Intro
Whenever you take the leap into transforming your body, you’re going to want to track progress. If you have a coach, then you’ll more than likely be using check in photos to make this happen. There are a couple ways in which you can do this but taking progress pictures is one of the best. Progress photos are great because you can physically see the changes taking place, even if some other metrics aren’t moving.
However, there are ways in which you can take these photos to ensure that you see the changes happening. It must be a controlled process for it to line up as a good way of checking in. Every coach has different requirements or standards for this, but in this post, we’re going to cover what I believe to be the best method.
Here’s what to and what not to do for check in photos.
How to Ensure Consistent Progress Photos
When you start to take photos, it may be something that you do yourself or a coach does with you. If it’s something you’re doing on your own, you’ll want to follow a few standards to get the most out it. Here’s what to do…
Keep the Same Lighting
Lighting is important for really any kind of photo. However, when it comes to seeing the changes to your physique, you’re going to want something that shows everything properly. Often lighting that is natural will give the best look, as this is a neutral light. It’ll show how your body looks in the purest form so that you have an accurate view of your progress.
Use the Same Area
In addition to using the right lighting, you can typically ensure this happens by sing the same area for all the photos. If you have a different location each time, you may run into some variances that show off a different view. Locate the best lighting you can, and stick with that spot, wherever it is.
Wear the Same Clothes
When taking a check in photo, you’ll want to use something that actually shows off your physique. Typically, this is going to be a sports bra, shorts, or underwear for women. Men would be shirtless in either boxers or shorts. Obviously, you’ll want to choose something that highlights what you’re trying to change.
Use the Same Time of Day
The time of day in which you take these photos is paramount. Ideally, you would take these photos in the morning before you eat and after you use the bathroom. This will minimize bloating and give you an idea of what’s changed before anything else gets into your system. It’ll be the leanest you are during the day and make things as accurate as possible.
This is also important so that you get similar lighting. If you’re using natural light for your photos, this will matter. Morning light is a lot different than mid-day light.
Things to Avoid
Now that you know what you need to do, what do you need to avoid? Well, it’s pretty much the opposite of everything we’ve discussed. We need to make sure that we avoid taking photos at spotty times during the week. If you choose a different time of day for every photo, none of them will be accurate to your changes. Even if you MUST take them in the evening, you need to make sure that you always use that time. It should also be noted that you avoid poor lighting, nothing can distort the way you look more than poor light. When it comes to progress photos for check-ins, avoid being inconsistent and you’ll be set.
Conclusion
It’s not complicated to get good check-in photos. It’ll just involve you taking some precautions and following a few guidelines. It’s important that you stay consistent in the time and location of these photos so that you can get an accurate idea of how you’re progressing. Again, check-ins that involve photos are extremely helpful, but they must be done right if you ever expect them to be of use!