardrobe options complete with accessories. This way you have plenty of options to choose from during the photoshoot. You can even mix and match a few if time allows, or you need another look.
Step 5: Practice Posing and Facial Expressions
Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights said it best, “I don’t know what to do with my hands…”
It's essential to practice posing and facial expressions before the photoshoot. With a full length mirror, try different poses you have found on your Mood Board, experiment with different angles and facial expressions, and find what works for you. This will help you feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera. Don’t worry… I will be there to coach you and help you, but the more practice you put in the better.
Facial expressions are another crucial element to keep in mind when posing for a photo, as they can convey a lot of emotion and personality. It's essential to relax the face and avoid any tense or awkward expressions that can detract from the overall image. Just concentrate on relaxing your face… and taking deep breaths.
By following these five essential steps, you'll be well on your way to a successful and memorable photoshoot. Remember to set goals, find inspiration, plan a moodboard; practice posing and facial expressions, and choose the right outfit and accessories. If you follow these steps then the photo shoot will be almost effortless.
BONUS STEP: Make a HYPE Playlist!
Music creates the mood and there is nothing that hypes up a set more, or creates a vibe like the right playlist. That Model Groove Music! So get on Spotify… make a playlist and practice those poses. Empower yourself and let's create!