Bodybuilder

voyagernavy2004 · 07-14-2009, 10:31 PM

So, I'm shooting this body-builder type guy. I don't know exactly what to do...what kind of poses....

He wants to do it outside, and I've told him to scope out places he wants to do his shoot, if there was more than one he wanted, and he has done so.

So, my question is, what advice do all of you have?

I've never done anything like this. He's been body building for years and has an amazing physique and expects me to show this off. He definitely wants some silhouettes of himself.....But I just need some help as to what I should do, exactly. Poses and anything of the like.

Please help.

keninseattle · 07-15-2009, 05:49 AM

I've Emc'd the NPC Evergreen State Body Building Competition for close to 20 years (usually held in Wenatchee each year) and have seen dozens of Photogs doing shoots before, during and after each round. (I've never shot any). The one thing I've seen the photogs do is to have the person run through their compulsory routine or have them do their posedown routine. Some will have a spray bottle of water or oil to put that "sheen" on. Give the shots some depth of field so your subject really pops out of the background. If he's a competitive bodybuilder then he will know what to do. jmho

asteelo · 07-15-2009, 05:24 PM

If there is one thing to remember about bodybuilders its that the darker their skin is, the better. Thats why they tan so much. The contrast emphasizes cuts and striations in the muscles, as well as vascularity which judges look for beyond simply size. Also symmetry is very important, so take photos in areas that emphasize symmetry and do the best you can to let him know what types of light will emphasize his strong points and hide his weak spots (he'll tell you what they are). As was mentioned, dont worry too much about poses, if he has been bodybuilding competitively for any length of time then he knows what poses work best for him. Try close ups and crops that enhance size as well. A good fast portrait lens will work well, trying to keep the image as close to what the eye sees as possible will work best.

And dont worry, taking pics of an oiled-up dude in a speedo is weird for all of us.

voyagernavy2004 · 07-15-2009, 07:11 PM

Thanks guys. I do appreciate the help. That's kind of what I figured, just let him do his routine...I didn't think about the water bottle or baby oil, I'll be sure to bring that up to him and see if he wants that look in his photos.

As for his "week" points and whatnot, he claims to have none. LOL. Of course as human beings we do, but he's a character when it comes to that. Haha.

voyagernavy2004 · 07-16-2009, 10:41 PM

So I've talked again to my prospective model. He tells me that he does want photographs of his usual body-building routine, but he also wants some photos of him as a typical male model...you know the kind.......the stereotyped beautiful people in magazines and TV Commercials and whatnot. LOL. But anyway, he wants more than just his usual positions. Any more assistance would be awesome!

Anybody have some last minute advice for me before the weekend rolls around?

Tofu Anonymous · 07-17-2009, 12:55 AM

Bodybuilder slash Model...is he up for the Slashie award?

voyagernavy2004 · 07-17-2009, 06:02 AM

Uh, ya. Sure...

eric · 07-20-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tofu Anonymous

Bodybuilder slash Model...is he up for the Slashie award?

I lol'd

eric · 07-20-2009, 09:11 PM

ok, so in bodybuilding there are quite a few 'classic' poses that depending on the competition are probably required in one round or another. His routines probably cover them but just in case: Bodybuilding.com Writer: Posing Guides - Posing Advice!

As for 'male model' poses, just look through some GQs and Men's Health for some ideas. There's tons of ways to approach it. For all of it, lighting is most important so think about that the most.

voyagernavy2004 · 07-20-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric

ok, so in bodybuilding there are quite a few 'classic' poses that depending on the competition are probably required in one round or another. His routines probably cover them but just in case: Bodybuilding.com Writer: Posing Guides - Posing Advice!

As for 'male model' poses, just look through some GQs and Men's Health for some ideas. There's tons of ways to approach it. For all of it, lighting is most important so think about that the most.

Thanks, that's kinda what I did...just not the magazines though. LOL. I just kinda surfed the web and model mayhem to get some ideas and whatnot. But for the most part he kind of just did his own thing as I shot, and I would repose him if he moved before I got a shot I liked.

The shoot went pretty well, though. We didn't get into his body builder routine because it was windy and starting to get cold about sunset time, so we'll have to do that another day. But as for his modeling stuff, they turned out quite well. I haven't even started editing his yet because I'm still working on shots from a wedding I did the weekend previous...But I will post some up when I get to them.

Tofu Anonymous · 07-21-2009, 12:12 AM

at least someone got the zoolander reference...

voyagernavy2004 · 07-21-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tofu Anonymous

at least someone got the zoolander reference...

Oh, see, I've never seen the movie. lol.

07-14-2009, 10:31 PM	#1
voyagernavy2004 Senior Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 118 From: Silverdale, WA My Camera: Canon 40D	Bodybuilder So, I'm shooting this body-builder type guy. I don't know exactly what to do...what kind of poses.... He wants to do it outside, and I've told him to scope out places he wants to do his shoot, if there was more than one he wanted, and he has done so. So, my question is, what advice do all of you have? I've never done anything like this. He's been body building for years and has an amazing physique and expects me to show this off. He definitely wants some silhouettes of himself.....But I just need some help as to what I should do, exactly. Poses and anything of the like. Please help.

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07-15-2009, 05:49 AM	#2
keninseattle Member Joined: May 2008 Posts: 82 From: Seattle My Camera: Nikon D300	I've Emc'd the NPC Evergreen State Body Building Competition for close to 20 years (usually held in Wenatchee each year) and have seen dozens of Photogs doing shoots before, during and after each round. (I've never shot any). The one thing I've seen the photogs do is to have the person run through their compulsory routine or have them do their posedown routine. Some will have a spray bottle of water or oil to put that "sheen" on. Give the shots some depth of field so your subject really pops out of the background. If he's a competitive bodybuilder then he will know what to do. jmho

07-15-2009, 05:24 PM	#3
asteelo Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 76 From: Silverdale	If there is one thing to remember about bodybuilders its that the darker their skin is, the better. Thats why they tan so much. The contrast emphasizes cuts and striations in the muscles, as well as vascularity which judges look for beyond simply size. Also symmetry is very important, so take photos in areas that emphasize symmetry and do the best you can to let him know what types of light will emphasize his strong points and hide his weak spots (he'll tell you what they are). As was mentioned, dont worry too much about poses, if he has been bodybuilding competitively for any length of time then he knows what poses work best for him. Try close ups and crops that enhance size as well. A good fast portrait lens will work well, trying to keep the image as close to what the eye sees as possible will work best. And dont worry, taking pics of an oiled-up dude in a speedo is weird for all of us.

07-15-2009, 07:11 PM	#4
voyagernavy2004 Senior Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 118 From: Silverdale, WA My Camera: Canon 40D	Thanks guys. I do appreciate the help. That's kind of what I figured, just let him do his routine...I didn't think about the water bottle or baby oil, I'll be sure to bring that up to him and see if he wants that look in his photos. As for his "week" points and whatnot, he claims to have none. LOL. Of course as human beings we do, but he's a character when it comes to that. Haha.

07-16-2009, 10:41 PM	#5
voyagernavy2004 Senior Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 118 From: Silverdale, WA My Camera: Canon 40D	So I've talked again to my prospective model. He tells me that he does want photographs of his usual body-building routine, but he also wants some photos of him as a typical male model...you know the kind.......the stereotyped beautiful people in magazines and TV Commercials and whatnot. LOL. But anyway, he wants more than just his usual positions. Any more assistance would be awesome! Anybody have some last minute advice for me before the weekend rolls around?

07-17-2009, 12:55 AM	#6
Tofu Anonymous Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 84 From: Seattle, WA / Vancouver, WA My Camera: Nikon D300	Bodybuilder slash Model...is he up for the Slashie award?

07-17-2009, 06:02 AM	#7
voyagernavy2004 Senior Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 118 From: Silverdale, WA My Camera: Canon 40D	Uh, ya. Sure...

07-20-2009, 09:11 PM	#9
eric Senior Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 487 From: Seattle	ok, so in bodybuilding there are quite a few 'classic' poses that depending on the competition are probably required in one round or another. His routines probably cover them but just in case: Bodybuilding.com Writer: Posing Guides - Posing Advice! As for 'male model' poses, just look through some GQs and Men's Health for some ideas. There's tons of ways to approach it. For all of it, lighting is most important so think about that the most.

07-21-2009, 12:12 AM	#11
Tofu Anonymous Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 84 From: Seattle, WA / Vancouver, WA My Camera: Nikon D300	at least someone got the zoolander reference...