Lighting the Athletic Form with James Patrick

Athletic photography is far more than portrait photography with abs.

It requires intention, control, and precision lighting that sculpts rather than flatters. The difference between a snapshot and a cover image is understanding how light defines form.

In this class, we'll break down how to light professional athletes, fitness competitors, and magazine cover talent to create images that feel powerful, dimensional, and commercially viable. You’ll learn how to shape the body with light, how to emphasize muscle separation and symmetry, and how to avoid the flat, muddy lighting that kills athletic imagery.

We will cover studio setups that can scale from a simple two-light configuration to more advanced multi-light designs. I will also show how these principles translate to sports teams and high-volume athletic photography, opening new revenue channels for photographers who want to expand beyond traditional portrait work.

This is not about copying a lighting diagram. It’s about understanding why the light works and how to adapt it to different body types, sports, and creative briefs.

This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with James Patrick.

What You'll Learn

• Light and sculpt the athletic body to emphasize muscle tone, symmetry, and power
• Design dynamic athletic portraits that look commercial and editorial-ready
• Build lighting setups that work in the studio and adapt on location
• Direct athletes confidently to capture strength, motion, and intensity
• Create a portfolio that attracts sports, fitness, and commercial clients

Who It's For

• Photographers who want to break into fitness, sports, or commercial athletic work
• High volume and school photographers looking to add dynamic sports offerings
• Intermediate photographers who want to elevate their creative lighting abilities
• Creators who want to produce stronger, more marketable portfolio images

How to Join

• The class will be delivered via Zoom-style live sessions.
• To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited.
• A unique Zoom join link will be sent to those registered prior to the class date.

About the Instructor

James Patrick is a commercial photographer and media strategist based in Phoenix, Arizona. He has photographed more than 800 magazine covers in the health, fitness, and wellness industries and is the founder of The Hive Studios.

His clients have included Sports Illustrated, Muscle & Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Golf Magazine, Shape Magazine, Women’s Running, Gildan, eBay, LionsGate Films, and more.

James is the author of Fit Business Guide and Fit Business Online, and has built a career helping creatives elevate their craft while building commercially viable brands. His work has been featured internationally, and he specializes in creating images that do more than look good. They sell.