If a change in exercise routine or diet is started, it is great to have photos from both before and after the change to see if results are as expected. Both athletes and trainers will see things in the photos that can be used as guides for improving problem areas.

Having your own good bodybuilder photos taken is not difficult. Just follow these guidelines:

How to Prepare

The goal is to photograph muscle and little else.

* Shave most body hair before the shoot, or remove it with waxing or some other preferred method. Doing so gives the body a sleeker appearance.

* Avoid food intake prior to the photo shoot, as a full belly tends to distend and protrude.

* Work out before the shoot in a quick fashion, to get blood circulating and muscles enlarged.

* Baby oil or cooking oil applied to the skin on the arms, legs, and torso will provide a more polished look that highlights the curve of muscles and sinew.

Posing

Bodybuilding photos are meant to show the athlete at his or her very best, so the choice of pose is extremely important.

* Suck in the stomach by deeply inhaling.

* Keep the spine straight or curved slightly back while standing to show a trim look.

* Tense the muscles in the arms, legs, chest, and stomach.

* Encourage the athlete to do all of these simultaneously, and to hold a smile. The result will be a more natural, even graceful photograph.

Digital Camera

Digital cameras are wonderful choices for those who like to do a lot of editing.

* Digital photography allows the photos to be uploaded directly to the computer, where they can be carefully edited with software like Adobe Photoshop.

* Digital allows things such as red-eye to be easily removed. You can also correct lighting errors.

* Tripods will keep the camera steady, giving you one less thing to worry about while taking bodybuilding photos.

Light the Subject

* Good shadows and contrasts are the keys to a good photo.

* Lighting from above will produce shadows on the bottom parts of the muscle

* Lights coming from the bottom will highlight the lower abs and make chest muscles look slimmer.

* Avoid using a flash for bodybuilding photos, as this can ruin the natural lighting contrasts.

Before a competition, or for tracking progress over the months, good bodybuilding photos can be a great aid to success in this sport. Keep the above simple rules in mind and you will get noteworthy results.