pleasure to shoot for Muscle & Performance Magazine and as if that wasn’t enough… The photographer that I worked with was none other than www.Men’sPhysique.com Contributor Robert Reiff! To say I was excited to fly out to Cali and shoot for a magazine that distributes 100’s of thousands of copies would be an UNDERSTATMENT and then to find out that I would be working with one of the Top Photographers ever in the industry, well that just blew the lid off of my excitement level! Let me tell you about my experience On Set With One Of The Best!
I arrived about 30 minutes early to MagicLight Studio; Partly because I wasn’t familiar with the area and mostly because I was so excited that I couldn’t wait to be there! The studio was easy to find and right near a major Freeway in Marina Del Rey, which made things super easy! As my Girlfriend and I gathered my things and walked in, we were greeted by Robert’s Assistant and shown around. We were told to make ourselves comfortable and relax a bit, which is always very difficult for me :) We got my stuff all situated in the dressing room and headed back out to the studio, this time we were greeted by Alex, the Publicist/Art Director for Muscle & Performance and his Assistant! Right from the get go of meeting Alex, it was apparent that he was a really cool guy and that this was going to be a great experience! We went back and checked out my outfits and talked a bit about how the day would go, he showed me the Shoot Sheet for the day and explained that it was for an upcoming article on “The Perfect Supplement Day,” something that I was very familiar with! We had around 20 shots to do and I was told that the majority of the time would be setting up each shot and lighting! Shortly after Robert came out from getting prepared in his office and I was introduced! Robert has been one of the Chief Fitness Photographers for the majority of the major magazines for the better part of 25 years, chances are you have seen his work 100’s if not 1,000’s of times; shoot, he was EVEN the Photographer for “Purple Rain” starring Prince! With all of this experience and essentially having earned the title of One Of The Best, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Robert was beyond friendly and easy to work with, he really has an eye for getting just what he wants and explaining it to the subject in a manner that is easy to understand! I just couldn’t believe how easy he was to work with, how meticulous he and Alex were in each shot was another very impressive aspect! I am beyond picky, so I pick up on many of the small things and let me tell you, these guys had their game dialed in!
They were correct in telling me that the majority of the time would be in the preparation, but we still spent a lot of time shooting! All in all I was there about 8 Hours, but it flew by! It was a blast for Aome and I to see what goes on behind the scenes and to get a genuine feel and appreciation for what these guys do! I made sure to over pack everything; from food to clothes! It is always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! Being prepared made it easy to enjoy the day and have a great time! It is also important to remember that a long Photo Shoot is really no different that a long workout! You are going to be using your muscles in a variety of new and repetitive positions all while burning a lot of calories! So, you need to come prepared with some light, easily digestible food! You don’t want to be bloated or full, but you do want to feel energetic and ready to go! Be prepared to pump up several times, this is where being a Physique Athlete is EASY! For the most part we are all in shape and on point at the drop of a hat, as well as being in phenomenal condition; this allows us to just have fun and enjoy the experience! If your Mind and Body are always ready, then you can just relax and have a blast!
After the Shoot was over and we called it “A Wrap,” we ordered some food to celebrate and talk a bit! Robert was kind enough to show me his office; this was crazy and a simple picture would never do it justice… There were literally 100’s of magazines all over that he had shot covers, articles, posters, stories… You name it and he has been there and done it and to think, these were only a fraction of his work! To have the opportunity to spend the day with a True Legend and get feedback, advice, and opinions from him really meant a lot to me and is something that I will never forget! It was something that was very difficult for me to express to him, but in the end a Thank You from the Bottom of My Heart was what I had!
It really is crazy how full circle life can be at times… You see as a kid, I actually grew up not far from where the studio was located and my Mom and I spent many hours on the boardwalk in Venice Beach; She’d Roller-Skate and I would be on my Scooter! I still to this day remember each time we went by Muscle Beach just how Inspired I was and how I knew someday that I wanted to Inspire others just as I had been! It truly is a Blessing to wake up each day and Live out My Life knowing that I am using my Gifts just how they were meant to be!
By Derek M. Trombetta
-Stay Strong; It’s more than Physical-
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