Preparing for a yoga photography session

1. What to wear

You will want something form fitting so that we can see the shape of your body within the yoga poses. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of very bright colours such a white and yellow as these can tend to blow out on camera. You may want to bring a change of clothes and switch outfits halfway through the session.  

2. Asanas

It’s a good idea to write down the postures you want to have captured (including different variations) prior to the session and bring it along. It’s easy to draw a blank in the heat of the moment. Make sure your list includes a selection of asanas from different groups - standing, sitting and floor based asanas.

3. Share your vibe

Think about how you want to use the images, what kind of classes do you run? If you are a yin yoga teacher, let me know and we can focus on more calm and gentle postures and settings. Likewise, if you're a yang yoga teacher this will also have influence over your shoot as we may want to explore more powerful asanas, locals and vibes.

4. Accessories and props

If your practice and identity as a yoga professional incorporates spiritual aspects we can include some props which reflect this into the session. You are welcome to bring along crystals, smudge sticks, prayer beads etc. Symbolic jewellery and accessories can also add depth and personality to your session so feel free to accessorise.

5. Warm up

It’s dangerous to dive straight into any physical activity without first warming up. However at a photography session we have light and time restrictions to consider so I suggest getting up that little bit earlier to spend some time warming up. During the session I may need to break from shooting to change lenses or review images. During this time it’s important for you to keep moving with gentle postures to ensure that you don’t get cold.

6. Practice

A yoga photography session is going to be a workout for you. So make sure you are feeling nourished and ready for a good session. Get a good rest the night before and in the weeks leading up to the session practice consistently. Keep in mind that during the session you will need to hold postures for longer than you usually would. Use your breath to hold poses for an extended period of time. Bring attention to your face and soften wherever possible.

7. Take care of yourself

You are the expert when it comes to your body, so make sure you work within the bounds and if anything feels uncomfortable or outside your physical limits let me know. We want the shoot to be fun, we don't want you to walk away feeling sore and exhausted!

8. Things to bring

• 1 - 2 outfits
• Deodorant and cleansing wipes
• List of postures
• Nourishing snacks
• Water, make sure you stay hydrated!
  
  You can find more about Yoga Photography & Videography sessions here.