Tom Coleman
Dan Walls
exercise unless it’s a feature for a certain exercise.
If it’s a workout for a magazine you pretty much
have to be on point as far as technique in the
workout, but if it’s a shoot just for a brand or post
competition shoot or something like that you
can move the models around to accent the best
features they have. The control is really with the
photographer and you have to make sure you are
getting the best image out there.
FMM: Can you describe your typical Photoshoot
days?
CB: Again it changes depending on what the
shoot is for. If it is for a post competition shoot,
the models are usually in good shape because the
competition was the day before. They’ve usually
still got a good tan and are looking sharp as
possible. So the first shoot is just about showing
up, and I have an half an hour chat with them
before and have a good laugh with them, getting
that mutual respect going, and find out what they
are trying to get out of the photoshoot and just get
stuck in. Magazine work is very similar, as I meet
whoever is in charge with the magazine, speak to
the boss, and find out what they want to get out
of the shoot. It is a very, very laid back situation,
and I don’t have many demanding clients. If I
did, I probably wouldn’t shoot with them again. A
photo shoot is very easy and all parties are really
very relaxed and you just take your time doing it.
There’s really no pressure on anybody. Just make
sure you come out of there with good shots. Photo
shoot days are pretty easy to be honest.
FMM: Have you ever experienced creativity
block or a professional lull?
CB: Yes. Not in a bad way; not that I’ve ever
been stuck for ideas, but when you are shooting
the same things over and over it’s just a matter of
coming up with something new. The hardest thing
is shooting in the same gym over and over. I’m
sure people on the outside don’t see it as much as
I do, but I’ll see images and think that’s a little too
similar to what I’ve done in the past. But there’s
only so much you can do in a certain environment,
which is why I always get excited about shooting
in a new gym. It’s always good inspiration
shooting in a different environment. You get
to play around with different things, different
equipment and machines, different exercises, etc.
That’s the hardest thing really, shooting in the
same gym over and over. The images kind of just
get a bit too alike.
FMM: What’s the photograph you are most
proud of?
CB: I suppose the most important photograph in
my career so far would probably be my first fitness
cover this year with Muscle Fitness magazine with
David Mcintosh whose quite well known in the >>>
www.MOST mag.com || FITNESS
M A G A Z I N E ||
65