I try to follow at least a few blogs to keep myself connected to the photography world. I about died laughing about the truthfulness of this latest article by Dana Suggs. I try to tell people that being a wedding photographer or even assisting at a wedding is WORK. Granted, it is fun and I would not trade it for the world but you do have to be in pretty decent shape to run around lugging equipment and scaling walls and such. (Side note: I think I have to climb on things more than most since I am only 5’2 on a good day if I S-T-R-E-T-C-H my neck really tall.) I have to laugh when I realize that the only people that I am ever taller than are the flower girl and ring bearer!

At any rate…..thanks Dana for the breakdown of the workout! I have included one shot of me “crab walking” at work for good measure.

The Photographer’s Workout

Posted: 31 May 2011 09:22 PM PDT

I had a Photo shoot workout with a friend and fellow photographer, and after I could barely move the next day, I realized I may have stumbled upon something. Yes, I’m gonna patent it, back off.Eat your heart out zumba, I’m finally gonna be rich!!

Let me introduce you to the

The Photographer’s Workout!

Crunches

This entails laying on either your back or side to get that perfect angle! Lift your upper body (and that 100 lb camera) 90 degrees off of the ground. Repeat 10 shots reps. All photographers will have rock hard abs in no time!

Crab Walk

This is especially effective while chasing babies and toddlers, or staying out of view during weddings. This must not be done too many times…..or your body may indeed stick like this.

Weightlifting

Here we have our models demonstrating the different weights available; newborns or teddy bears. Remember, as with all workouts, please consult your doctor to ensure you are in proper physical health to lift weights. Do not try to lift the toddler boy  your first time doing this workout. They are made of rocks

Toe touches

Without actually ever touching your toes.   I’m not even sure I could reach my toes.   Wait, I’m not sure I can even see my toes… do my shoes match?

These can be done in various forms: reaching out to your client, or held for 30 minutes over a sleeping baby in a basket. Both are quite effective in toning your core.

The Walk

Whether with attitude, chasing a runaway baby, or stalking a wedding party, this promises to leave you winded…..and possibly prostrate on the floor in an asthma attack. Wait…maybe that’s just me. Why aren’t I thin?

The Rock Climber

Or hood of a truck….or chair in a field….or 7ft ladder…….or the family bed….or quite literally ROCKS.

Find whatever it takes to get that perfect angle and climb aboard! Notify those around you that if you fall, they are to catch THE CAMERA. CATCH THE CAMERA! I do not recommend doing these after the Crab Walk or The Walk.

Mirroring

These are great for instructing your client how exactly you would like them to pose……or possibly making them do incredibly silly things all for a laugh later with your other photographer friends. Tone those abs, stretch that back, strengthen that core while you laugh hysterically regaling the tale of the shoot! What happens with photography friends, stays with photography friends.

And of course, as with every workout, we must end with the

Cool Down

Never forget the cool down. Ever.

And now that I have successfully “patented” The Photographer’s Workout, I will be going on my book  tour autographing my best selling weight loss book:

The Photographer’s Diet

The Photographer’s Diet is limited to:

1. Bottled water warm from sitting in the car while you are out on your photo shoot Photographer’s Work Out.
2. Granola bar 6 months past the expiration date because you had the forethought 2 years ago to drop it in your camera bag.
3. Handful of nuts you snuck from the wedding reception table. Don’t tell about the fingerprint in the wedding cake icing.
4. Fruit moldy and dry from being left in your camera bag 2 weeks ago. Call it “dried fruit” and all the naturalists will buy it!
5. Candy….mainly chocolate, used after an especially stressful family shoot of 4 children, an inattentive dad, and a screaming mom. This should be taken in high doses.
6. Sonic Happy Hour. {sigh} They have 398,929 different drink combinations. No, really! They do! Diet cranberry limeade. YUMMMM-O!

LAUGH ON!   And, always be kind to others!

PS.  A SPECIAL thank you to Arden Prucha and Mia Coelho for letting me use their behind the scenes photos of their photo shoots!

Dana Suggs is an I Heart Faces Contributor and the owner of Dana Suggs Photography.  She loves to blog about her beautiful family and welcomes everyone to follow her on her Facebook Fan Page as well.