M came to Arizona from Virginia to compete in a fitness competition. He wanted a fitness photo shoot here as well as some novel marketing photos taken in the desert during his stay. We emailed back and forth developing a concept and determining who would bring what. As he was flying here, his ability to bring props was limited. I needed to procure most of the items which given some time, is absolutely not a problem.
We worked in 3 different locations and started as soon as the sun came up. I brought an assistant that worked the reflector and helped me carry props.
We shot on the day M was competing. I promised to get a few sneak peeks up on social media as soon as possible. Before he took the stage he got to see some of his photos and the amazing comments left on them. He said he won his competition because the high he got from seeing our pictures expanded his level of confidence as he competed.
Here’s what made his shoot amazing:
CONCEPT: M and I developed some ideas together to capture something interesting in addition to highlighting his physique. We collaborated to create some dramatic imagery as well as some very straightforward fitness photos.
STYLE: M received professional styling tips from a salon before his shoot so he came armed and ready with plenty of styling products. Having these products and knowing how to apply them increased his level of ease and confidence with his body and the shoot.
LOCATIONS: We shot in 3 different locations which allowed for some diversity and richness in background and vibe. I pre-scouted all these locations and made sure to take into consideration how and when we would be shooting to get the best images for us both.
ASSISTANCE: I brought along an assistant to help me manage the props and lighting. Extra hands and eyes are always more beneficial than less.
PHYSIQUE: M was confident and ready for his shoot because he had prepared so diligently for his competition. It makes a difference to be physically ready for a fitness photography session by taking the measures necessary to truly highlight the human physique.