So you’ve worked your butt off for that sexy “bod” you’re walking around in, whether you’re training for your first competition or just for the love of fitness, I’m sure the desire to have a professional photo-shoot done has crossed your mind a few times, and why not! Photoshoots are fun! Even though you can take thousands of selfies using your smartphone to post on social media, nothing is going to compare to professional shots you can use not only on Facebook and Instagram, but you can also build a portfolio and send to advertising agencies for modelling and commercial jobs and make a little extra cash on the side... and you know we Trinis love a little extra cash.

So I would like to share with you some tips to help you plan for your first or next fitness photo-shoot. I hope these come in handy for when you decide to give the selfies a few hours off to go pro.

Training & Nutrition

The first thing you should do before setting a date for your shoot is to find yourself an experienced trainer and nutritionist who can guide you with a workout routine and diet plan that will get you to where you want to be. If your trainer and nutritionist are not the same person they should be working together as a team to ensure that your training routine is in-sync with a tailored nutrition plan to ensure that you reach your goal in the required time.

Commitment

The amount of time you have to prep is critical and you need to be committed to the process, you can’t slack off. Both your trainer and nutritionist should be able to give an estimate on how long it may take your body to reach your goal. When you have that target date in mind, make your appointment.

Outfit

What to wear? Now this all depends on the reason for the shoot. For instance, if you’re a paid fitness model you may be asked to wear something specific or a few outfits might be supplied for you. If it’s a personal shoot, then you can wear anything your heart desires but I would recommend sticking with solid colours with no busy prints. The reason for that is you don’t want to advertise what you’re wearing so it should not be the main focus, you are. Always walk with as many options as possible, preferably no less than five outfits and please don’t forget your footwear.

Personal Grooming

Now this one is a very awkward topic but is very important. I’m not only referring to hairstyles and eyebrows but to underarm hairs and those in the pubic area, especially when it comes to wearing a bikini or a low rise swim trunks. For example, let’s say the image is for a billboard, these hairs will be very noticeable at that size and is not a good look and may be a bit embarrassing.

When you’re working with professionals however they shouldn’t let that happen because there is the world famous software for post processing and retouching… “Photoshop”. When it comes to post processing, retouching hair is very time consuming especially when there is a large number of images to be done.

Hair and Makeup

I’m no expert on hair and makeup, but I always suggest a nude look and simple hair style like the classic ponytail, either braided or out for a more realistic workout look. Another great thing to walk with is a bronzer for the skin or something to give that nice shine to show up highlights and definition.

Last thing I should mention is, not every photographer specializes in fitness and physique photography, so there may not be exercise equipment at their studio. I would recommend walking with resistance bands to your shoot for a nice pump-up before and between shots to make sure you’re always on-point... And with that said, do not workout right before your session, you can workout the day before and be sure to get some rest before the shoot.

I hope you enjoyed my article and if you have any questions feel free to “shoot me” an email.

Now, go book your shoot and have some fun!