Critique Personal Trainer portfolio (Image heavy...)

[ProG77]

Ok, so technically I guess this isn't 'Sports' but as it's fitness related, thought I'd post here. A PT friend asked me to take some shots for her social media profiles as she needs a refresh. I shot these last weekend over a 3 hour shoot of her both training herself as well as a couple of her clients who had agreed to be part of the shoot. I'm not usually an indoor shooter as I prefer to shoot candid outdoor shots but thought I'd give it a shot anyway. Ended up with a few hundred images, of which narrowed down to about 120ish that the she loves.
The images were shot with a combination of a Nikon Z6ii and Z6 bodies and Nikon Z70-200 F2.8, Z24-120mm f4 and Z85mm f1.8. All shot using available light with no flash (except the 1st image where I had a cheapo Amazing soft box positioned front left of the subject). I used Auto ISO so the ISO was cranked up to 6400 for some of the images but I used De-Noise to remove the noise.

Would welcome tips and suggestions for a follow up shoot from those more experienced than I with using off camera lighting - currently I have one cheapo soft box from Amazon and have just ordered a Godox V860iii with a trigger.

 

[Peter123]

I think you've done well with the lighting.
Overall I think they look a bit "staged".
No. 4 and No. 9 are my favourites because it looks like she is needing to put in effort to achieve the task. Also, composition on the first is excellent.
I suppose I was expecting "no gain without pain" type of shots but of course you do not want to put off potential clients.

 

[Compuwight]

Nice set, the last is the best for me, showing her at work as a PT and the clear success shows on the face of her trainee.

 

[KIPAX]

If you number the pics its easier to comment

Not a fan of quirky angles as in pic 2

The 5th one down where she is down about to lift.. You should leave headroom in the shot for her to stand into otherwise it looks cramped as it does..

Otherwise decent enough IMHO

 

[ProG77]

I think you've done well with the lighting.
Overall I think they look a bit "staged".
No. 4 and No. 9 are my favourites because it looks like she is needing to put in effort to achieve the task. Also, composition on the first is excellent.
I suppose I was expecting "no gain without pain" type of shots but of course you do not want to put off potential clients.

Agree with them looking “staged”. She was very prescriptive about the type of shots she wanted and had sent me loads of images from other PT’s so I was trying my best to deliver what she wanted , even though, as I said, my style of portraits is very much candid. She definitely didn’t want the “no pain no gain” type images as she trains mainly women and I think a lot of women are put off by using PTs who focus purely on muscle building. Overall, she wanted to come across as strong, but friendly. These are just a small selection - I’ve got others where she is training her clients too.

 

[ProG77]

If you number the pics its easier to comment

Not a fan of quirky angles as in pic 2

The 5th one down where she is down about to lift.. You should leave headroom in the shot for her to stand into otherwise it looks cramped as it does..

Otherwise decent enough IMHO

Fair point about numbering the pictures - I’ll bear it in mind for the future. Re: headroom, thanks - good point, but I also captured a few in portrait modes high does exactly what you’ve suggested. And I’ll take “decent enough” - better than “they’re all cr*p”

 

[juggler]

I think.. it's actually quite a difficult brief.

Are they to show her in training, or to show her work as a PT?

Overall, she wanted to come across as strong, but friendly. These are just a small selection - I’ve got others where she is training her clients too.

For strong but friendly I'd have done some relaxed, posed smiley portraits in a gym, eye contact with the camera. The pics of her training are nice enough but they don't make her look approachable, they don't say that she's a trainer & they don't particularly show off her physique. They're just a young woman in a gym.

The pics of her with clients are far more successful.

 

[toohuge]

I agree with @juggler ... I shoot a lot in gyms, and it's easier to work on composition without additional lighting. The comment above is correct, spilt the two briefs, one of her training and the other showing her as a trainer.

For displaying her athletic prowess, you'll do best to capture some candid shots of her training, get low and try a few different things. As she's a friend, you can reshoot again and again. The sled push, for example is a great shot, however, it works best when it's a dynamic shot, as in the athlete is pushing with full force to show, it shows the intensity and energy of the athlete.

As for the other brief, I find effective trainer shots centre on the interaction between coach and athlete. Capture those candid moments of communication, connection and trust.

This was shot during training, but the expression and tension in the arms/legs speaks volumes



upload

 

[TimHughes]

looks like a fun project. I agree with the comments above. Regarding flash, that needs some care with the mirrors. when you have your godox 860, try it on ttl with exposure compensation -2 or so for a little bit of fill so you don't have to raise the shadows so much. I've tried softboxes in the gym and that was good for some very staged shots but honestly a lot of faff. For staged stuff, it works much better in the studio.

 

[juggler]

I shoot a lot in gyms, and it's easier to work on composition without additional lighting.

Regarding flash, that needs some care with the mirrors. when you have your godox 860, try it on ttl with exposure compensation -2 or so for a little bit of fill so you don't have to raise the shadows so much. I've tried softboxes in the gym and that was good for some very staged shots but honestly a lot of faff. For staged stuff, it works much better in the studio.

For staged shots I'd go the other way - I'd be very likely to flash in a gym. In complex locations it can be invaluable for controlling a composition and losing unhelpful crud - as well as dealing with the crap light that such places normally have. But I'd probably want something bigger than the small softboxes which work well with speedlites.

 

[toohuge]

For staged shots I'd go the other way - I'd be very likely to flash in a gym. In complex locations it can be invaluable for controlling a composition and losing unhelpful crud - as well as dealing with the crap light that such places normally have. But I'd probably want something bigger than the small softboxes which work well with speedlites.

Agreed on the staged shots, however, (and I'm not telling you how to suck eggs), it's rare you're in the gym alone, there's a lot of athletes attempting to train and I find anything that could potentially get in the way, inevitably does! I usually shoot in a candid way for gym/workout shoots as to not interrupt the athletes or trainers, in their session.

 

[juggler]

Agreed on the staged shots, however, (and I'm not telling you how to suck eggs), it's rare you're in the gym alone, there's a lot of athletes attempting to train and I find anything that could potentially get in the way, inevitably does! I usually shoot in a candid way for gym/workout shoots as to not interrupt the athletes or trainers, in their session.

good point well made! I'm used to awkward locations but I'm not a gym specialist.

 

[Tysonator]

Firstly I want to the shots are pretty damn good as also every gym lighting is poor and very difficult to expose for let alone getting angles where you do not end up in a mirror reflection, then mix in other gym members doing their work out around a photo shoot.

I do also see more people videoing their workouts or PT's doing influencing videos for their social media channels.
I would love to do a photo shot at my gym, however is very busy ( as it is a free weights & residence machines only ) gym !

 

[TimHughes]

good point well made! I'm used to awkward locations but I'm not a gym specialist.

I should have explained the faff comes from organisational aspects. Not be a problem if you have the gym to yourself.

 

[ProG77]

Wow, thank you for all your valued comments everyone. I’m currently away with the family on a short break so have had a quick scan of all the comments. Will read and digest in more detail when I’m back home at the weekend and post a few more shots from the set which shows the PT/client relationship aspect. Again, thank you

 

[Tysonator]

I agree with @juggler ... I shoot a lot in gyms, and it's easier to work on composition without additional lighting. The comment above is correct, spilt the two briefs, one of her training and the other showing her as a trainer.

For displaying her athletic prowess, you'll do best to capture some candid shots of her training, get low and try a few different things. As she's a friend, you can reshoot again and again. The sled push, for example is a great shot, however, it works best when it's a dynamic shot, as in the athlete is pushing with full force to show, it shows the intensity and energy of the athlete.

As for the other brief, I find effective trainer shots centre on the interaction between coach and athlete. Capture those candid moments of communication, connection and trust.

This was shot during training, but the expression and tension in the arms/legs speaks volumes



upload

I do this exercise after leg press and leg extension workout and I can say it is pain ! ! !
The return journey for some reason is always the killer ! ! !

 

[ProG77]

Right then, back home - tube/train/bus strikes in London were no fun with 2 young kids! Rant over.....

So, taking all the comments on board, here's a few more shots of her training as well as showing the relationship between her and her clients. I will add, that the shoot was done in a converted barn and not a commercial gym so there were no other people using the gym at the time.

1.
.

2.

3.


4.

5. Apparently, this is the Personal Trainer 'Power Shot'


6.


And some of her training
7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

 

[Peter123]

Some good client relationship shots Prog. They all make good models.
Does she only train women?

 

[ProG77]

Some good client relationship shots Prog. They all make good models.
Does she only train women?

Yes, she only trains women and specialises in pre/post natal fitness.

 

[sk66]

I think you've done pretty well.
I don't really see the reason for the images of her working out. She's probably in better shape than I am, but she's not a fitness model; and workout moves/poses/etc tend to be unflattering for even the most photogenic... it's a tough brief. Of those images I would choose the first barbell image, the first squat rack image (11791), the dead lift closeup (12651), and maybe the color lat pulldown (58311).

You've got a lot of nice interaction pics, but watch out for the clothing/wrinkles... a couple are pretty bad in that respect (61191).

There seems to be quite a bit of variety of editing styles; split tone, selective color, faded blacks/soft, B&W, and standard color; it's not cohesive... I would stick with 2 or 3 at most. For the most part I would skip the B&W as it doesn't seem to fit the purpose... it's more of a somber/dark/gritty type of effect/mood.

 

[Ham]

Technically the images have a lot going for them, but as it happens my daughter is a PT that has the same speciality, and I've had quite a few conversations around the subject. You may have been following your client's instructions but my observation is that there is nothing in there to appeal directly to her target audience (in fact it seems to feed into the tropes, image and aesthetic that may alienate many of her target audience). Workouts with kids about, while pregnant or with pregnant clients would seem to serve her better. My daughter uses Instagram at the moment more than anything (in fact her website is offline), just for the lolz, here's what I mean

 

[ProG77]

I think you've done pretty well.
I don't really see the reason for the images of her working out. She's probably in better shape than I am, but she's not a fitness model; and workout moves/poses/etc tend to be unflattering for even the most photogenic... it's a tough brief. Of those images I would choose the first barbell image, the first squat rack image (11791), the dead lift closeup (12651), and maybe the color lat pulldown (58311).

You've got a lot of nice interaction pics, but watch out for the clothing/wrinkles... a couple are pretty bad in that respect (61191).

There seems to be quite a bit of variety of editing styles; split tone, selective color, faded blacks/soft, B&W, and standard color; it's not cohesive... I would stick with 2 or 3 at most. For the most part I would skip the B&W as it doesn't seem to fit the purpose... it's more of a somber/dark/gritty type of effect/mood.

Thank you so much. I did have to remove a few images that I didn't think she would like - as you say, quite unfaltering for someone even as fit and toned as her! Point noted about the clothing/wrinkles - hadn't really noticed until you pointed out so will watch out in the future! And agree with the editing styles - again, something I'll bear in mind for age future and try and limit to 2 or 3 styles max.

 

[ProG77]

Technically the images have a lot going for them, but as it happens my daughter is a PT that has the same speciality, and I've had quite a few conversations around the subject. You may have been following your client's instructions but my observation is that there is nothing in there to appeal directly to her target audience (in fact it seems to feed into the tropes, image and aesthetic that may alienate many of her target audience). Workouts with kids about, while pregnant or with pregnant clients would seem to serve her better. My daughter uses Instagram at the moment more than anything (in fact her website is offline), just for the lolz, here's what I mean

Thank you, but I'm not sure including kids in the shoot would've been helpful because she doesn't offer actual ante/post natal type classes that includes babies/children - she is still a PT that focusses on getting her clients back to fitness after a pregnancy/maintaining fitness through the pregnancy. Whilst her specialism is in pre/post pregnancy fitness, she does still train other clients and I think those clients do want to see that their PT is strong without looking like a body builder (which is what I think puts a lot of women from weight training). PS. Your daughter's insta looks great!

 

[Tysonator]

You have very point, the PT is no fitness model and in my gym there are some very, very fit, well tone, pretty girls that could be fitness models !
Gym photos is tough shooting as the light sources are mix of different temperature, and brightness, plus shooting around other gym users !