Dedication. Determination. Hard work. Photographers, sound familiar?
I started photographing fitness sessions, in El Paso TX., early on in my career and they soon became some of my favorite sessions to photograph.
These athletes train hard and day in and day out live their dreams. Their success in competitions and in training others is a direct result of their dedication to their craft.
As in photography, we have to study, practice and learn new techniques and not become stagnant in our ways. Maybe thats why I can relate to their motivation to succeed?!
If it was EASY, everyone would be doing it, RIGHT?!
My advice to everyone chasing their dreams, stay focused in your determination to achieve all you hope for. The fight and the struggle is worth it!!
Take a small look into how I photograph these truly amazing athletes!
A simple black or grey background is the best option to use when photographing fitness models. You want the focus to be on the models and not have a busy background competing with your subjects.
Lighting these particular sessions have to be one of my absolute favorite subjects to light.
I use a Low-key lighting when photographing athletes. You want to accentuate their physique and to do this, you need to create a lighting set-up with various highlights and shadows across the subject rather than trying to light everything. Choosing a high-key set up will cause a flat lit look and dulness to your subject.
Posing fitness models may be a fairly easy task depending on whether your client is a seasoned professional or not. Athletes have studied and practiced posing for competitions and take posing very seriously, but I have found that although the initial pose may be from the athlete you will need to know how to tweak the pose and adjust it for proper lighting.
These particular poses in this blog were from me. I was trying to create poses that would show their hard work in the best light possible and these athletes loved how their final images printed.
Why do we have coconut oil on hand during these sessions?
We love that shine on their chiseled physiques and the light loves it too!
The oil helps accentuate and define their muscles and its good to have around in case your client forgets their preferrd method.
Yes, I have been asked if apply the oil.....comes with he job! Lol!
4 Comments
Aug 3, 2018 6:57:03 PM
Chrisinda Treadwell - Thank you for your comments. They are appreciated!
Aug 3, 2018 6:54:53 PM
Chrisinda Treadwell - Thank you! And, thank you for commenting. :)
Aug 3, 2018 9:10:54 AM
Ryan - Great blog and your cross lighting the body is on point. You can see the definition with the highlight shadows.
Aug 3, 2018 8:54:57 AM
Deborah van Tellingen - Excellent work, Chrisinda