Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Fitness Photoshoto with Demelo Fitness and Jenna

I was working again with Josh DeMelo of DeMelo Fitness and one of his clients, Jenna. Great client, great attitude and great physique, there’s nothing more than you can ask for. Here are just a few of the images we made that day.

Showing off her core.

Standard pose for showing off the back muscles.

Mirror images are always fun.

Beautiful Bicep

- Mark Ruddick Photography - My images are an exploration of the human body under muscle stress — understanding the body’s strength, flexibility, and power. Creating these images has given me a better understanding of the human form which has transitioned into my commercial fitness work. 

I am a London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography.

I love to tell stories as anyone who's worked with me can attest. That includes visual stories through photographs. Let me tell your story and provide high impact images of you to sponsors, agencies, family or just for yourself.


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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Fitness Shoot with Jenn

I got an opportunity to work with a model I had been wanting to shoot with for sometime. Jen was about to compete in her first fitness competition with the UFE.

She competed in bikini and fitness and qualifying in the fitness category.

Everybody out of the pool

Beach volleyball

Competition suit

Bicep curl

Jen is also a brown belt in Karate

She’s also a hand model.

- Mark Ruddick Photography - My images are an exploration of the human body under muscle stress — understanding the body’s strength, flexibility, and power. Creating these images has given me a better understanding of the human form which has transitioned into my commercial fitness work. 

I am a London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography.

I love to tell stories as anyone who's worked with me can attest. That includes visual stories through photographs. Let me tell your story and provide high impact images of you to sponsors, agencies, family or just for yourself.



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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Recent Fitness Photoshoots

Last month I did some fitness shoots right after the Stephanie Worsfold Classic with Scott and Lexi. Here are a couple of images from the shoots.

Lounging on set

Posing most muscular

Showing off the hardware

Rear double biceps

- Mark Ruddick Photography - My images are an exploration of the human body under muscle stress — understanding the body’s strength, flexibility, and power. Creating these images has given me a better understanding of the human form which has transitioned into my commercial fitness work.

I am a London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography.

I love to tell stories as anyone who's worked with me can attest. That includes visual stories through photographs. Let me tell your story and provide high impact images of you to sponsors, agencies, family or just for yourself.


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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Fitness Day at Magnum Total Fitness

Melissa invited me to come to her gym, Magnum Total Fitness, to photograph the end of their 12 week boot camp. Magnum Total Fitness is in Kincardine, a great little town on Lake Huron. I also got to re-connect with one of my former work placement students, Justin, who assisted me that day. Setup time was 7 AM and the participants for the day were already starting hair and makeup. We got setup and were shooting just after 8 AM. We photographed in the gym and in the makeshift studio we setup all day. We wrapped up photographing just before 6 and were cleaned up and out by 7.

During the day I got to photograph a lot of genres. Fitness obviously, maternity, family images, group pictures and even a motorcycle. It challenging but a lot of fun. I met a lot of really terrific people on all different points on their fitness journey, it was nice to interact with them all. We shot about 1500 pictures on the day between all of the participants and the groups.

The pictures below are not retouched, the theme of the shoot was body positivity and we wanted to portray people as they are.

Body positive was the theme of the shoot.

Strong, like a mother.

Hardcore gym look.

We played a little bit with the lighting

Great couple, beautiful bike.

Everyone loves dead lifts

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

- Magnum Total Fitness - We are a fully equipped, friendly, and professional gym, located downtown Kincardine.​

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

9 Questions to ask your Fitness Photographer

9 Questions to ask your Fitness Photographer

  1. Do you have a style?
    Does your photographer have a style of picture they do best. Some photographers specialize in soft fitness boudoir and some are hardcore gym pictures. My own personal style is posed studio style with putting muscles under load. I really like to show off strength and athleticism using hard contrasting lights to carve out the muscle. I’m definitely able to shoot on location or outdoors for fitness.

  2. Do you shoot on location or in studio?
    Does the photographer have a studio, or a location they shoot in? I have a studio setup for fitness photo shoots, located inside of an 8000 sq. ft. fight gym which I have access to use as well. In addition I routinely rent out private gyms to photograph in and can always find the right location for our fitness shoot.

  3. What experience do you have? How long have you been shooting fitness / how did you start?
    Does your photographer know the best way to bring out your abs? Are they used to the different energy levels while in and out of competition? Do they have 100’s of fitness photo shoots worth of experience? I’ve been photographing fitness since 2014 covering 100’s of photo shoots during that time. I’ve photographed every type of athletic body out there and know how to maximize it in pictures.

  4. Are you good with posing clients / pose ideas?
    If this is your first shoot does your photographer know how to pose you? Can they isolate a muscle group with lighting and pose. Do they have ideas. I have 100’s of fitness photo shoots under my belt and am great at posing people to best show off their physique. Please look at my references.

  5. References?
    Does you photographer have references? What do people have to say about the pictures and the experience. I have dozens of testimonials and you’re always free to contact any client of mine you see on social media. I’m proud of the work I’ve done.

  6. Money back guarantee?
    Is the photographer you are using offer a money-back guarantee of their work? Are they confident enough in their skills to back it up? I offer a guarantee. “As a self employed photographer, I take great pride in my work, and I want to make sure you’re impressed with the service you get. In fact, absolutely delighted, with the final product. What does that mean? Simply this: If you aren’t happy with my work, I’ll give you a full refund. Many photographers don’t guarantee their work at all! But to me, nothing is more important than your complete and total satisfaction. I stand behind every photo shoot 100%. If you ever have any questions or concerns about my work, please call me right away.”

  7. Do they have insurance?
    Weights, lights, cords, equipment, motion, sure something could go wrong. Are you covered if something does? I carry liability, equipment and property insurance to make sure that my clients and myself are covered in the case of an accident.

  8. What images do you get / cost?

    How many / what images do you get for the money you are spending. I make sure to spell it out for my clients what they are getting in return for the photography fees. Don’t be surprised, ask.

  9. What are their turn around times?
    How soon do you get your images? I like to get you a teaser image the day of the shoot as I’m downloading the cards to my archives. You get your proofs within a week of the photo shoot and your edited images 2 weeks after you let me know which ones you would like edited.

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Athletic Nudes with Karina

Karina is a UFE competitor who came into the studio to work on my athletic nude series. She was off-season lean which meant lots of energy and big full muscles to work with. Karina brought a lot of ideas and really nailed her poses. It was a real pleasure working with her.

Single rear bicep in profile

Single rear bicep in profile

Simple push up shows clean lines

The rear double bicep - consistently a winning pose

Showing calves, quads, glutes, core and lats

A quiet seated pose

- 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

Fitness Shoot with Adrienne

Late last year fitness competitor Adrienne came to the studio for her second shoot with me. She had really added to her physique in the 18 months between the shoots and looked absolutely fantastic. She added a lot of muscle and definition. We got some great images and had a good time.

Hair: Jessica Marie Hairstyling
Makeup: Melissa O Makeup

Showing off biceps and core

Everyone loves deadlifts

Leg raises to bring out the abs

Leg extensions for quads, but don’t miss her delts.

We also did some softer looks.

- 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 Photoshoto with Demelo Fitness and Julia

Demelo Fitness invited me to photograph his fitness client Julia at Showtyme Fitness. Josh’s client always come to a shoot prepare, in shape and with a great attitude. They are across the board positive and engaged in the process. We got some great on location images during the shoot.

Thanks to my Fanshawe placement student Jessica Hernandez for assisting.

Showing off the triceps with a pull down.

Abs after some much appreciated carbs during the shoot.

Great choice in wardrobe for showing off the arms

Josh Demelo proud of the abs

Staring down the competition.

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

- DEMELO FITNESS personal training is managed by Joshua DeMelo - a London native. He has a background in competitive bodybuilding, having placed 2nd in his first competition. He is moving on to the provincial level in 2017. Josh is also certified by the Canadian Personal Training Network and also has worked with some of the TOP coaches in the fitness industry. 

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Mark Ruddick Mark Ruddick

Athletic Nudes with Tanya

Physique competitor Tanya came to the studio to take part in the Athletic Nude series. She had incredibly dense muscles that showed perfectly on camera. We did a lot of powerful poses to show off the different muscle groups. She was a real pleasure to photograph.

Back and leg flex

Rear Double Bicep

Back and shoulders

- 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

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?

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

Fitness Session with Rob

As soon as Rob walked in I was a little surprised. Physique guys are supposed to be that big and they aren’t supposed to have well developed legs. That’s the category at the national level now. Rob got second place at the Canadian National Pro Qualifier in Masters Physique. He looks like he’d be ready to step on stage in the classic bodybuilding category. All that aside Rob was a great guy to photograph, super hard working and friendly. Thanks to Showtyme Fitness for hosting the photo shoot. Here’s a few images from our shoot.

Rob is coached by Elite Physiques.

Getting a pump on.

Showing off the core.

- 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 with Claudio

Personal Trainer, Claudio came into the studio last month for some new images. I’ve worked with him before and he always is in really good shape with a nice commercial look.

Claudio posing and flexing.

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

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Fitness Photo Shoot with Melanie

Melanie came from past Toronto to shoot with me last month. She was great to work with and really lean. Melanie is a bikini competitor and recently captured 2nd place in the novice class. We had a good time shooting in the studio and in the gym. Here are some of the fitness pictures we took.

MUA: Melissa O Makeup

Showing off her abs on the heavy bag.

Staring down the competition.

- 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 with Kaitlin

Kaitlin was a last minute addition to a four person fitness shoot with some of the trainers at Wellington Fitness. She showed off some great flexibility and once we got her laughing abs.

Luckily the one joke I know made her laugh.

Showing off her flexibility

Splits

- 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 Moe

This summer I shot with Moe in studio. She and I have done fitness photos a few times before. She's transitioned away from competition and he developed a great maintainable physique. Moe's up every morning around 4AM to work out, you have to admire the dedication.

We did some pictures out in the gym area of the studio.

Couldn't resist getting one in the ring.

Showing off in the studio

Fit at 41

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

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