Professional Photography for Fitness Professionals

As a personal trainer, essentially you are running your own business. Whether you’re working by yourself or for a gym or fitness studio. And just like any other entrepreneur, it is your responsibility to market your business & get new clients. Photography is a vital part of this. Here I am going to explore the importance of professional photography for fitness professionals.

Creating a professional impression

To appreciate its importance, first think about how your own decisions are influenced by photography & you’ll begin to see how powerful it can be. Your photo is often a potential client’s first impression of you. What do you want that impression to be?

Where do your clients find you? Is it through your website, your social media, or perhaps your personal trainer profile on the noticeboard at the gym? What do the photos you use in these places say about you?

High-quality photography will help create a positive first impression.

You want to look your best in your photos & project knowledge, expertise & friendliness. And as a business owner, you need to come across as a confident professional who’s been running their own fitness business for many years. Will a selfie taken on your iPhone do that?

No. A selfie simply does not scream experience & professionalism. So how can we project that image with professional photography?

Capture your personality

You need your photos to authentically show who you are & what you’re about. 

Hiring a PT is a very personal choice. People do business with people. They do business with people they build a rapport with.

Not everybody wants to be told to drop & do 20 burpees whilst being shouted at by their PT. For many, hiring a personal trainer is a daunting task. An acknowledgment that they are trying to better themselves. Kindness & compassion are qualities that will be valued. You want your photos to say that you care about your clients & are invested in helping them achieve their goals.

You want to portray friendliness. A smile will help. You will come across as warm & approachable which will be more likely to result in a positive response.

Attract your ideal clients with professional photography for fitness professionals

As well as helping you to project a professional image, professional photos can help you attract your ideal client.

Think about your brand.

“Who is your target client & how does your use of photography attract or repel them?“

Let’s say, for example, you are a personal trainer targeting busy working Mums. Women in full-time work, a family & children at home. They’re constantly on the go with not much spare time for themselves. They are conscious of being unfit & want to hire a trainer to start focusing on their own health & wellness.

A stock photo of a slim, muscular 21-year-old deadlifting her body weight will simply not resonate with this target client. They want to see photos of women like them, working out in a conceivable manner. She wants to know what it is like to work with YOU. They need to be able to imagine themselves taking a class with you or engaging with your services. The more they can picture themselves benefiting from your training, the more likely they are to hire you.

And they can only do that if your photos appeal to them. Show your prospective clients what it’s like to work with you. Have some shots of you training clients. Use images to explain what it’s like & take away some of the fear & uncertainty.

Of course, this goes the other way too. If your ideal personal training client is a bodybuilder looking to create muscle & lean body mass you need the photos on your website & social media to attract them. This is why thinking about your brand & understanding your target client is important when considering photos. Use the wrong photo & you could be putting off the clients you want.

Before any fitness shoot, I always find out about YOU. About you as a fitness professional. About your brand. Your brand values. Your brand personality. Who you train, who you want to train. We then create photos that compliment your brand values & appeal to your target market.

Photography ideas for fitness professionals & personal trainers 

• A professionally taken headshot to use as your profile photo on social media & on the gym noticeboard.

• Images of you training clients, both 1-2-1 & in classes if applicable.

• Photos of YOU training, showing your skill, knowledge & expertise.

• The gym, studio, or environment that you work in. If this is the park, have your photos taken in the park.

• The equipment & accessories that you use.

• Photos of you demonstrating exercises, again showing your expertise.

Online personal training

Even pre-2020 many fitness professionals were offering online training & classes. Since the pandemic, it’s become a way of life & clients are liking the convenience of working out at home.

If you offer online personal training, the photos you use on your website & socials are even more important than before. A visit to your website is likely to be the first impression someone gets of you, not seeing you in action at the gym. 

Why should someone choose you over another trainer offering online tuition? High-quality, professional imagery helps give you credibility & makes you stand out in a busy marketplace.

Use your professional photos EVERYWHERE!

To build your business you want to get your brand as much exposure as possible & so your photos should be everywhere you market yourself. 

On your website, flyers, business cards, the noticeboard a the gym. Social media; Instagram, Facebook, blog posts & online advertising. High-quality professional photography will help create a positive, professional first impression.

Use professional photography to show who you are, what you do & how you do it. Inspire your clients. Show your strengths & how you can have a positive impact on their fitness goals. Give them a taste of your training. 

Whether you are one trainer working for yourself or a gym & fitness studio, photography is a powerful tool for promoting your business & showing prospective clients what it’s like to work with you. 

In a highly competitive fitness market, professional photography will help you look professional, & differentiate yourself from the thousands of other personal trainers that you’re competing with.

This is why it’s worth the investment.

Ready to invest in your fitness business?

Which Fitness Professionals Need Professional Photography?

• Personal Trainers

• Running Coaches

• Yoga Teachers & Studios

• Pilates Instructors & Studios

• Barre Instructors

• Zumba Classes

• Spinning Studios

• Boxing Instructors

• Sports Therapists

• Fitness Studios & Gyms

The simple answer would be ALL fitness professionals need professional photography!