Tips to a Successful Fitness Photoshoot
Sports & fitness photography involves a complex set of processes for both the creatives & the crew behind the shoot. The pre-production for a fitness photoshoot or advertising campaign can be a daunting task if you’re not fully prepared. Here are some tips to get you motivated to start creating your next photoshoot:
Ideation
Inspiration is everywhere. Whether it be through experiences, travel, art, or nature, there are limitless possibilities for creating new content. Sports & fitness photography, in particular, must be visually pleasing & eye-catching to the consumer. Building a storyline through specific visualizations is key in this industry. That’s where mood boards come in to play. Creating a mood board is a great way to find image references & to convey a color scheme, style, or vibe that you want to put forth to create an on-brand experience.
Collaboration
Collaborations with like-minded people within the industry complements & cultivates great relationships. We often forget the value of working together for the common good. This may be with your production team, Instagram or Tik Tok influencers, photo editors, or other crew. Or, if you do not have a budget for a team, there are always ways to propose a collaboration that is beneficial on both ends. Creating meaningful collaborations are often what fuels success in this industry & builds credibility.
Research
Pre-production for a fitness photoshoot is challenging & very detail-oriented. From props to the location to hair & makeup to lighting, it's a long list that must be developed & maintained ahead of time. Location is everything for a successful photoshoot. More importantly, going to the location before the shoot to check on the equipment, lighting, set, etc. is an imperative factor in visualizing your photoshoot.
The talent (fitness models) are also a key piece to determine the right fit & availability before shooting. Ideating & prepping the wardrobe for each model is a crucial piece to producing high-level fitness photography. The fitness industry is comprised of high-level functionality & seamless quality that must be easily identified throughout the final product. Creating an impactful set of strong lighting & simple backdrop options will make or break the shot. Each specific piece of clothing must fit seamlessly in all the right places. Building out a detailed list of items that you will need & researching each item, will help to minimize any snafus.
Over Prepare
There will always be things that go wrong during a fitness photoshoot. Not everything is in your control, you just need to be prepared for unexpected circumstances. This means bringing extra equipment, multiple sizes of apparel, spare tools, batteries, lenses, etc.
Essentially, creating a checklist for your crew will help ensure your readiness for the shoot. Fitness photography is highly tactical & utilizes many different angles to get the highest-quality shots. If you ideate a list of angles & perspectives to cover prior to the shoot, the more prepared you will be. Lastly, remember to have fun with the shoot! If your specific idea doesn’t exactly look the way you wanted it to, change it up! That’s the power of creativity, we alter as necessary & find beauty in the unimaginable.
