Your Guide to Taking Quality Photos for Fitness

In business, first impressions are incredibly important and high-quality original photographs make a powerful impact on consumers. Way back in 2011, a survey done by BrightLocal found that 60% of consumers give more consideration to local search results that have images.

This preference has only increased in recent years, proving that strong photos define your brand, instill credibility and improve your business’s SEO.

Photography is particularly important for the fitness industry – though twice as challenging – due to the many moving parts involved. But the truth is that you don’t need a Master of Fine Arts in Photography to take organic and inspiring photos of your gym, yoga or Pilates studio, or training center.

“This is something anybody can do as long as they have a camera, some environmental awareness and a plan,” says Maria Duffey, customer design manager at Vagaro.

Below is a list of simple things to consider when planning and executing a successful photo shoot.

Think Like a Photographer

#1: Keep it Bright

Light is possibly the most crucial element to any photo shoot, and Duffey and her colleagues on the Vagaro Creative Services Team have reviewed and edited enough customer photos to know that lighting tends to be poor in many fitness facilities. She suggests taking plenty of test shots beforehand to find the best-lit spots in yours. These will vary depending on the time of day, and the best times to look are usually between mid-morning and noon.

Once you’ve found the right spots to shoot, position your model(s) so that the brightest light is in front of them – though not head on, and not directly above, behind or coming in from the sides. You have all the light you need now, so disable the flash on your camera.