First Fitness Shoot

Just completed my first fitness shoot, learned a ton of what do/look out for next time but over all im pretty happy with my first results. My model is my buddy that started doing some competitions and needed some photos and i needed some portfolio content so that worked out awesome. The gym we shot in was also super cool wit us being there during business hours. For some reason i cant get them to upload as sharp as they are on my screen must be uploading them wrong or something but heres two of them.

If this was a fitness shoot with a good looking, well toned young girl you'd have had 50 comments by now. It's just a shame that all the guys on here can't see the quality in the photography just because the model is a male.

The lighting on these is great.

True. true! The male mind is male...

I like them both, but the first is my favorite. Very nice comp and lighting. Good to see a body builder who still looks human as well, very believable subject.

Both are different form what we usually see. even for a male subject.

It is a good shot and the shadow behind adds to it so well done! Well done also to the dude with the six pack!

Strobe info to capture the shadow on #2?

I like #1, a lot. Masculine, sexy, confident, powerful.

Sorry, but #2 looks like... a monkey on the monkey-bars. I appreciate the guy's hard work and dedication, but the pose/shot is not flattering at all.

Well done !!! Where is the female model

I used three lights( 2 speedlights and a mono light). I had the two speedlights on each side of him(clam shell) and my mono light held above him shooting down.

Just my .02, good job for a first try.
The face in both photos is over exposed.

First photo-The light coming from his left should've been pull toward you more and higher to show off more of the oblique muscles more and get rid of the shadow from his shoulder. It would also produce a catch light effect in his eye and a more gradual falloff effect across the body.

Second- His face and neck have this weird collar like shadow around them that isn't very complimentary. No idea how to fix that one.

I like the lighting a lot in the first shot. I don't think he should have been looking at the camera. If he were a fighter, the direct look would work. Unless you shot him head-on which you didn't.

Like the composition in the second. Not sold on the lighting. Its more like I'm undecided on the lighting.

Two great shots, I was thinking about a gym shoot, glad it turned out good for you.
I have a gym I work out at and I am good friends with the owners.
It would be a first for me.

Nice shots

My fave is #2

Great work.

My favorite is the second one. I like the lighting and the shadows.

The lights need to be behind him more to produce the "Hero Shot". When you get it, you'll see it. You have very controlled lights, I'm taking a guess at gridded softboxes, the size stumps me.

Put the softboxes 45 degrees BEHIND him, the drama in the shot will be overwhelming. Please message me privately or publicly via this thread if you need more info. I think that we can do wonders. SHABANG.

I like the pose in number one way better then number two. The lighting in number one is to contrasty. You have crushed the blacks so much so that the shadows blend into the background and you've lost all detail and the highlights are slightly over exposed. Moving the overhead light more towards the front will help with some light on the lower body and a little bit of fill for the shadows. I know the look you were going for but light placement is a little bit off.

I think number two is technically a better photo but the pose and the lighting lack the drama you were looking for in number one. Both of these photos are a good start. Just a little bit of tweaking and they would be very good.