Bright, Natural Fitness Photography for Active Brands

Real Smiles, Real Sweat: Fitness Photography with a Bright Vibe

Not every fitness shoot has to be gritty and intense. Sometimes, what a brand really needs is a visual story that feels approachable, fresh, and full of life.

This blog post is a little collection of recent fitness images that lean into that lighter side—bright colors, natural light, real smiles, and real movement. These sessions are all about capturing people who genuinely love being active, whether that’s a high-energy group workout in the park or a personal trainer laughing between sets with a client.

Most of these images were shot using natural light and strobes to feel natural but polished, and I focused on letting moments unfold rather than forcing poses. When the energy is right, you don't need to fake anything. Real interaction and movement always look better than anything staged.

Whether you're a fitness brand looking to launch your next campaign, a local Denver trainer updating your website, or a gym owner who wants to show the personality behind the brand—this is the kind of work that speaks to people.

Bright. Positive. Real.

If your brand leans toward the uplifting, inclusive, and empowering side of fitness, I’d love to help tell that story with visuals that feel like your community.

Let’s make something that feels good - rob@robhammerphotography.com


Fitness Photographer for Wellness Brands

Authentic Campaign Photography for Health, Fitness & Supplement Brands

Some shoots stick with you—and this one definitely did.

This project was created for GNC, shot at Unbreakable Performance Center in Los Angeles. The goal was to create strong, authentic visual content that aligned with GNC’s mission: fueling strength, inside and out. The story behind the people in front of the camera made that mission come to life in a powerful way.

One of the athletes featured was Kirstie Ennis, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, amputee, and all-around badass. She's an adaptive athlete, mountaineer, and motivational speaker—and someone whose presence in front of the camera is both powerful and humbling. She doesn’t just show strength—she redefines it.

Alongside her was Jay Glazer, founder of Unbreakable and a force in both the sports and wellness worlds. His gym is home to elite athletes, fighters, and celebrities—but more than that, it’s a space that’s all about building both physical and mental toughness.

For this shoot, I focused on clean, brand-forward imagery with impact. We used Unbreakable’s raw and gritty environment as a backdrop, while keeping the lighting and compositions sharp and intentional. The visuals had to reflect real movement, real muscle, and real power—because that’s what the brand (and these subjects) are all about.

If you're a nutrition or wellness brand looking for visuals that feel grounded in real people, real athletes, and real stories—I’d love to talk. Whether your shoot calls for high-performance energy or quiet strength, I bring the same mix of professionalism, collaboration, and grit to every project.

Click here to see more of my athlete photos.

Denver Weight Lifting Photography

Weight Lifting Photographer

Denver, Colorado

There’s something different about the weight room. It’s not just about aesthetics or content—it's about work. Heavy, consistent, no-shortcuts kind of work.

If you’re a lifter in Denver—whether you’re training for competition, coaching clients, or just chasing personal records—you deserve more than a phone pic with a preset filter. You deserve photos that match the intensity and focus you bring to every session.

That’s where I come in.

I photograph weightlifters, powerlifters, bodybuilders, and strength coaches in real gyms across Denver. My style leans dark, gritty, and cinematic. Studio strobes let me control every shadow and highlight when the need arises—so your physique, your movement, your grind gets the attention it deserves.

We’re not faking anything here. These aren’t staged “fitspo” photos. I shoot during real sessions, with real plates, real sweat, and real intensity.

Whether you’re pressing overhead, deadlifting heavy, or just getting zoned in before a big lift—I’ll capture the moments that feel like you. The ones that say: this is who I am when the weight hits the floor.

You don’t have to be an influencer or pro athlete to get photographed. If the gym is your second home, and lifting is your thing, that’s enough.

Scroll through some of my weightlifting images below. And if you’re ready to create something that feels like it belongs on a gym wall or in a training journal—reach out. I’d love to photograph your strength - rob@robhammerphotography.com

Click HERE for more of my fitness photography.

Denver weight lifting photography

Denver body building photographer

Body builder doing bent over rows at a gym in Denver

Photograph of an old bench press

Photograph of an old bench press at an outdoor gym

Black and white body building photographer

Black and white photograph of an athlete doing shoulder exercises at a gym in Denver

Black and white photograph of a body builder working on a lat machine at a gym in Denver

Photograph of a tattooed athlete working out at a gym

Black and white fitness photography

Black and white gym photography

Black and white photograph of a male athlete working out with battle ropes at a gym

Battle rope workout

Photograph of a fitness model with back tattoos

Body builder with back tattoos

Photograph of a weight lifter cringing after a workout

Weight lifter cringing after a workout


Outdoor Fitness Photography for Athletic Brands: New Balance Track Campaign

Real Athletes. Real Action. Campaign-Level Sports Photography for New Balance

When New Balance reached out to collaborate on a campaign shoot in Los Angeles, the goal was clear: showcase their latest gear—sneakers, track pants, shirts, and shorts—on real athletes, in motion, in the environment where performance matters most.

We shot on location at an outdoor track and surrounding areas, using only natural light to create a clean, authentic feel. The athletes? Professional sprinters and runners, each one bringing real intensity and movement to the images. The result: visuals that feel powerful, vibrant, and honest—perfectly aligned with the New Balance brand.

The images were used across all platforms, from social media and web to digital ads and print. It was a collaborative process from the start, with clear art direction from the New Balance team and a shared focus on delivering visual content that felt both elevated and real.

This is the kind of work I love—translating performance and athletic identity into commercial imagery that brands can actually use to connect with their audience.

If you're a brand looking for high-impact, athlete-driven visuals—let’s talk. Whether you're launching a new product or building out a full campaign, I bring the same attention to detail, collaboration, and creative consistency that brands like New Balance rely on.

Click here to see more of my athlete imagery.

Aaron Straker - Nutrition Coach

Aaron Straker - Fitness Photography

My travels have taught me a lot of things about how to live and not to live. It’s all personal opinion of course, but one thing I’ve become very passionate about is living your own life. One that makes you happy. And it always makes me upset seeing people spend their whole lives working a job that they hate. I don’t understand it at all. My buddy Aaron Straker (below images) is doing the opposite of that. For the past 8-ish years he’s been working for a company in San Diego as a senior software engineer. A job that he probably liked ok, but it’s certainly not what he loves to do. Well, last month he quit that job to focus full time on nutrition, and very soon he and his girlfriend (also a nutritionist) are moving to Vietnam to start their own business over there. At some point they will move back to the states, at which point they plan on pimping out a sprinter van and literally taking their show on the road. These type of decisions are ones that 99% of people can make but never do. I applaud him for it and hope that his decisions inspire other people to do something with their own lives.

Follow him on Instagram @aaron_straker and his girlfriend @jennythenutritionist

Click here to see more of my fitness photography

Colorado Fitness Photographer

Health and Fitness Lifestyle Photography

Denver, Colorado

Been a long time since I’ve posted some commercial work, but here are a couple outtakes from a shoot I did for UK based fitness apparel company Gym Shark. They make really nice stuff and gave me a lot of freedom to shoot pretty much on my own, which I always love. The athlete just did his thing and I did mine. No real staging of any kind. Good times.

To see more of my fitness images click HERE.


Denver Crossfit Photography

Denver, Colorado Crossfit Photographs

Black and White

More experiments with sweat. As always, just looking for those different angles.

To see more of my CrossFit/Fitness images click here.

Boulder, CO Fitness Photography

Boulder Fitness Photo Shoot

There is always a particular itch that is scratched when I shoot fitness like this. Unrehearsed real workouts. Nothing staged. Just as a fly on the wall waiting for things to unfold. While looking at these images months after the shoot I realized that neither of them was sweating, which is very strange. Then I realized how hot and dry it was that day and that their sweat was just instantly evaporating. They didn’t complain.

If you’re in looking for a fitness photographer in Boulder, Colorado, please feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to discuss your ideas and goals - rob@robhammerphotography.com

To see more of my fitness images click here.

CrossFit - Denver, CO

CrossFit Photography - Denver, Colorado

Photographing CrossFit athletes in Denver is an exhilarating challenge that combines technical skill with artistic vision. It’s about more than just capturing movement; it’s about telling the story of resilience, effort, and achievement. Whether you’re shooting in a gritty gym or against the vibrant Denver skyline, every image is about freezing powerful, fleeting moments that embody the spirit of the sport. From the explosive power of a box jump to the intensity in an athlete’s eyes as they push through a personal record, every frame tells a story.

Click HERE for more fitness photography

Gym Photographer - Denver, Colorado

Own Your Grind: Gym Photography in Denver for Trainers, Influencers & Serious Lifters

If you spend hours a week in the gym chasing progress, setting goals, and pushing your limits—you deserve photos that show that story. Not the posed, overly polished kind. Real ones. The kind that reflect the grit, the sweat, and the hard-earned strength that lives under the surface.

That’s what I shoot.

I work with personal trainers, fitness influencers, and gym-goers here in Denver who want to level up their presence with powerful, cinematic gym photography. Whether you're building your brand, launching a training program, or just want something that captures the intensity of your fitness journey, this is for you.

I shoot in both private and public gyms across the city and surrounding areas. The vibe? Think moody lighting, sharp contrast, and real action—photos that feel as intense as the workout itself. These aren’t stock-looking fitness pics. They’re personalized, badass, and built around you.

Each shoot is tailored to highlight what you do best—whether that’s heavy lifts, calisthenics, mobility work, or coaching your clients. I bring in studio strobes to control the lighting and create that bold, gritty look that cuts through the noise online.

You don’t need to be a model. You just need to show up and do your thing. I’ll take care of the rest. So scroll through and if the photographs speaks to you, let’s talk. I’d love to help you create something you’re proud to share - rob@robhammerphotography.com

Click here to see more of my fitness photography

Bold, Gritty Fitness Photography for Athletes and Gyms

Dark, Bold, and Powerful: Fitness Photography with Edge

Denver, Colorado

Not every fitness shoot needs to be light and sunny. Sometimes, what tells the real story is darkness. Sweat. Steel. The sound of a barbell hitting the floor.

This gallery is a look into the grittier side of my fitness photography—shot in Denver gyms, CrossFit boxes, and industrial spaces where intensity lives. These aren’t posed lifestyle images or clean studio headshots. These are raw, high-contrast photos that show real strength, real effort, and real people pushing themselves further than most ever will.

I use studio strobes to carve out contrast, shadows, and shape—so every image feels bold, sharp, and charged with energy. It's the kind of visual work that feels serious, because it is. Whether it's a personal trainer who wants to reflect the edge of their brand, or a gym that’s built its name on hustle, this style is about owning the grind.

That said, the process is always collaborative. I work closely with each client to create images that feel authentic—not staged. Every athlete, every coach, every gym owner I’ve worked with brings their own energy, and my job is to capture that energy in a way that aligns with their brand.

If you’re a Denver-based trainer, athlete, or gym looking for visuals that reflect the grit behind the work—you’re in the right place.

Let’s make something powerful.

CrossFit - Boulder, CO

CrossFit Photographer - Boulder, CO

When it comes to CrossFit, every rep, every lift, and every drop of sweat tells a story of dedication and grit. For CrossFit athletes in Boulder, Colorado, the gym is more than just a training ground; it’s a stage where personal bests are shattered and camaraderie thrives. Capturing these moments through photography not only celebrates the athlete’s journey but also highlights the raw beauty of strength and determination.

Nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder offers a unique blend of natural beauty and a fitness-focused community. The city boasts several top-tier CrossFit gyms, or "boxes," that cater to everyone from beginners to seasoned athletes. Gyms like CrossFit Sanitas, Roots, and Left Hand CrossFit are hubs of activity, attracting individuals committed to pushing their physical and mental boundaries.

This dynamic environment makes Boulder an ideal location for CrossFit photography. Whether it’s a sunrise workout in an open-air setting or an intense WOD (Workout of the Day) inside a gym, the opportunities for capturing striking visuals are endless.

Click here to see more of my fitness photography

Running in downtown San Diego

San Diego Health and Fitness Photography

Happy with what we got here, but things didn't start so hot. Our first location was the rear stairs of the San Diego Convention Center. So I got there early to set up, and got kicked out before we even got started. That always sucks, but I've learned when things like that happen, it pushes me harder, and I usually come out of the day with cool stuff. You just have to improvise, and Tara was great. The portraits were actually shot in a parking garage. Who needs a studio? 

Random fact: Tara and I share the same birthday. 

Shot on a Nikon D800e and lit with Broncolor strobes.