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You may be planning a fitness photoshoot to take photos for your social media pages or submissions to a bodybuilding competition. You might need high-quality snaps for a fitness magazine editorial or advertisement for your training business. Get insights on identifying the best photoshoot space and how to plan the session, using these fitness photoshoot ideas.
Most folks turn to YouTube and social media for a quick abs workout and fitness tips. Trainers and influencers regularly take fitness photos and produce videos to supply this content. Choose the best photography backdrop before contracting a fitness photographer for your shoot.
Fitness Center
Fitness centers are naturally the best exercise photoshoot and video production settings. Also called health clubs, these spaces have the same workout equipment found in gyms. They promote wellness for the whole body, with steam rooms, snack bars, nutritionists, personal training, and physical therapy.
Sports Stadiums
Sports stadiums/arenas host diverse athletic games. The spaces suit American football, baseball, or basketball photoshoots. A stadium can also host a grand performance, with a large seating capacity, restrooms, and concession stands.
Photo Studios
Photo studios support all photo projects, and as controlled shoot locations they maximize efficiency. Being professional shoot settings, they provide photography equipment, adjustable lighting, and changeable backdrops. Most also offer the services of skilled photographers and other technicians.
Outdoor Locations
You might have planned a family portrait session or a fitness photoshoot. An outdoor location is the perfect setting, with the advantage of accessing plenty of natural light, whether the space is a garden, park, or beach. The outdoors also exposes your shoot to changing weather and light conditions.
Shooting in the best space translates to an impactful fitness shoot, whether you are a personal trainer working on a promotional video or a photographer delving into commercial fitness photography. A great place is a setting that meets your project requirements, and these fitness photoshoot ideas can put you on track:
Location
Decide on a location that suits your project. Rent an indoor space, like a coffee shop, to control every aspect of the session. An outdoor space will produce stunning pictures but environmental challenges might cause shoot delays or affect the quality of your images.
Space/Layout
It helps to tag a photographer along to your shooting location recce. Photographers have an eye for photogenic settings and can advise which venue suits fitness photoshoots. Above all, the venue should have enough space for your team and photography gear.
Lighting
Photography needs optimal lighting. An indoor space with adjustable lights gives you control of your shoot while an outdoor site with plenty of natural light can be unpredictable. Hire an adjustable setting, whether it permits moving an outdoor shoot indoors or using additional lights in a studio.
Equipment
Fitness shoots need two sets of equipment: workout and photography gear. Venues vary; gyms have free weights and machines, while a photo studio has cameras, lights, and other essentials. Rent a space that best suits your needs and test the gear ahead of your shoot.
Amenities/ Services
A fitness coach is a helpful resource when shooting exercise content in a gym. It helps if the fitness space has ample parking and is accessible, possibly with loading/offloading areas or lifts, to ease equipment movement.
Fitness photography documents movement and strength to promote health and wellness. Social media, magazines, and TV ads share fitness content. The possibilities are endless if you want to create exercise content; these fitness photoshoot ideas can help.
Your first order of business is choosing a backdrop for your project; a grungy gym suits editorial shoots while a studio with greenscreen technology can produce an imaginative website advertisement. An indoor venue gives you more control, giving you the liberty to set up elaborate light systems and maintain the same conditions throughout.
Vary the settings for an editorial or feature so that the pictorials tell a story. Use fitness images in studios, coffee shops, and other relevant spaces. Collaborate with a photographer to create a shot list, ahead of production. It describes an action or movement and the best camera angle to capture it. The first shot could be a body part close-up, say a bicep, before shifting the focus with a medium then wide angle of a bicep curl.
Work with professionals; it's a key part of the photography process and ensures your project has the right tools. Book a photographer ahead of schedule, and negotiate terms that include location recces and equipment rental advice. They prove instrumental during a test shoot, to assess light requirements and pick the best poses.
Besides having the best cameras and lights, a successful photo session includes props. Use yoga mats, jump ropes, dumbbells, fitness bands, costumes, and smoke bombs. Also, make every hour spent at the photoshoot location count by assembling what's needed beforehand.
Understanding your options will help you find fitness photoshoot venues suited to the project. The right place is subjective, and it should tick all the boxes from this checklist:
Set the Stage: The venue creates the photoshoot environment. A gym works for a business promoting a line of health shakes or a dance instructor leading a fun, hour-long Hip-Hop class. The project's nature and photography style can influence your venue choices. It also helps if the rental terms grant 24-hour access, given that productions often start early and wrap up late.
Use the Right Equipment: How do you plan to use your fitness pics and what camera do you need for a fitness photoshoot? Getting input from a fitness photographer determines the necessary equipment for your project. If you hire a studio, it takes care of the camera and light aspects. Most photographers have personalized lists of gear they prefer and will often supply them.
Use Props: In a studio, props add interest to photos. The space has room for light gym equipment and elements like color gels and smoke bombs. Also, have models bring two to three outfit changes, with tiny logos, unless the project is sponsored or promoting a particular brand.
Get Technical Support: It makes sense to get help, whether you are a personal trainer photographing images for the cover of an instructional DVD or a shutterbug working on a fitness photography project for a publication. Communicate your needs with the venue's management and determine how their services can benefit your project. For instance, most fitness centers have a personal trainer on board.
Are you looking for photoshoot location ideas? There's so much variety and different types of indoor and outdoor photoshoot spaces. Global cities have both traditional and unique fitness photography settings. Borrow inspiration from these ideas to plan your next photo project:
Pink Gym Photoshoots
Plan a pink gym photoshoot, if you've narrowed your options to an indoor photoshoot location. It's a chic idea for content created around breast cancer awareness month or simply for the love of the color! Your photos will pop against a space with black tones, and you can use props to dress up the equipment in pink.
Fitness in the Wild at a Camp Location
Your approach to fitness pictures might take you out of the gym and into the wild. A boot camp-style event is the perfect way to snap creative photos between the scheduled workouts. Make it a fun shoot by having participants wear jungle-inspired exercise clothes or your brand, if applicable.
Underwater Fitness Adventure at a Swimming Pool
Kill two birds with one stone by planning an underwater fitness adventure at a swimming pool. It allows you to experiment with shots and delivers uniquely compelling photos that will sell your gym or brand. Naturally, you should choose locations with pools for the project and use underwater photography gear.
You've found the perfect locations for your photography pursuits but need to narrow your options. Renting the best studio can only go so far in making your shoot a success, but using some of these fitness photoshoot ideas will help:
Read the Fine Print: Some photoshoot venues charge by the hour and most require you to book ahead of schedule. Read through the FAQs section of each establishment's website or contact the management to iron out these issues.
Design your Set: Personalize a gym, park, or studio for your photo session. Clear your photo set by moving machines away from the area, freeing up the floor space for photography tools and your team. Diversify the backdrops using props and exercise gear in different places.
Plan your Outfits: A photographer will advise on the best colors and outfit styles. Make it a promotional photoshoot by collaborating with a gym wear brand, so that every model has matching fits.
Use Technology: The location probably has technology that can enhance the session. Run your brand logo on the screens around the space or use a wireless trigger to conveniently snap images without touching the camera.
Watermark your Images: The last thing you want is for anyone to use your photos without crediting you after the hard work. Watermark your images, and take it as another opportunity to market your brand.
That wraps up the rundown of leveraging a fitness photoshoot location to produce quality promotional photos. Renting the best space sets you up for success, whether it's a photo studio, fitness club, or the beach!