Yoga photography can be an expression of reverence for the practice of yoga and a celebration of the human spirit.
There is an age old conversation amongst yoga teachers and practitioners around the way images affect our practice and our ego. Social media is akin to a socially collective digital version of chitta vrtti (swirling thoughts or fluctuations of the mind). Not all of it is positive. Not all of it is negative. Maybe what’s more important than what currently exists out there in the digital world is what we consciously choose to contribute to it.
Do you need professional yoga photos? If you are a yoga professional trying to get your resume in the door or promoting events and classes, they are essential. If you are not a yoga professional but you’re considering booking a shoot for personal art, they might be just as essential. Creating vivid, soulful images of yoga makes it possible to preserve this time in your life to look back on when this phase of your practice is over. Thoughtfully cultivated photos of yoga can inspire others to explore the practice for themselves.
Selecting a photographer to capture the essence of your unique style can be a process. Finding a photographer with a yoga portfolio is helpful, as yoga portraits are much different than traditional portrait photography. It’s also very helpful if the photographer is an active yoga practitioner, so they understand how to capture healthy alignment and even cue the subject into a pose. It’s a good idea to discuss what kind of images you’re looking for before the shoot, so you and your photographer can decide details such as whether to choose a studio or on location shoot, what kind of wardrobe to bring, and whether you’ll want digital files or prints.
I’ve booked my yoga photo shoot! How do I prepare?
Here are some answers to the questions I am most frequently asked:
What should I wear?
My blanket answer to this is… Whatever you are comfortable in! It’s really most important to me that you have a positive experience and that your personality shines in your images. There are a few specific things that can contribute to that process.
1. Bring. Options. Lots of them! Those white yoga pants you never wear because you know you’ll just get them dirty? Bring em. Wild colors? Definitely bring those. Black? (Record scratch) Leave the black at home unless all you own is black. If all you own is black, raid your best friend’s closet.
2. Be playful. You are not defined by your yoga pants. Why be confined to them? If you can move in it, you can wear it. Keep in mind that if you will be upside down, floppy things will fall in your face. This is why we bring multiple options. Anything goes for “right” side up. Tight options for upside down unless they have some kind of elastic, magnetic, whatever solution for not falling down when you go up. Playful means you also get to explore the non-essential. Got a cool hat? Bring it. Scarf? Yes. Boots? Gloves? Why not? Umbrellas are fun. You’re also a golfer? Bring the clubs. If if makes you want to play, it’s going to make a great photo.
3. Be aware of big logos or printed words on your clothing. Unless a brand is paying us for our shoot (Hey Lululemon! I’m available for high end commercial work!), we’re providing them with free advertising. On the other hand, if you want to showcase your cousin’s new yoga fashion line, we can emphasize it. It’s worth consideration. Printed words are fine if you find them timeless and you have a plan to keep them from bunching up while you twist and bend. You’ll also only see part of them if they’re caught in an angle away from the camera.
Should I practice before my shoot?
This is a personal choice. Yes, you should definitely move a bit before you arrive at your shoot, but use discriminative discernment. It goes back to being comfortable. If you decide to practice 3rd series ashtanga for the first time the morning of your shoot, we may encounter some issues. Try not to be too stiff, or too tired.
Should I bring a friend/boyfriend/my grandma?
Sure! If they help you feel more comfortable and don’t mind brushing your hair out of your face, go for it. You might even consider splitting a session with them to make your shoot more affordable. Just know that whomever isn’t holding your next wardrobe change will probably be asked to hold a light or reflector. Other than the model, everyone on my set is an assistant.
I can’t do (insert complicated yoga pose here).
Okay, that’s not a question, but I hear it ALL the time. Don’t worry about looking “advanced”. The greatest teachers I know have really beautiful photos of them standing with their hands folded in anjali mudra (think namaste). Unless they made it for the purpose of instruction, almost none of them have portraits of them standing up with a foot behind their head or balancing on their hands. What you do is beautiful. We can make art with that.