The fitness photographer

sscarmack

Here's my story. Enjoy

I've been working out consistently for almost a year now. 5-7 days a week, on a 4 day split.

Before that it was hit or miss and I wasn't as dedicated as I am now. I started late 2013, would go once or twice for a couple weeks and then would stop for months, and then I'd go again and then stop.

Well after my ex fiancé left me last year I knew something had to change. So I fully committed myself to the gym and now I am proud to say I am officially a Gym Rat and couldn't be happier.

My goal is to keep packing on muscle, while staying lean.

I would guess I'm around 165lbs and about 10% body fat. But I don't really focus on those numbers. I just go by how I feel and look in the mirror.

I just started using MyFitnessPal religiously to track my macros to make sure my Macros are on point. Also since muscle gain is so important, I have to make sure my body is getting enough calories so I'm not in a deficit. None of this would be possible with MFP.


Anyways, just wanted to say hello and hopefully meet some new people.


Below are my photos. I do photography, professionally on the side. Mainly weddings and senior portraits.

Before and After


Trying to be a fitness model


Close up of the After



-Sean

mariannekehl

Wow! You look great! Keep up the good work!

ajgordo150

Good job keep doing what you doing

ffbrown25

Very impressive - and the new tattoos look great!

paddles34

Who do you love

plushieboo

Wow you look great!! Keep up the good work!

sscarmack

mariannekehl wrote: »

Wow! You look great! Keep up the good work!

Thank you! A lot of hard work and dedication has been put into my journey.

ajgordo150 wrote: »

Good job keep doing what you doing

Thats the plan. Put in the hard work, and it will eventually pay off

ffbrown25 wrote: »

Very impressive - and the new tattoos look great!

Thank you I'd like more one day, but priorities trump my funds lol

paddles34 wrote: »

Who do you love

I'm a lover not a fighter

plushieboo wrote: »

Wow you look great!! Keep up the good work!

Thank you very much

Serenajeans

Amazing! Thank you for sharing your story.

zyxst

Great job and nice ink.

auddii

Fantastic progress. And now I wish I knew more about lighting; your progress photos are way better than the ones I take in my closet mirror...

sscarmack

Serenajeans wrote: »

Amazing! Thank you for sharing your story.

Thank you for reading

zyxst wrote: »

How you doin'?
Great job and nice ink.

Haha I love that photo Thank you.

auddii wrote: »

Fantastic progress. And now I wish I knew more about lighting; your progress photos are way better than the ones I take in my closet mirror...

Lighting is definitely tricky. When trying to emphasize ones body, especially muscles you need to know a little about lighting and how it affects shapes, sizes, texture, etc.

For these photos, I focused more on a harsh light set up, closer to my body.

A harsher light creates harder shadows and a brighter highlight. Creating a more 3D look and feel.

You can't achieve that 'defined' look, without shadows.

So some pointers, use "side lighting" or "off axis lighting", you don't want the light coming straight at you, this will make your photo appear flat or dull. By pushing the light to the side, you create the 3D affect.

Think of a round ball. When its on the side, half the ball is lit, while the other half is in the shadow. The closer you bring the light to the ball, the harder the shadow gets.

Check out this youtube video that briefly goes into what I'm saying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QffOw8FNLKM

Any questions, just let me know

caroldavison332

I'm looking for a photographer for my after photo for a fitness contest I'm in near Annapolis, MD. Of course, considering how AWFUL I look in the before contest, anything would be a winner. Any advice? Can a regular only photographer snap me? What should a pear shaped woman wear? I found 2 maryilyn monroe 1950 era bathing suits. What is your advice? Thanks.

jodybo2

Amazing! You have me wondering what I would look like if I did a bulk. Probably should! Great progress there!

sscarmack

caroldavison332 wrote: »

I'm looking for a photographer for my after photo for a fitness contest I'm in near Annapolis, MD. Of course, considering how AWFUL I look in the before contest, anything would be a winner. Any advice? Can a regular only photographer snap me? What should a pear shaped woman wear? I found 2 maryilyn monroe 1950 era bathing suits. What is your advice? Thanks.

Another great video, just shows the different lighting can make

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt1eG1g9vNY

I would definitely suggest going to a photographer who understands lighting and especially "sport lighting" or "action lighting".

You're not going to want to go to someone who specializes in photographing infants haha. Two completely opposites approaches.

Depending on your skin tone, color, texture, you don't want to wear anything that will hurt you. What I mean by that is this. If you pale skin, you don't want to wear black. If your darker, you don't want to wear white. Too much contrast between the two will hurt you. Looks bad in photos.

I like sticking with neutral colors light, blues, greens, reds, purples.

Yellow is usually too bright, same with pink (unless its a darker pink).

And as far as a bathing suit goes, whatever you feel comfortable in. I looked up the Marilyn Monroe 1950 suits and I think that would be great. Just be careful with the colors you choose.

And of course once you find a local photographer, I'm sure they will be more than willing to help you out.

boxfish100

Super progress.

sscarmack

jodybo2 wrote: »

Amazing! You have me wondering what I would look like if I did a bulk. Probably should! Great progress there!

From your photos, you are well on your way. While I have packed on a lot of weight, you have to be extremely careful you're packing on the "right weight". I've stayed a steady 10% body fat and thats my goal. I don't want to sacrifice my body fat just to "get big".

I don't think it would hurt anyone to add muscle to their frame. Just be smart about it

sscarmack

boxfish100 wrote: »

Super progress.

Thank you BF

jennmpantoja

Wow!! Amazing progress!

sscarmack

jennmpantoja wrote: »

Wow!! Amazing progress!

Thanks Jenn

showmanmd

zyxst wrote: »

Great job and nice ink.

I 2nd this

Kickass Job!!

rebeccaEsmith

Wow congrats you look great!

greenstar25

This is one hot body you're having now! Congratulations ;-)

Karen_can_do_this

Wowee you look incredible! Congratulations

sscarmack

Thanks everyone

Nice to hear such positive comments, rather than my usual "You work out too much" or other bs. Some people just don't understand 'life style'.

BeatriceCroacia

how did you put on 'healthy' weight without increasing bf? I suppose you increased calorie intake with extra gym but I just want to make sure of that
And woooow you without the shirt - illegal

zoeysasha37

Great job. The after pic looks amazing! You should be very proud of yourself!!
My parents are photographers also ( my family held the contract for photography for the ms america pageants for almost 20 yrs. Including the Ariel coverage of the parade) so early on in life, I was interested in photography also . but never got into it as a profession .
Anyway, good job, you look fantastic!

sscarmack

BeatriceCroacia wrote: »

how did you put on 'healthy' weight without increasing bf? I suppose you increased calorie intake with extra gym but I just want to make sure of that
And woooow you without the shirt - illegal

I still eat Donuts, Oreos, Ice cream, Pizza, and don't get me started on Peanut Butter

I track my macros religiously. As Long as my fats never get above 30% I'm good.

I'm around 2,750 calories a day now. Some days I'll go over (3,200) and others I don't even get close (1,850). As long as at the end of the week my calories are on point as are my macros, I don't care what I eat.

Its harder to eat healthy (chicken) and hit your calories goals, as a chicken breast is usually only 120 calories. Some days I eat up to four breasts a day, seriously.

I mix up steak and lean beaf in there once a week, maybe twice.

My go to side is broccoli. Sometimes I eat a whole bag by myself in one sitting (3 1/2 servings).

I also try to drink at least 1 gallon of water daily, 1.5 recommended.


Okay, I'm rambling now. Lets see if I can sum it up.

Watch your macros, 50/30/20 (C/P/F) is my goal. But it usually ends up around (55/20/25).

I don't do any cardio, as I'm trying to put on as much mass as possible.

I workout 5-6 days a week and I'm on a 10 week program.

1-2 weeks - Light weight, high rep. (10-15 reps)
3-4 weeks - Supersets and drop sets
5-6 weeks - High weight, low reps (4-6 reps)
7-8 weeks - Light weight, high reps until failure.
9 week - light recovery week, super light weights.
10 week - Max out (one rep, don't forget to warm up)

Of course this isn't exact science and it can change depending how my body feels.

I split up body parts by day
Monday - Chest/Tr
Tuesday - Back/Bi
Wednesday - Legs
Thursday - Arms
Friday - Chest
Saturday - Legs
Sunday - Rest

Just because this works for me, does not mean it will work for everyone.

My goal is to pack on as much mass as possible.

If you have any questions just let me know.

thorsmom01 wrote: »

Great job. The after pic looks amazing! You should be very proud of yourself!!
My parents are photographers also ( my family held the contract for photography for the ms america pageants for almost 20 yrs. Including the Ariel coverage of the parade) so early on in life, I was interested in photography also . but never got into it as a profession .
Anyway, good job, you look fantastic!

Thats awesome about your parents! Thats high profile job, I don't think I could handle that stress lol. Its just something I have a passion for and if I make a few extra bucks doing it, I'm good But it is started to grow, word of mouth is a powerful thing. I don't advertise or anything and I average 8-10 weddings a year.

Thank you for the kind words

BeatriceCroacia

Thank you for your reply. You helped me a lot. I've been working out for more than year and half really hard. I see progress but what you did in less than a year is impressive. I might steal your plan haha thanks again

sscarmack

BeatriceCroacia wrote: »

Thank you for your reply. You helped me a lot. I've been working out for more than year and half really hard. I see progress but what you did in less than a year is impressive. I might steal your plan haha thanks again

Eating big + Lifting heavy = Growth (Bro science)

Apps, apps, apps.

MFP (Obviously)
BodySpace (Which is bodybuilding.com) I live by this site. Has helped me out tremendously.
FitBit (Track my steps, any others)

I highly recommend bb.com to anyone who is into fitness. They have programs for just about everything, losing fat, building muscle, male, female, beginner, advanced. Its crazy.

Watch_Me_Rise

Wow you look great!

ldtamika31

Wow your hot