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Inspired by recent suggestions I've made in several of our amazing members logs here's why you MIGHT see even more benefits by learning to get more from photos
There are several, male and female, loggers who use more or less the same single pose each time. Now you CAN obviously make a comparison from when the log started until now by looking at the same pose. If, for example, it includes a good view of your biceps and one of the stated aims was improving your arms then 100% it'll be a great way to see if progress has been made. But... nearly all of us, inc me, want more than just better arms or a greater bench press. So, if that's the case (and it usually is) you'd benefit from posting photos of more.
Imagine (as I suggested elsewhere) you're working with an online coach (and many times our logs here are as good as that) they'd need a front, back and side pose. Tensed or untensed. The best examples would be the standard bodybuilding poses: Front 'relaxed', rear relaxed, front and rear double biceps, side triceps (both sides) front and rear lat spread, abs and thigh and a bonus most muscular. You might have specific areas you wanna improve and so those pics would be the priorities
Tricks
Use, if you can, the EXACT same spot and lighting conditions EVERY TIME. Such as that point in the house hallway under that same light and with the same neutral background. Most never get to see these shots sent to top pros prep coaches but by way of examples you can see top IFBB pro and recent Arnold winner Samson Duada doing this in what looks like a bedroom doorway in his house. Some gyms have posing rooms but those parts where they hold classes often inc mirrors and good lighting.
Use the same clothing. Think of those before and after pics many supps companies used. They bent the rules (belly out vs flexing, no tan with a tan and so on) but they'd use plain white shorts. We KNOW how different we can look with one outfit or another. And some outfits are just distracting.
Ask someone - gym member, gym staff, buddy, significant other, family member to take the photo or photos. 9/10 having someone else take the pic it'll be better than you doing it. Ideally (see any physique type photographers images) the lens focuses on the chest (it's not a portrait and many here will NOT want to include their face anyway so why focus on the face then crop that out right?). It's 100% easier to have the person you ask do the rear shots. I've seen some say they don't like to ask but you're here posting pics already and getting help so it's worth it. Maybe it's cos I'm older or simply over confident (and more strength focused than physique targeted) but I've so little social anxiety I'd be ok with getting a random in the street to do it if need be.
A super easy way is to do the photos and you can even do this yourself too is to shoot a very short video. Like the poses above and it ends up being 2 minutes with a few seconds each then freeze framing. I've done this when I'm throwing big weights around and I'm NOT posing when I'm moving a 200lb dumbbell. So it's a LOT easier grabbing a screenshot. Cellphone cameras are now AMAZING. Many literally recognize the photo you're trying to take. Hell I'd be surprised if there wasn't an app just for these kinds of pics now.
Lastly - avoid filters. Perfectly fine for our Insta and socials but NOT to make good comparison photos. We KNOW how differ we can look on stage vs in the gym. Same with a suit or casual and with and without filters. It'll keep you honest and enable you to better see if progress has been made.
All of the above, on photos, works as well as using the same scale or tape measure to record information. If I weigh myself fully dressed at the end of the day vs naked at the start I'd be cheating myself. And don't fret if you don't see constant progress in photos. Finally, often we can't see our own progress when others can which is another benefit of a training log
Last tip. Either use paint or similar to reduce the image size and upload it to the forum direct or use a photo hosting site
There are several, male and female, loggers who use more or less the same single pose each time. Now you CAN obviously make a comparison from when the log started until now by looking at the same pose. If, for example, it includes a good view of your biceps and one of the stated aims was improving your arms then 100% it'll be a great way to see if progress has been made. But... nearly all of us, inc me, want more than just better arms or a greater bench press. So, if that's the case (and it usually is) you'd benefit from posting photos of more.
Imagine (as I suggested elsewhere) you're working with an online coach (and many times our logs here are as good as that) they'd need a front, back and side pose. Tensed or untensed. The best examples would be the standard bodybuilding poses: Front 'relaxed', rear relaxed, front and rear double biceps, side triceps (both sides) front and rear lat spread, abs and thigh and a bonus most muscular. You might have specific areas you wanna improve and so those pics would be the priorities
Tricks
Use, if you can, the EXACT same spot and lighting conditions EVERY TIME. Such as that point in the house hallway under that same light and with the same neutral background. Most never get to see these shots sent to top pros prep coaches but by way of examples you can see top IFBB pro and recent Arnold winner Samson Duada doing this in what looks like a bedroom doorway in his house. Some gyms have posing rooms but those parts where they hold classes often inc mirrors and good lighting.
Use the same clothing. Think of those before and after pics many supps companies used. They bent the rules (belly out vs flexing, no tan with a tan and so on) but they'd use plain white shorts. We KNOW how different we can look with one outfit or another. And some outfits are just distracting.
Ask someone - gym member, gym staff, buddy, significant other, family member to take the photo or photos. 9/10 having someone else take the pic it'll be better than you doing it. Ideally (see any physique type photographers images) the lens focuses on the chest (it's not a portrait and many here will NOT want to include their face anyway so why focus on the face then crop that out right?). It's 100% easier to have the person you ask do the rear shots. I've seen some say they don't like to ask but you're here posting pics already and getting help so it's worth it. Maybe it's cos I'm older or simply over confident (and more strength focused than physique targeted) but I've so little social anxiety I'd be ok with getting a random in the street to do it if need be.
A super easy way is to do the photos and you can even do this yourself too is to shoot a very short video. Like the poses above and it ends up being 2 minutes with a few seconds each then freeze framing. I've done this when I'm throwing big weights around and I'm NOT posing when I'm moving a 200lb dumbbell. So it's a LOT easier grabbing a screenshot. Cellphone cameras are now AMAZING. Many literally recognize the photo you're trying to take. Hell I'd be surprised if there wasn't an app just for these kinds of pics now.
Lastly - avoid filters. Perfectly fine for our Insta and socials but NOT to make good comparison photos. We KNOW how differ we can look on stage vs in the gym. Same with a suit or casual and with and without filters. It'll keep you honest and enable you to better see if progress has been made.
All of the above, on photos, works as well as using the same scale or tape measure to record information. If I weigh myself fully dressed at the end of the day vs naked at the start I'd be cheating myself. And don't fret if you don't see constant progress in photos. Finally, often we can't see our own progress when others can which is another benefit of a training log
Last tip. Either use paint or similar to reduce the image size and upload it to the forum direct or use a photo hosting site
jk
