TIPS FOR FITNESS MODELS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR SHOOT EXPERIENCE AND PHOTOS
- Take it easy before your shoot. Rest before your shoot. I often joke with my clients you get a free training session with your fitness photo shoot with me!
- If you’re traveling, leave early enough to not feel rushed, arriving a little early helps you avoid unexpected traffic issues and ready to look your best.
- BIGGIE: Prep for the shoot. Learn some poses. Read magazines, look at Pinterest; it will help you pose in a way that you want (i.e. Maxim/FHM for Glamour, Vogue/Harper’s for fashion, Muscle Magazine or Oxygen for fitness, etc.). Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, pose and practice in the mirror at least 3 days before you get to your shoot so you know your facial expressions and best body positions. Learn how to smile to make your smile look genuine. Discover how to look serious without having a blank look in your eyes. Practice flexing, especially your abs. Be able to flex your abs while smiling and without contorting your face. Know how to flex your abs without looking in a mirror. There are books and online sources you can go to for posing ideas. It will help. There’s a reason those people in the magazine look like models, – they’ve been doing it a while and they practice!
- I want to hear your ideas! Work with me to get the best possible images. Feel free to suggest shots, angles, and concepts that you think would be good or that you know look good for you. And, be prepared to take direction from me. I will understand lighting and posing techniques that will help make you look your best. WE ARE A TEAM.
- BIGGIE: Never wear tight clothing to a photography shoot. The tight elastic closures will cause creases to your skin that may take several hours to dissipate and will show in photographs. An hour before your shoot remove your sunglasses, watch, ball cap, (hair ties around your wrist), and anything else that might leave a mark or indentation on your skin.
- BIGGIE: What about clothes? Can you bring TOO MUCH stuff? (Short answer; No!) The only time I’ve been frustrated as a photographer is when a model doesn’t bring enough options. Here are some basic tips for photo attire.
- Avoid stripes, plaid, or random patterns – solids photograph much better
- Lots of colors, bold, bright colors – match them or clash them depending on your style.
- Avoid large bold brand names
- Vary the styles, most people get 2-3 looks per hour when the shoot is well planned (well planned means you’ve selected and organized your outfits, considered your hair styles for each and we’ve discussed the order for looks)
- Bring various colored undershirts and undergarments
- Plan outfits completely head to toe with all accessories – write this down feel free to share pictures with me so I know what to expect and can provide suggestions.
- Have clothes on hangars and/or covered with a bag and grouped with accessories and shoes – I will have a place for you to hang them in the changing room.
- If you’re wondering whether an outfit is appropriate, bring it, but also bring other options to shoot if it doesn’t work out.
- A pair of high heels: a well-known trick is that many models that are not photographed full length are usually wearing heels to help elongate their legs and emphasize their calves. And it’s just easier than standing on your toes for a long time.
- Make up and some hair products: just in case you need to do touch-ups during the shoot
- Bring an “if we have time” This may be something completely off the wall that you’d like to have a photo in but can live without it if we don’t have time. These can often be a special image that is completely different from your other shots.
- Fitness modeling doesn’t always use the same poses used during competition although you can start from a competition pose and establish a fantastic photo.
- My goal is to help you look great! I know what you look like through the lens, how the light is hitting you from where the camera is. But I want you to know how it’s going as we shoot too. So, we will review many of the pictures as we go so you’ll know how you’re doing.
- Please don’t use bronzers or a lot of spray tanning right before your shoot. You want to look healthy and tanned but competition tans can look too orange under photography lights. Most times this has to be edited out. Nothing is worse than a splotchy spray tan…especially if you’re showing a lot of skin. It’s best if your face and hands are the same color as the rest of your body. Don’t use tanning products with gold or silver glitter.
- Lotion/oil should be used, but used sparingly. We may add extra oil if you want to be spritzed with the water bottle sprayer to make it look like you’ve worked up a “sweat” in your photos. The oil helps bead up the water drops. Water spray would likely be one of the last shots we do though because it can damage make up beyond repair.
- It’s ok to wear something you would never wear in public. Got something that looks funky and you wouldn’t know what in the world to do with it? Bring it – you might just wear it.
- Have fun during your photo shoot. Let loose!! Many of the images you take will be throw aways. That is just how the process works. You’re shooting for your top 20 images. So some bloopers where you’re blinking, making faces, or something where you’re fixing your hair is fine. Just pass over it and go on with your day (photo secret – some of the best shots come right after these little mess-ups when you’re not thinking about the photo shoot and have relaxed and laughed).
- Keep We’ll work out a rhythm of shooting and changing poses pretty quickly.
- Flirt with the camera. No one takes it personally. The camera is just a camera. It’ll come through in your images though.
- If you like, bring a friend to help you out. It helps if they’ve had some modeling experience, but if not, no worries. Have them come and cheer you on! Just keep it to one friend; too many people on the set can hurt more than help.
- Arrive at your shoot with clean manicured nails and an overall neat appearance. French manicure looks best and goes well with almost any outfit. You want to show yourself in your best light and it may mean the difference between a photo being usable or never seeing the light of day.
- Keep your cell phone ringer off during your photo shoot. Use your phone before or after your shoot and during rest breaks. Don’t let it interrupt your focus during the shoot.