Coming into this shoot I was actually a bit concerned that the studio was not going to have enough natural light. And while I’m not adverse to lighting a room when I need to, I loved the organic look of the Body Lab and to my eye light the space with strobes kills this vibe.

I know, light it’s all we photog’s think about and while I’m not a light-snob per-say I do have my preferences.

For the Lulu shoot’s I’m partial to keeping things au-natural and using strobes as kickers (having natural light be my primary light source and using studio flashes for specific tasks).

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To get these shots I setup two lights. A “backlight” to create separation between Adam and the busyness of the background. This light also added some much needed depth to the scene by carrying the light all the way to the back of the room.

To help get the correct exposure on Adam I had to give the light reflecting in from outside the studio a little push and setup a Profoto ProGlobe just off camera on my right.

The ProGlobe was made for situations like this. It soft and even light that bounces all over the place, just like the light reflecting in from the outside — If you look closely you can see actually see the ProGlobe firing in some of the photos but gets lost in the highlights of the sun.

Anyways, I highly recommend the ProGlobe if you need to give ambient light a push. Plus it makes a great catchlight and gave the pics just the pop I was looking for.

MY GEAR

CAMERA: Canon EOS-1D X
LENS: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
STROBES: Profoto Acute2 (2)
POWER SOURCE: Profoto Acute2 1200 (2)
ACCESSORIES: Profoto ProGlobe

Graceful and precise with an easy smile and a twinkle in his eyes, Adam makes the difficult appear routine, his practice perfected though countless reps and years of conditioning.

A native Hawaiian with Korean heritage Adam traveled the Pacific Rim as a child in a military family. Finally settling in southern Arizona he completed his undergraduate studies in Tucson before relocating to the Phoenix area to complete his MBA. Adam spends his time as a lifestyle motivator, health and wellness is his tool to help people accomplish individualized goals. Physically, mentally and emotionally, Adam wants every person he meets to bring their world into perspective on their own terms.

Adam Maielau is Lululemon Pilates Ambassador, the Lead Instructor at The Body Lab and partner at UltraFit Systems.

The Body Lab’s Arcadia location is one of the most picturesque studios in town, open and airy with 30ft high ceilings and a window-framed frontway it’s an ideal setting for workouts.

The Body Lab pilates+ offers “an innovative workout specifically designed to strengthen, tighten, and tone the body quickly and safely. A unique fusion of pilates, cardio, and strength training, the workout is largely based on the holistic principles of Pilates, but also emphasizes the strength training and cardio elements not inherent to Pilates to achieve muscle definition faster than traditional Pilates and/or weight training alone.”

On the day of the shoot I arrived at SuTRA Midtown about an hour before Meagan and began setting up. I had scouted the studio earlier in the week and decided on a two-light setup to work with the great natural light streaming in from the windows.

Well it didn’t take long before I realized my plan was not going to work — Coming into the shoot I had envisioned a dark mood with controlled light to compliment SuTRA Midtown’s look and feel. What I had was light reflecting off the mirrors and bouncing all over the place. Moreover, one of the lights was visible in the mirror regardless of the angle I was shooting from,

To say I was back to the drawing board when Meagan arrived would be an accurate statement. Instead of forcing a fit did a complete reset and rebuilt the scene from scratch using the window light as my foundation.

 

I positioned Meagan near the center window and asked her to work through a mini-flow alternating between the ballet bar on the wall and her mat on the floor. As she worked through her routine I worked my way around the room testing out various angles and settings. On a whim I turned the strobe and fired it into the wall opposite the windows.

There’s a moment at every shoot when I get the chills (well at least that’s the goal). A moment when the light hits just right or when a small tweak makes all the difference. A moment when all of the pieces fall into place and my vision for the shoot becomes a reality. These are the moments that drive me and I could not be any happier with the photo Lululemon selected.

*see the #photogeekery section for more on how I got this shot.

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I’m constantly amazed by light and how it moves, how it shapes and sets the mood.

For the photo selected by Lululemon, I had a single strobe with a snoot and 10degree grid attached. To help diffuse the light I shot into a wall opposite from the windows.

This combination gave me just enough light to add interest and definition to the image without overpowering the great natural highlights of the afternoon sun.

Born and raised in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, Meagan began her yoga journey in 2003. Initially introduced to Hatha yoga, her practice evolved as she discovered a variety of styles, techniques, and music as well as world-renowned instructors that nourished and fueled her desire. Known for her natural energy and incorporating a spirit and liveliness into her sequencing and vocalization; Meagan’s classes are upbeat and full of vigor.

Open and airy with an intimate feel, SuTRA Midtown’s interior melds pops of color with dark spaces and exposed ductwork. Handcrafted steel doors are grounded by custom floors, classrooms with porthole-style windows and intimate lighting are seemingly discovered through a series of twists and turns via hallways lined with recycled brick and artwork; from the perspective of a yogi attending class, these design attributes lend themselves perfectly to the studio’s unique classes and offerings.

Located in the heart of Phoenix’s Midtown Artist District, SuTRA Midtown was inspired by owners Matthew and Rebecca Fritz passions for healthy nutrition, massage therapy, coffee, yoga, pilates, prenatal health, local art and live music.

Sage Grossi, Lululemon run Ambassador in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

Sage Grossi is a veteran triathlete, world champion in the sport of Xterra and the founder of Sage Sports, a specialty sports event coordinating and consulting company.

With roots dating back to high school track, Sage Grossi has been a long time runner and outdoor aficionado. Nowadays you will likely find her on a trail sporting the latest LuLu gear or working an event for the likes of PF Chang’s Marathon. Sage owns her own event consulting business and runs whenever she gets a chance with a personal best of 1:36 for a half and a sub 42 min 10k.

Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve is like no other place in the Valley. Unique geologically and home to lush cacti forests and diverse wildlife, the preserve features award-winning trails and facilities stretched across it’s 21,400 scenic acres in Scottsdale, Arizona.