3 things to keep in mind for your gym space photo shoot.

Gym Studio Owner photoshoot checklist

A lot of business owners like to showcase a busy and booming environment hoping it translates as a successful location. However, what this tends to do is create confusion in your gym space or fitness studio photos. Often leaving first impressions of 'what or who am I supposed to be looking at?'. In gym settings, most enthusiasts want to avoid crowded locations, so they try to find locations that cater to like minded individuals. Or in some cases some want the guidance to work out because they don't know where to start or need the accountability. Why do I mention this? I have attached a few screenshots of some large scale and growing gyms to show examples of carefully thought out photos.

"I'm not chasing victory, I'm becoming it." - Dr. Eric Thomas. At some point an atheletes training method is just a replication of their competitors. You want to rival or take the gold, you have to do what the heavy hitters are doing. How does this relate to your photos for your webpage/brand? As a gym owner or gym manager it is best to do what works for high earning gyms or fitness studios.

Let’s take a look at the following photos before we dissect them.

Let me break down the themes in these photos. In these gym spaces and fitness studio photos, did you notice that the person is working out alone? If they are with someone else, they are seen with a trainer in front or in back of them? Or ​that the additional people in the photo are elements, like legs or arms to add framing to the main focus. People subconsciously want to see themselves doing these types of movement. Imagine a car commercial where there is a group of random people all trying to drive one car for a Mercedes commercial.

They don't want to see a group of people they don't know or fear they need friends to attend a gym. They also don't want to see that it's too busy that they won't be able to get in their desired workout or have to deal with waiting for their turn.

In addition the photos make the subject the brightest part of the photo. This is done intentionally to draw the eye to the message in the photo. Or if the photo has lines leading along the person they want you to see or shift your focus towards.  In the third picture, the layout has a yoga block, mat, towel and bottle of water. Nothing is left to the viewer to interpret what any of those elements might be.

With the exception of the Gold's gym photo, the white and teal background, all the cropping in the photos are balanced and avoiding crops at the joints in the body. The crops are slightly above or below the joints, because our eyes translate joint separation as a bad thing so it creates unrest. Also when it comes to cropping, notice tight/zoomed in photos leave little to no room for the subject's head. This technique is used in cinema a lot! When you watch your tv programs or movies watch the close-up shots and how the top of the head fits the frame. This technique helps viewers feel like they are in the environment as well. It helps the viewer see themselves in the gym on a intimate level.

When you’re ready to make your photos for your webpage or social media stand out with intention, click the link and contact me to start chatting about your photography needs.

5 things to consider when having your photos taken in a public gym

Having your photos taken in a public gym can be tricky. If renting out a space is a little out of budget or not an option where you are located here are 5 things to consider.

1. The gym might be a ‘public’ place but it is still a private facility. Meaning having people in frame of your photos without their consent is a real thing, so be cautious. What’s the work-around? A majority of your shots will have to be tight or filling the frame nearly to its entirety. Photoshop is an option but not always full-proof. 

2. Time = Money. Waiting for a specific machine or apparatus can reduce your photoshoot time. How to combat this circumstance? When hiring your Fitness Photographer it might be best to opt for a deal that gives you ample time to get in the shots you want barring waiting on other gym members. Or if the coverage for extra time is costly, create a mood board to select a few of the ideas that can be captured in one spot in the gym. Extra tip: Go during non peak hours, like before sunrise or graveyard hours.

3. Your photographer may need a gym pass. What’s the trick here? In a perfect world, you’ve met your photographer at your gym so no need to worry about admittance. Or review your gym pass policy, you might have a buddy pass system that will allow them on certain days or times. Try not to get a trial pass, because usually that comes with a salesman trying to pitch a membership and it’ll take time away from your photoshoot. Plus it’ll make it awkward. 

4. In a public setting it is unrealistic to have your photographer bring all their gear such as light stands, light modifiers, lights, so on and so forth. Depending on the gym space bringing extra clutter will make it difficult to setup and navigate through the crowd. What’s the realistic approach? You’ll have to accept the available light from the gym during your Fitness Photo Shoot. Depending on your Fitness Photographer, they might bring a minimalist approach to light sources. Pro tip: During your workouts start to make note of the areas of the gym that make you look pumped. Recommend these to your Fitness Photographer so that it’ll take less time hunting for a spot.

5. All eyes are on you. If you are shy or awkward in front of the camera the draw to attention is going to be magnified when the other gym members see a fitness photographer following you around taking snaps. Practical approach? Try to find a corner of the gym to keep your exposure to a minimum. 

I’d love to help photograph you and level up your social media presence. Click the box below and email me to get started.

Still debating on having your photos taken? Take a look at my gallery.