Bodybuilder Photo Taking Tips
Colette Thyman
Bodybuilders get lots of benefits out of a photo shoot. Hard work can be seen to pay off in the glossy images, but more importantly, training progress and results can be observed in the photos.
If a change in exercise routine or diet is started, it is great to have photos from both before and after the change to see if results are as expected. Both athletes and trainers will see things in the photos that can be used as guides for improving problem areas.
Having your own good bodybuilder photos taken is not difficult. Just follow these guidelines:
How to Prepare
The key element of a good photo is capturing muscle and nothing else.
* Shave most body hair before the shoot, or remove it with waxing or some other preferred method. Doing so gives the body a sleeker appearance.
* Avoid food intake prior to the photo shoot, as a full belly tends to distend and protrude.
* Work out before the shoot in a quick fashion, to get blood circulating and muscles enlarged.
* Baby oil or cooking oil applied to the skin on the arms, legs, and torso will provide a more polished look that highlights the curve of muscles and sinew.
Be a Poser
Bodybuilding photos are meant to show the athlete at his or her very best, so the choice of pose is extremely important.
* The stomach must be sucked in by deeply inhaling the breath.
* Keep the spine straight or curved slightly back while standing to show a trim look.
* Tense up the chest, legs, arms, and stomach.
* Encourage the athlete to do all of these simultaneously, and to hold a smile. The result will be a more natural, even graceful photograph.
Cameras
If you have time and skills to do editing, start with a digital camera.
* Use your computer to edit the photos to improve the lighting effects, such as the contrast between muscle groups.
* Slight imperfections like red-eye can be removed, and lighting errors can easily be corrected.
* Using a tripod to steady the camera will reduce the chances of having blurry images.
Light the Subject
* Proper contrast and shadowing are essential for a great picture.
* Light from above will result in shadows on the bottom section of each muscle.
* Lights from below will tend to highlight the lower abs, and slim down the chest muscles.
* Using natural or bulb lighting is best, as flashes can reduce the contrast needed to highlight muscles.
For tracking workout progress over time, bodybuilding photos are a great tool. They also serve well as markers before a competition. If you follow the brief tips outlined above, your photos should be memorable every time.
Colette Thyman writes for a variety of popular Internet magazines, on
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