Athletic Photo Shoot

[mcopan]

I need to shoot a few fitness models for my future business endeavors and have no background on this subject in a photography sense. I have worked out and trained for many years now, so that I do know.

Is there any links or tips I could get regarding this Fitness Photoshoot?
PS: I have two female and one male model that are all in peak condition after competing.

[Mad Aussie]

Can you give us more information?

Where the shoot will take place and conditions thereof

What the intended end usage is (magazine, all marketing, web, etc)

What intended results are (showing muscular development, showing fitness/strength training in general, people as the focus, equipment or environment as the focus, etc)

Equipment you have or do not have to shoot with (flashes, lights, props, etc)

[mcopan]

I have access to a private gym with some open space where people stretch and the majority of the room being occupied with weight lifting machines. I am would like to convey a realistic level of strength and conditioning, mostly sisu ball work, agility ladder work(hopscotch), and light weight dumbbell exercises. I dont know what overhead lighting I will have but I have two stands with utility light (500 watts each stand) and no flash on the camera. I could possibly borrow some flashes from a fellow photographer locally and or buy some more utility lights.

My intended use is for web site and some print ads such as flyers etc. I would like to incorporate a good amount of color in the shoot to.

Thank you for the help.

[Mad Aussie]

Not being experienced with indoor shoots like this I've left a message for Marko to come look at this one as he has more experience than I.

[Richard]

Hi Mcopan,

I am a relatively newbie to photography, however I design fitness equipment for a living, and have helped organised and assisted the photographer in photo shoots at work in the past. more recently I have been asked to take some of my own shots for our brochures. (To help save money.)

For big shoots we work with a local studio, it's a big warehouse type place where they create a set for the shoot. This is all strobe based photography. We also have built a white photo-scoop at work for cut out work, were we use a local photographer. She tend to hire a whole load of continuous lights (I think they are 800 watt red heads).

For the shots I've taken I used 3 off camera manual speedlites.

Continuous lights give you much better ability to blur motion if this is the look you are trying to achieve. Also WYSIWYG which makes it easier to visualise.

we find the best models are the ones that know how to use the equipment, (It sounds like your models fit this category.)
obviously I can't show you the other photographers shots, here are some of mine.
10574105751057610577

I'm sure Marko will be able to offer you some more sound advice.

Good luck :D

[kat]

My husband gets muscle-mags all the time and there are some great photographers who shoot in the gym, some not using any extra lights. One thing I've noticed though..many of the shots are bw (to show the muscle def) or have a bit of post processing to them. This is one person I've found..you'll notice the lights and poses. I can find more if you'd like..not to sure if it will help with the "specific lighting" but it may help in other areas.

Director & Photographer Pavel Ythjall » Portfolio Shoot with Pavel Ythjall – Staff Photographer for M&F, M&F HERS and FLEX (http://blog.ythjall.com/2010/07/04/portfolio-shoot-with-pavel-ythjall-staff-photographer-for-mf-mf-hers-and-flex/)

[mcopan]

These give me some great ideas. I wondering if I could use some utility lights instead of strobes. I used the utility lights for another motorcycle related shoot and they worked fine. Should I work on renting or borrowing some strobes?

Thanks Kat and Richard