You’re a personal trainer, yoga instructor, running coach, or working in the fitness industry. You’ve listened to me bang on about the importance of professional photography & have decided now is the time to invest in your business with a fitness brand photography shoot.
You know it will make SUCH a difference having real & authentic photos of yourself that you can use & share. But before your staring moment in front of the camera, there are some key things that you need to do to prepare for your shoot.
I’ve put together this little guide to help you.
1. Know your brand
It is really important that you know your own brand before you have photographs taken to ensure that the images we create work perfectly with it.
This involves looking at the visual elements as well as your brand personality & values. Consider who your target client is & how your use of photography may attract or repel them. We want to create images that speak to your target client.
I can work through this preparation stage with you during our planning meeting. I go into a little more detail about this element of how to plan a photoshoot here.
2. Visual inspiration for your fitness brand photography shoot
You have chosen me to be your photographer because you like my style of work. However, I still like to see what inspires you & what inspires your clients. Ask them, because, after all, we are, in a roundabout way, creating images for them. This ensures that we are all on the same wavelength. You will know what images inspire your target client & I will know what inspires you.
I suggest collating 10-20 samples of photos that resonate with you. These can be on a secret Pinterest board or pages out of magazines. Bring them with you to your planning meeting. Seeing them helps me to understand the visual ideas that you are looking to achieve.
3. Location
The location for your fitness brand photography shoot is key to creating images that fit with your brand. The first consideration should be where you train your clients. Do you use a commercial gym or fitness studio, your own home gym or boot camp style in the park?
Where do you do your own training? Do you regularly pound the pavements of London Town on your morning run? Do you cycle through the city to get to the gym or swim daily in the sea?
How about the non-active part of your business? Where do you write client training plans, study or plan your own marketing?
Answering these questions gives a list of location ideas. It’s then all about finding the perfect place. The perfect gym that aligns with your brand & client. A perfect park that fits your image inspiration. Or the perfect cafe that makes the coffee just the way you like it!
Where is your shoot going to take place?
If you’re stuck for location ideas I can share some of my favourite places during our planning meeting.
4. Models, aka ‘Clients’
To capture images of you training with clients we need other people to be involved in your shoot. These could be real-life clients or you may ask friends or colleagues to step in. It’s important that your models represent your target client, eg. If your target client is a mid-life woman, ask your 40-50-year-old friends to model for you, not your 21-year-old colleague.
Who are you going to ask to model for you?
Top Tip: Remember to ask anyone who models for you to sign a release giving you permission to use the photos on your website & social media.
5. What to wear for your fitness brand photography shoot
Perhaps the biggest question when preparing for your shoot. (Although as a fitness professional at least we have it narrowed down to activewear for one of your looks!)
We all have that favourite workout outfit that when we put it on it makes us feel strong & like we can take on the world. When you are being photographed, wear clothes that you know look good on you & that you feel confident in.
It’s important to wear colours that work well with your complexion, skin tone & hair colour. Wearing clothes that are the wrong colour can age & drain you. Choose solid, mid-tone colours – think blues, greens, & purples – as they flatter most complexions. Select colours that won’t dominate the image.
As important as choosing the right colour is selecting the right style of clothing. Choose shapes & cuts that flatter your body type & ensure that your clothing fits you well. Poorly fitting clothes can spoil an otherwise good photo.
If you’re using models in your shoot it is also important to give them guidance on what to wear.
Top Tips
- Think about your brand colours & wear colours that coordinate with these.
- Wear clothes that fit well. Fitted tops work best for photos when you are demonstrating exercises.
- Wear footwear that you feel comfortable in.
- Avoid wearing something that you wouldn’t usually wear or something that you feel uncomfortable in.
- Make sure all clothes are clean, ironed & crease-free.
- Avoid logos. This may be difficult on sportswear but opt for a discrete logo rather than one emblazoned across the chest.
- Wear solid colours & avoid too many patterns as they will overpower the image. Yes, I know the current fitness trend is for AMAZINGLY bold leggings but perhaps stick to plain, solid colours for your shoot.
- Avoid wearing all black as this can photograph flat & may lack detail & definition thus making you appear larger.
6. Hair & Make-up
For women, well-applied makeup can give a massive confidence boost & really help you to look good on camera. However, the most important thing is that your photos look like YOU!
If you wouldn’t usually wear a heap of make-up to train clients, don’t feel as if you have to slather it on to be photographed. A small amount of powder to even out skin tones & reduce shine & some mascara to define the eyes should do the trick.
You may want to pay a little more attention to your hair & make-up for any non-active photos we take. As like with your clothing, you want your styling to work with your skin tones & body shape.
Top Tips
- Avoid make-up with a gloss or shimmer to it, especially foundation. Use a matt base to keep your skin looking smooth, even & shine-free & finish with a translucent powder to remove the shine on your forehead, nose & chin. Makeup doesn’t just apply to women. Men can often have very shiny faces & foreheads, a little makeup or powder on the face can eliminate this problem.
- Make eyes appear larger & brighter with eyeliner. Add a little mascara & they will pop!
- If your hands are likely to be in the shot, don’t forget to trim & paint your nails.
- With regards to hair, ensure it is clean & tidy & wear it as you would when training clients. A shoot can be a great excuse to have a professional blow dry in the morning!
- Remember to bring your hairbrush & makeup to your shoot in case you need to retouch during the session.
7. The Shot List
Consider where the photos will be used. This will help you determine what images you need & also how I take them.
- Are they for your website? Which page & what size are they?
- Are they for Instagram, Facebook & social media?
- Are they for printed marketing materials?
- If you want photos of particular exercises, what exercises do you want to show, what props are needed & do you need a model?
Here is an example of a shot list for your fitness brand photography shoot:
Location: The park, 1-2-1 boot camp with a client, in training gear with a branded vest top.
- Shot 1: Demonstrating a squat to the client for use on the homepage. Props needed, kettlebell.
- Shot 2: Correcting a client doing a plank for use on the website. Props needed, exercise mat.
- Shot 3: Demonstrating a kettlebell exercise for use on the website. Props needed, kettlebell.
- Shot 4: An informal headshot for the About Me page.
- Shot 5: Banner photo running with a client for a new web page on guided runs.
8. Props & Accessories
What props do you need to bring to your shoot? Some examples for a fitness brand photography shoot may be;
- Exercise or yoga mat – try to coordinate this with your brand colour
- Dumbbells or hand weights
- Kettlebell
- Swiss ball
- Yoga block
- Water bottle
- Laptop, notebook, pen, etc
- Example training plan
Countdown to your fitness brand photography shoot!
Pick & choose some of the key preparations that resonate with you in the lead-up to your shoot.
3-4 weeks before your shoot
- We meet for our pre-shoot consultation during which we brainstorm & create a storyboard for your shoot.
1-2 weeks before your shoot
- Arrange model clients for your shoot making sure you brief them on what they wear & how to prepare themselves to be photographed.
- Choose your outfits so that you have time to wash them as necessary.
- Get your haircut if necessary.
The week of your shoot
- A check-in phone call to confirm the final brief for your shoot.
- Have a manicure or tidy your nails if your hands are likely to be in the shot.
- Drink lots of water & get plenty of sleep so that your skin is glowing for the shoot!
The day before your shoot
- Gather together all the exercise equipment you need & give it a clean.
- Wipe down your exercise mat.
- Prepare your outfits; wash & iron clothes as necessary.
- Pack your bag with everything you will need.
The day of the shoot!
- Allow plenty of time to get yourself ready so that you arrive at the shoot calm & relaxed.
- Avoid booking anything immediately after your shoot in case we slightly overrun on time.
- Relax, enjoy yourself & trust me to make you look fabulous!
Taking the time to prepare for your fitness brand photography shoot will ensure you get the photos that you need to elevate your brand & attract your ideal client.
