Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

5 Tips for a Perfect Fitness Photo Shoot

Are you preparing for your first fitness photo shoot and need tips on making the best of it? Or maybe you've had a few sessions before and you'd like to present yourself as a true professional.

To make it in the fitness industry, you need to create a brand around yourself. This includes creating professional images to showcase your body and all the hard work you put into it.

Before you book a photoshoot, you need to plan ahead, find the best photographer for you and choose a location.

Keep reading to discover 5 great tips on getting the perfect fitness photoshoot.

1. Come Prepared

Before you start looking for a photographer, get clear on what you'd like to achieve with your photos. Find inspiration online, in magazines or from your favorite people in the industry. Think about the message you're trying to send with the pictures and make a list of poses you love.

When you book a photo shoot, don't come unprepared. Bring multiple outfits, props, makeup, and most importantly, great attitude. If you're not fully involved in the session, your photos will reflect that, no matter how talented the photographer is.

2. Find the Right Photographer

When you're planning a fitness photo shoot, spend a good amount of time researching for the right photographer.

To make sure they're a good fit, look at their portfolio, services, and testimonials. If possible, get recommendations and read reviews online.

You should be comfortable with the photographer and trust they'll do the best job. Hiring the cheapest on the list may lead to disappointment and wasted time, so be careful in your choice.

3. Find the Best Location

You can have a fitness photoshoot either in the photographer's studio or at a location of your choice. On-set photoshoots are pretty straightforward, but if you're on location, you'll need to consider backgrounds, changing into different outfits and the overall vibe of the photos.

Make a decision based on the purpose your photos will serve. Do you need them to get started in the fitness industry or promote yourself as a brand?

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4. Plan Your Poses

When you're preparing for a fitness photo shoot, make sure to plan the poses in advance. You don't want to get stuck on ideas when you get to the studio, so make a list and practice them a little beforehand.

The photographer will also help you choose the best ones for you. If you can, bring someone to help you adjust the poses, and fix your hair and makeup.

5. Be Authentic

The only way to get the perfect fitness photos is to be confident in yourself.

You've worked hard on your body and health and now you have the chance to show it to the world in its best light.

Be original and authentic in your poses and always smile naturally.

Are you ready for your next fitness photo shoot?

Whether it's your first fitness photo shoot or you've done a couple before, every time is new and special.

Book a professional trustworthy photographer who'll make you feel comfortable and relaxed.

Finally, be yourself and let your personality shine through the photos.

Find more fitness inspiration on my blog or contact me today to book your first photo shoot.

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Canadian Heavyweight Championship

On Friday Dec 1st, in Niagara Falls, ON the NCC Canadian Heavyweight Championship was fought for.

The champion: Dillon "big country' Carman (Global Legacy Boxing)
The challenger: Mladen "monster" Miljas (Lee Baxter Management)
Promoter: Global Legacy Boxing

It was a contested affair with both fighters on the canvas at point. Miljas took the fight via KO in the 2nd round winning the title.

The Monster waiting for the champion to arrive

Stalking his opponent

The final blow

Champion crowned

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Fight #500 - Global Legacy Boxing

I shot my first fight in March of 2014. It's taken three and a half years to make it to fight #500. Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai have all been photographed. I still waiting to shoot a world title but I did get on North American network boxing with ShoBox. More than the fights though I've met a lot of great people.

Below are images from fight #500. I've photographed a couple of Marko's pro fights and did some pictures with him when he was at a training camp in London, ON. (Boomerz Boxing with Kyle Millette)

December 1st, 2017
Global Legacy Boxing - Thunder at the Falls
Marko Szalai vs. Aaron Lozcano
Marko wins via TKO

Waiting for the bell

Resting between rounds

Great blocking technique

Fight #500 in the books

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

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Boxer Abokan Bokpe

Undefeated, professional boxer Abokan Bokpe drove down from Oshawa to shoot with me after a hard day of sparring heavyweights. Abokan will be fighting on the next United Boxing Promotions' show on December 16th at the Hershey Centre. 

We started off with some nice regular boxing promotion pictures and then started playing around with lighting, etc. Some good images were made.

Visualizing the Victory.

Showing off the 81 inch arm span

Join Team Atomic

Tools of the trade

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Boxer Leo Kamara

I went to Warriors Boxing and Fitness last night to drop off some prints and decided to make some images while I was there. Amateur boxer Leo Kamara was there. I've met him before and he's always working hard whenever I'm at the gym. I asked him if he wanted to take a couple of pictures.

I shot about 15 frames from various angles etc. I liked one pose in particular and we did 2 variations on it. I think they turned out very well.

Lighting was done with a soft box in behind and a 7' parabolic in front. F7.1 / 1/200th / ISO 100

Leo stretching during training.

Leo, ready for his fight this weekend

Alternate pose

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Athletic Nudes with Curt - The Rest of the Set (NSFW)

Curt who hails from Saskatoon contact me about shooting this series. I mentioned I was a long way away but he wanted to do it, so we set it up. Curt flew overnight from Saskatoon to Calgary and to London, arriving very early in the morning. We shot and he was back on a plane that afternoon. Curt is a national level bodybuilding competitor. It is incredibly humbling not only to be trusted with taking these images but also the lengths the model went to, to make it happen. I'm very happy with the images we made and here's a the rest of the set.

Putting muscle under load for maximum definition

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

- The Athletic Implied Nudes series is an exploration of the human body under muscle stress— understanding the body’s strength, flexibility, and power. Clean backgrounds, hard lighting, and black & white photography work together to eliminate distractions and highlight the muscle groups and figure of my subjects.

Beginning with Mixed Martial Artists and Boxers, I have developed my technique to capture rapidly firing muscle groups at high speed in front of the lens. The resulting instinct for timing fight photography has lead to an ability to freeze my subjects at the peak of their motion. Discovering a better understanding of the human form with this project has transitioned into my commercial fitness work, maximizing composition and positioning to best showcase the human form.

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Ontario Muscle Contest Winner

In October I teamed up with Ontario Muscle to have a contest with the winner receiving a free photo shoot with me. There were a tonne of great entries, so many deserving people entered. Steven & Rachel Hughes of Fierce Within won this years contest. Steven excused himself from the shoot as he's well into his bulking season and a cut down at this point would throw off his off season. Rachel was just at the apex of her prep and can in lean and muscular.

Thanks to Ontario Muscle for promoting the hell out of the contest. They are a great platform for fitness and bodybuilding competitors and enthusiasts in the province.

Thanks to Ontario Muscle for promoting this contest.

Thanks to Ontario Muscle for promoting this contest.

Showing off the abs

Strength and flexibility

Bi's, Tri's, Quads and Hams

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

- Ontario Muscle is a clearing house for all things bodybuilding and fitness in Ontario. In a short time it has become a provincial hub for the fitness industry

- Fierce Within specializes in maintainable physical transformations that reflect your emotional transformations along your journey. 

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Fitness Shoot with Paul and Brittany

I did a fitness shoot with Paul Teixeria and Brittany Tavares the other week. We met up at Showtyme Fitness in London, ON for the shoot. Showtyme is always a great host for these shoots. I've shot there maybe a dozen times in the last couple of years. Paul is also the US Sales Manager for Nutrabolics.

Paul and Brittany came in fantastic shape for the shoot. There was lots of positive energy and they really worked at their poses as I worked to engage their muscles for the shoot. Overall we got some killer pictures. A week later we did a second session to get some more pictures just before the off season.

Paul and Brittany posing together

Paul getting his pump on

Staring down the competition

Paul, just jacked to hell

Showing off the guns

Lifting and flexing

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Athletic Nudes with Curt

Curt who hails from Saskatoon contact me about shooting this series. I mentioned I was a long way away but he wanted to do it, so we set it up. Curt flew overnight from Saskatoon to Calgary and to London, arriving very early in the morning. We shot and he was back on a plane that afternoon. Curt is a national level bodybuilding competitor. It is incredibly humbling not only to be trusted with taking these images but also the lengths the model went to, to make it happen. I'm very happy with the images we made and here's a sampling.

Showing off the tattoos

A strong core and base

Showing great flexibility

The Athletic Nudes series is an exploration of the human body under muscle stress— understanding the body’s strength, flexibility, and power. Clean backgrounds, hard lighting, and black & white photography work together to eliminate distractions and highlight the muscle groups and figure of my subjects.

Beginning with Mixed Martial Artists and Boxers, I have developed my technique to capture rapidly firing muscle groups at high speed in front of the lens. The resulting instinct for timing fight photography has lead to an ability to freeze my subjects at the peak of their motion. Discovering a better understanding of the human form with this project has transitioned into my commercial fitness work, maximizing composition and positioning to best showcase the human form.

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Fight Pictures - Lee Baxter Promotions

Saturday night was fight night in Brampton with Lee Baxter Promotions. Sam Vargas was defending his NABA-WBA Welterweight belt against Finland's Jussi Koivula.

Championship Fight - Vargas vs. Koivula

The Undercard

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

- Lee Baxter Promotions is more than just a professional boxing promotional company. Founded in 2012, LBP was created to oversee all aspects of a professional boxer's career. Committed to developing its fighters, mapping out their roads to success, negotiating contracts, ensuring their health, creating marketing and endorsement opportunities, giving financial advice and preparing clients for their careers after boxing. Lee Baxter Promotions recruits, develops and guides elite fighters to the next level where they need to be while working with the athletes to achieve the best results for their boxing careers.

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Athletic Nudes with Matt

Matt has been in studio a few times now, once as a guest of someone shooting fitness, once for a fitness shoot of his own right after competition and once for my athletic nude series. Matt was about 3 weeks out of competition with he came in for this shoot so his conditioning was still really good. Matt is working on teaching yoga so we made this the focus of the shoot. Matt came in stretched and got ready while I set up the lighting scheme. Once we were ready he hit about 20 poses, dead on and fast. Shooting only lasted 20 minutes but we go some great images.

Crow position

Balance and flexibility

Reach

Head stand

Great arm and shoulder flexibility

Hamstring stretch

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Athletic Nudes with Dancer Kaitlin

Dancer / model Kaitlin Chapple came into the studio to shoot my athletic nude series with me. Dance is an extremely athletic activity and ballet is a so beautiful to photograph. Kaitlin hit all of her poses with grace and power. It is always great to work with such an accomplished model.

She had an incredible range of motion. 

We worked on dynamic poses with a lot of tension. 

Strength, balance and flexibility

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Fitness Shoot with Samantha

Fitness competitor Samantha came in for her first ever fitness shoot the day after her first ever competition. Samantha trains with Mary Valid of Valid Fitness. Samantha came in and hit some great poses and really let her personality shine through. It was a pleasure to photograph her physique right after her first competition.

Thanks to Melissa O Makeup and Tori for hair styling.

I only know one joke, but it's a good one.

Photo shoots aren't scary at all.

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Jiu Jitsu Over Everything - VVV Fight Co.

Jiu Jitsu Over Everything is VVV signature series t-shirt. One of my photos is featured on their latest JJOE shirts. The people at VVV and especially Gregg King are just the best people to work with. It is always an honour to see my pictures (to borrow from my friend Stacie Snodden) in the wild. Thank you VVV.

Jiu Jitsu Over Everything

To purchase the shirt, click here.

Back of the shirt

Back of the shirt

The main image of the shirt is of Gregg King in his gi that we took prior to him receiving his BJJ black belt.

Original image

- Mark Ruddick Photography is a full service London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, boxing and mma photography

- VVV Fight Co MMA and JIUJITSU Fashion Company. We are a Hard as Nails Brand Made by Fighters For Fighters. We ensure that Style Meets Quality on and Off the mats.

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Behind the Scenes with Nick Robinson

Boxer Nick Robinson is making his pro debut on Lee Baxter's show on November 11th in Brampton, Ontario. Nick trains out of Warriors Boxing and Fitness in London, Ontario. Mark Ruddick Photography was there to capture his training for an upcoming magazine article.

Video was done by Dawson Bell 

Nick Robinson training for his pro debut with coaches Rob Caron and Bob Wilcox

Hitting the heavy bag

Working with trainer Rob Caron of Warrior's Boxing and Fitness

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