The Ultimate Athletics Brand Shoot Guide
A brand shoot for athletics-based businesses—dance studios, gymnastics centres, yoga instructors, fitness trainers, martial arts schools, and other movement-focused brands—should capture the energy, expertise, and atmosphere of your business. This guide ensures you get a dynamic collection of images that reflect your brand identity and engage your audience.
Location Planning
Your setting should reflect your brand’s energy and authenticity. Consider:
Photography Studio - Often the best choice for most industries, a studio offers great natural lighting, minimal distractions, and a neutral backdrop that keeps the focus on you and your brand.
Studio or Gym – Your primary training space should be featured prominently.
NOTE: Many of our clients actually do 2 shoots, 1 in their own space and the other in a photography studio.
CLIENT’S OWN STUDIO EXAMPLE
PROPS
What to Bring
For a well-rounded shoot, bring items that highlight your services and personality:
Training Equipment – Weights, mats, resistance bands, boxing gloves, ballet barres, yoga blocks, etc.
Branded Merch – T-shirts, water bottles, notebooks, or tote bags.
Technology – Laptop, tablet, or phone for online training content.
Health & Wellness Items – Smoothies, protein shakes, or recovery tools.
Awards & Certifications – Showcase credibility and expertise.
Clients or Team Members – Represent your community and engagement.
Inspiration Boards – Motivational quotes, class schedules, or branding elements.
WARDROBE
Wardrobe & Styling Tips
Your wardrobe should reflect the movement and energy of your brand.
Branded Apparel – If you have custom gear, wear it!
Functional, Stylish Activewear – Choose outfits that allow for movement and look great on camera.
Layered Options – Include hoodies, jackets, or warm-ups for variety.
Shoes that Match Your Sport – Barefoot for yoga, sneakers for fitness, dance shoes for studios, etc.
Minimal Accessories – Keep jewelry and distractions to a minimum.
Ensure your clothes are free of wrinkles, stains and marks.
SHOT LIST
Must-Have Shots
To create a diverse and engaging brand shoot, focus on these essential shots:
Your Process & Training Style
Leading a class or private session.
Demonstrating an exercise, pose, or technique.
Correcting a client’s form.
Preparing for a session (tying shoes, adjusting mats, setting up equipment).
Studio & Environment
Wide shots of your training space.
Details of decor, mirrors, equipment, and motivational elements.
Action shots of movement, stretching, or warming up.
Client & Community Engagement
Group training or partner workouts.
High-energy team moments (high-fives, clapping, cheering on a client).
One-on-one coaching interactions.
Branding & Lifestyle Content
Candid, behind-the-scenes moments.
Preparing a smoothie, sipping coffee post-session.
Social media content (talking to the camera, interacting with clients online).
Relaxation and recovery moments (meditation, foam rolling, stretching).
Pro Tips for a Successful Shoot
Plan Movements in Advance – Ensure dynamic poses and action shots look natural.
Use a Mix of Motion & Still Shots – Capture both movement and moments of stillness.
Consider Different Angles – Mix close-ups, wide shots, and overhead views.
Express Your Personality – Smile, engage, and have fun!
Showcase Your Unique Offering – Highlight what makes your approach stand out.
Pinterest is an amazing resource for inspiration when planning your shoot. Take a peek at our board here and we encourage you to create your own.
WHO TO HIRE
When selecting a photographer please ensure the following;
They are a BRAND photographer
Their approach to shooting matches with the location of choice (ex. if they are a natural light photogapher does your location have natural light?)
You have reviewed their portfolio and their style matches your brand
Do not worry if they aren’t available “asap” - we would prefer you wait for quality vs picking based on availability
Want to run your options by us? We would be happy to take a look and provide our feedback!
NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Capture both vertical and horizontal images (your client requires all orientations for their marketing)
Capture all the types of shots listed above (not all headshots!)
Marketing will require various shots, angles, close ups, etc. (variety is key)
Save the files the client business name (ie. My Wolf Design not: “MWD”, “image12345”)
Images for web use should be no bigger than 10MB
Providing client with both High res at 3600px and up and web size at 1024px is critical
Please share with the client expected final file delivery timeline
Please ensure number of edits are adequate to complete the project (shot amounts provided in this guide)
