This article includes:
How to take a good photo
Shoot List
Examples of great photos
How to take a good photo
Good lighting: Aim for high-quality photos with good lighting! Natural light works best, or lighting from the front of the subject (behind the photographer.)
Equipment: Cell phone pics often aren't the best, and should especially pay attention to good lighting. When these are used for sites, the resolution may become grainy. Try to get a professional photographer. Ideal photo format of photos is landscape mode (as in wider than taller) and 300DPI.
Setting the stage: It’s always good to do a deep clean and touch up anything that might make your gym look dingy or dirty. Stock any products on display, fold shirts, etc. All equipment should be clean and neatly stacked/organized or put away.
Shoot List
Staff
Consistent headshot of every staff member.
Action/training shot of every staff member
Casual shot of every staff member
Any staff on podiums or special action shots (coach so an completing an Ironman or competing at the 2017 SoCal Regionals, etc)
Get creative - serious group shots, fun group shots, time-lapse shots
Facility
Front of building (sign if possible)
Front desk (if professional looking)
Empty gym shots (no athletes) from different angles/perspectives, equipment put away
Empty gym shots (no athletes) from different angles/perspectives, equipment staged (barbells setup, ringsdown, ropes down, etc)
Kids area
Merch wall (if available)
Changing rooms/showers (if available)
Kitchen area (if available)
Any other special highlights people should know about
*NOTE: It’s always good to deep clean and touch up anything that might make your gym look dingy or dirty. Also, stock any products on display, fold shirts, etc.
Equipment
Tight shots of equipment:
Strength equipment: barbells, kettlebells, rings, ropes, rowers, chains, blocks, lifting platforms, olympic plates, bumper plates, dumbbells etc
Mobility equipment: foam rollers, lacrosse balls, rubber bands, etc
Tight shots of equipment in action, without focus on athlete
NOTE: All equipment should be clean and neatly stacked/organized or put away.
Athletes
Younger male action shot (barbell lifts work well for this demographic)
Younger female action shot(tire-flips and kettlebells work well for this demographic)
Middle-aged male action shot (heavy dumbbells work well for this demographic)
Middle aged female action shot (abmat sit-ups work well for this demographic)
Older male action shot (push-ups/rower work well for this demographic)
Older female action shot (planks work well for this demographic)
Athlete doing scaled movements (knee push-ups, band assisted pull-ups, etc)
Coach cheering on athlete(s) in-action
Group cheering on athlete(s) in-action
Post WOD high fives
Group working hard but having fun(smiling)
Group just having fun
Group working learning movement from instructor (empty bars or PVC pipes, etc)
Coach explaining WOD on board
Big group pic post WOD - everybody smiling
One-on-one coaching (coach with clipboard and stopwatch)
On-Ramp program instruction
Specialty class/programs in action (Kids, Olympic lifting, Powerlifting, Mobility, Etc.)
Anything else required to effectively appeal to your target audiences
Other
Competition pics of staff and or athletes
Podium or victory shots of staff or athletes
Special events/fundraisers you have hosted or participated in
Get creative!