How to take Progress Pictures 101

This 101 version speaks more to the layperson. If you’re a current, aspiring, or lifestyle bodybuilder who wants nitty gritty detailed guidance for necessary accuracy in your sport, you’ll want to check out our updated How to Take Progress Pictures 102 version.

Using progress pictures with clients is a useful way to indicate body composition change overtime. As you know, the scale does not always tell the full story. Therefore, it’s important to track other data, too, such as girth measurements, qualitative feedback stating improvement in quality of life from a client, quantitative feedback like increase in load/reps lifted in the gym, consistency in positive habits, improvement in form via recording their lifts at the gym, etc.

I often ask clients to take progress pictures in order to make it easier to visualize a difference in physique overtime. These photos can be for your eyes only, shared with your coach for data collection, or, perhaps, you’ll be inspired to share them with family & friends to light their own fire. My guess is you’re here because you’re either a current or potential POA client! Therefore, I’d love to share the following advice I ritualistically give to help you take consistent, reliable, and as close to transparent as possible progress photos.

1. Use similar lighting – natural light will be best. You can take this one step further to take photos at the same time of day each time to catch similar natural lighting. Bloating can happen after a full day of eating & drinking. As such, we recommend morning photos on an empty stomach after you use the restroom.
2. Use the same angle – straight on. Have someone else take the pictures or use self-timer on a tripod or similar object so the camera is level and around bellybutton height. Selfies in a mirror will not be a true representation. Capture a full body shot to help with scale.
3. Wear the same clothes. I could’ve done a better job at this in the above image, e.g. different tops & bottoms (and even socks) can have different cuts and therefore make the shape of your body look different based on how they hit on you. Again, this can misconstrue perception.
4. Do the same poses. I recommend at least a front, side, and back facing pose to see a full, 360 degree view.

There are plenty of ways to track and measure changes/progress of a client. Sometimes results are tangible and immediately visible to the eye, but sometimes, and often the most important, changes quietly begin internally and are just as rewarding for the coach and client. This is why feedback and open communication between a coach and client is crucial.

I hope you find the above guidance supportive. Enjoy, and best of luck to you on your journey!

If you have any questions, please do enquire privately.

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