How to Merge Fitness With Fashion

Amp up your next photoshoot with the right clothing and accessories to summon your highest confidence ever.

Walking into a photoshoot can be daunting, especially if this is your first time shooting with the photographer. That’s where the right styling comes into play—use these tips to help evoke a professional look. 

Style and Accessorize With Confidence

The key to discovering your personal style and boosting your confidence is choosing clothes that are comfortable and fit well, as well as selecting pieces that make you feel good and reflect your personality. Ultimately, dressing in a way that makes you feel confident and authentic will positively impact not only how you perceive yourself, but how others perceive you as well.

Steps to Success

These tips will help you engage with your inner creativity and bring your energy and personality to the next level! 

1. Choose accessories that complement. Accessories can elevate your look and add a personal touch that speaks to the overall vibe you want to create.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment! Try different combinations of accessories to find what works best for you. Play around with mixed media, like metals with pearls or leather with lace, and choose bracelets, necklaces, or hats made of various materials. For a fitness shoot, ask the photographer what kind of equipment is available on set. If needed, bring props like a medicine ball, ankle weights, a skipping rope, a yoga mat, a yoga block, or hand weights.

• Wear accessories that elevate your outfit. Consider sneakers, high-top or low-top shoes, leg warmers, high socks, earrings, necklaces, or bracelets that reflect your strength, power, and energy. Add a small backpack, belt bag, or water bottle to further amp up the sporty energy. 

• Play to your strengths. Represent your personal brand of athleticism by adding a surfboard, skateboard, tennis racket, or golf club—whatever you do in your spare time.

2. Prioritize fit and comfort. Clothes that fit well and flatter your figure will make you feel more put together and confident.

• Favor Comfortable Fabrics. Choose ones that feel good against your skin and allow you to move freely.

• Avoid Snug Fits. Tight or ill-fitting clothes can lead to feelings of unease and self-consciousness.

• Think Outside the Fitness Box. Wearing clothes that don’t necessarily say “fitness” but highlight your athleticism can elevate your shoot. Mix high-key looks with low-key ones and luxury with leisure. Try a one-piece swimsuit or a bodysuit with cutouts, which is similar to a bikini but with an edgier appeal. 

• Choose Brands You Love—and Your Body Loves. My favorites that aren’t typical fitness labels but are sporty and fun include Wolford, Brunello Cucinelli, Free People, ZARA, and Aritzia.

3. Choose colors that uplift you. Hues that make you feel good and confident will translate to your pictures.

• Consider the Psychology of Color. Certain colors are associated with specific emotions. For example, red can evoke feelings of power, while blue can be calming.

“Certain colors can add an emotional layer to your look.”

• Think About the Season. Plan your accessories around the popular colors of the season. Wear yellows, blues, or greens for spring; pinks, turquoise, or peach in the summer; during the fall, wear browns, oranges, or grey; and in the winter, try silver, gold, reds, or emerald tones.

4. Focus on your preferences. Choose clothes that make you feel good, regardless of trends or what others might think is essential.

• Own Your Style. Develop a signature style that reflects your personality and makes you feel confident. People love to follow influencers who have a clear and clean aesthetic that resonates.

5. Don’t forget about makeup. The right cosmetics can turn an uninteresting or boring pic into a keeper.

• Remember the Classics. Trendy makeup is fun but doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. If you feel great in colors outside of browns or neutrals, use a palette that showcases your eyes, lips, and skin tone. These are your best assets and will evoke your personality.

• Get Cheeky. Cheeks that feature a soft pink or coral tone typically work for everyone and can enhance a simple, youthful look. 

• Change Your Lipstick and Eyeshadow Between Outfits. If you want to rock a darker eyeshadow, make sure you apply it at the end of the shoot, for your last look—it’s definitely easier to add than to remove! Apply a darker lip or neutral gloss to match.

• Have a Glow-Up. Add a shimmery moisturizer or oil to your skin, and remember to touch it up after you change outfits. Keeping skin supple also helps accentuate your muscles!

6. Pay extra attention to your hair. Come prepared with it styled exactly how you like it, whether that’s wavy, straight, curly, up, or down.

• Change Things Up. Try to incorporate one different style, like a quick updo, for a fresh look. This can be done in a couple of minutes with a claw clip, bobby pins, or hair tie. Bring hair spray and dry shampoo to add volume, plus a brush or comb. 

• Time Things Right. If you want to showcase an edgy or “wet” look, add lots of hair gel for your last series of photos. I always recommend arriving with a set of products that work best with your hair.

7. Invite a trusted assistant or friend. This person will be your support and help keep you confident.

• Put Them to Work! They can check your hair between wardrobe changes, look for makeup that needs adjusting, and check that your clothing is symmetrical, and your straps aren’t twisted. They can also run you water or accessories that may be away from the photoshoot area—plus, they’ll make you feel your best!

Photoshoot Dos and Don’ts

Keep these in mind as you plan for your shoot and while you’re on set.

DO

• Bring a suitcase with multiple wardrobe options and accessories that match your makeup and hair accoutrements.
• Perform body care—mani, pedi, full-body exfoliation, wax, and spray tan—two days before.
• Dermaplane your face and get treatments like Botox at least two weeks before the shoot, in case of breakouts and bruising.
• Bring lots of energy drinks or water—you’ll need to be hydrated for hours.
• Show up with a professional mindset and positive attitude.

DON’T

• Microblade brows immediately beforehand, in case they’re too dark or uneven; using a shadow or pencil looks more natural.
• Wear tight-fitting clothes before your shoot, as impressions on the skin can show in photos.
• Consume foods that cause you to bloat within 24 hours of the shoot.
• Eat a heavy meal before your shoot; keep it light with eggs or a protein shake you know won’t cause you to bloat.
• Drink the night before the shoot, as it will show in your skin and potentially cause low energy.