Your 1st yoga photo shoot
Getting your first photos done as a new yoga teacher is a big step and can help you build your profile and career, but it can be daunting too. OM talked to yoga fan and photographer Leah Whitty about what to expect from your first photo shoot
Reading time: 6-7 minutes
Meet yoga photographer Leah Whitty. As well as being a professional photographer, she’s also mad about yoga and has even developed her own yoga mat brand. OM caught up with her to find out more and look at how yoga teachers can prepare for their first photo shoot.
What sparked your interest in yoga?
My oldest sister introduced me to yoga around 10 years ago and I'm so grateful for that. The pace was slow and I found the ethos and movement to be very intuitive; I wanted to learn more. I began to branch into other styles and found there was so much to love and grow into with yoga. It felt like each variation offered a different insight into my body and mind and I found so much benefit from a variety of classes, as well as meeting some incredibly inspiring teachers. I would say my favourite styles now range from vinyasa flows, hatha, yin and nidra but I have tried so many other classes as well. I always find elements that I benefit from including expansive, sunset and embodiment flows in stunning places like Nicaragua, Laos and Mexico.
Tell us a bit about your background as a photographer?
I studied Fashion Photography as I had a keen interest in making clothes and initially wanted to be a costume designer.
Ultimately, I began to enjoy documenting and capturing images of the garments I created and my love for photography grew from there. I began my career in a studio shooting still-life product photography for luxury brands such as Harrods and many others. I later found a love for travel photography across the countries I had been lucky enough to explore, which helped expand my creativity and visual aesthetic.
I then worked as a fashion model photographer for ASOS and worked with a diverse range of teams, meeting some great friends along the way. It was a lot of fun and really kept me on my toes as a photographer. I had to be adaptable, efficient and creative as I was required to bring high energy and variety to my work. I also love shooting beauty and cosmetics and tie in my love for aerial photography with abstract textures and drone shots too.
One day, I attended a local yoga class and brought one of my yoga mats along with me, which featured an abstract landscape image from an aerial view I had photographed over the outback in Australia. The teacher complimented my yoga mat and I proceeded to tell her all about my small business. She admired my work and was keen to hire me to capture photographs for her yoga marketing. This initial collaboration opened doors to a network of yoga professionals seeking all kinds of visual content.
Why is professional photography important to a yoga teacher?
Representing who you are and what you do is an important part of showcasing your services, in this case, as a yoga teacher. I find visuals super important as they get across your personality, your vibe and what you’re great at. I apply my skills in photography to work in unison with the yoga teacher to portray that person in the best light possible. It's very much a creative and collaborative process.
What do you think makes a great yoga photo?
One that illustrates the yoga teacher’s style of yoga, what they deliver in a class and their unique characteristics in order to showcase who they are and to hopefully connect them to the best-suited students to join their classes and be inspired.
What would you say to someone who’s nervous about getting a photo shoot done for the first time?
Every person has a first photoshoot and often it can feel overwhelming but it is my job to help my client feel comfortable, at ease, and most importantly, have fun! I am used to working with a huge range of subject matters. Whether for a fashion shoot, children or even animals! After 11 years as a pro photographer it’s my priority to make sure the shoot is an experience that feels tailored to the person I am photographing and as authentic as possible — this ultimately creates the best results. I often have recurring clients saying how surprised at how much fun they had, which I think is testament to giving it a go.
Any funny stories or great memories from past photo shoots?
Some of my favourite memories in my job are from photographing yoga retreats. Of course they provide the most stunning backdrops for photographs and there's really no end to beautiful photo ops! Shooting in India at a remote retreat in Goa with two teachers and a great group was a fond memory as well as other retreats in Greece and Spain. I get to meet so many lovely and like-minded people, it's an added bonus to make friends whilst I work!
The teachers and retreat goers are often feeling revitalised and in full retreat joy which makes my job good fun. A few months ago, I shot a yoga retreat in Bali and I also like to shoot some drone shots on location. We set up for a nourishing yin class at the top of the mountain on this incredible platform looking out to the amazing volcanoes and the sea at sunset. As I started to fly the drone, adjusting my composition to capture the yoga, mountains and sunset, a large and very distracting arrangement of bright flowers in a heart shape caught my attention. As I zoomed in, I noticed it was set-up for a romantic candlelit dinner for two! It wasn't exactly part of the plan to get it in shot but it actually added a nice touch to the image, which the teacher really liked! Sometimes these unplanned elements can be a welcome surprise!
Anything else people should know about a professional yoga shoot?
It tends to work best to shoot in a yoga studio the teacher is already familiar with. This helps provide comfort and gives space for different setups, but I can deliver shoots on location too. I am flexible generally on location and love to collaborate creatively to come up with fun and interesting ideas. Some clients also like to have support with hair and make-up which can be arranged too.
I aim to be as open and approachable as possible so there's no such thing as silly questions! I offer a few different options in a package. I find that a half-day shoot gives the best opportunity to ease into it but we can also achieve a lot with a shorter two-hour package which provides time for a couple of outfit/vibe changes. I like to include as much as I can during a session, whether a teacher likes certain yoga styles or props, needs a headshot for a studio, or offers other services such as nutrition or mentoring. I can amalgamate these elements into a shoot to give the best variety and portray the teacher’s work as well as possible.
Lastly, what led you to create a yoga mat brand of your own?
Throughout my career and as a creative I am always on the lookout for ways to incorporate my interests together. One morning during the dark days of covid times, I woke up bolt upright with the idea to design eco-friendly yoga mats using prints from images I had taken on my travels. This felt authentic to my core passions of photography, yoga, travel and being conscious of our planet. That morning, I came up with 12 designs that I shared with close friends and family, ultimately resulting in six yoga mats all under my brand ‘Palms In The Wild’. I loved the process of learning how to run a small business and creatively coming up with ideas for it. My twin sister Maddy is a graphic designer and played a key part in helping me develop the brand and I got lots of help from close friends to spread the word.
Find out more about Leah Whitty and her work at: leahwhitty.com or connect with her on Instagram @leahwhitty @palmsinthewild
All photos: Leah Whitty
Om Magazine
First published in November 2009, OM Yoga magazine has become the most popular yoga title in the UK. Available from all major supermarkets, independents and newsstands across the UK. Also available on all digital platforms.
