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Photography · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Health & Fitness Photography

Fitness photography is about sculpting the body with light. This course teaches the specific techniques required to highlight muscle definition, athleticism, and movement. Students will learn to work with athletes, using “Rim Lighting” and “Hard Light” to accentuate form, and mastering the retouching techniques needed to make sweat look cinematic rather than messy.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master lighting for volume: Rim lighting, Kickers, and Hard sources
  2. Direct athletes: Coaching form and timing for peak action
  3. Differentiate between "Physique" (Bodybuilding) and "Lifestyle" (Athleisure) styles
  4. Capture high-speed movement: CrossFit, Running, and Sports
  5. Execute specialized retouching: Dodge & Burn for muscle definition
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01Anatomy for Photographers: What to highlight
  2. 02Lighting I: The Cross-Light Setup
  3. 03Lighting II: Edging & Rim Lighting
  4. 04Directing the Athlete: Posing & Breathing
  5. 05Physique Photography: Bodybuilding Standards
  6. 06Product Integration: Supplements & Apparel
  7. 07Studio vs. Gym Environment
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Location Shooting: Gyms & Urban Environments
  10. 10Action & Movement: Shutter Speed
  11. 11The "Look": Oil, Sweat, & Skin
  12. 12Lifestyle Fitness: The Commercial Look
  13. 13Yoga & Pilates: Lines & Form
  14. 14Retouching I: Dodge & Burn for Muscle
  15. 15Marketing to Trainers & Gyms
  16. 16Final Project: The Fitness Editorial Campaign

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Fitness Editorial Campaign

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Light Science & Magic (Texture chapters) by Fil Hunter
  2. Photographing Men by Jeff Rojas
  3. The Athlete: The Art of the Human Body (Visual Ref)
  4. Sports Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots by Bill Frakes
  5. Anatomy for Sculptors (For understanding muscle groups)
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