Strength training for pro photographers?

This may sound like a joke, but this is a serious question. Being used to my D200 and having held a D3s the other day, one of my first thoughts was that this piece is heavy!

If I was to carry this camera with pro glass mounted all day or even half a day, I guess my neck, shoulders and maybe even arms would hurt.

Do you pro photographers work out specifically to be able to carry your equipment? Do you have tips/tricks for ergonomics?

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Sven Hedlund
http://www.svenhedlund.se

Strength training is great for photographer. I do strength training at least 3 times a week. It really helps. You can hold heavy lens more steadier and for a longer period, definitely less blurry photos.

It makes you look fit and healthy too.

Sven Hedlund said:

This may sound like a joke, but this is a serious question. Being used to my D200 and having held a D3s the other day, one of my first thoughts was that this piece is heavy!

If I was to carry this camera with pro glass mounted all day or even half a day, I guess my neck, shoulders and maybe even arms would hurt.

Do you pro photographers work out specifically to be able to carry your equipment? Do you have tips/tricks for ergonomics?

--
Sven Hedlund
http://www.svenhedlund.se

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Hi Sven,

I don't do any strength training and i'm not a muscular type of person. Usually I carry a D3S and a D300 or D700 with 2 lenses and a camera bag with 1 or 2 lenses inside.

Sounds simple but I just got used to the weight over the years. Use of good straps and carrying the camera and bag in a right ergonomically way is probable more important for your body than to be muscular.

It does not mean i'm not tired at an end of a day photographing.

Michel

Sven Hedlund said:

This may sound like a joke, but this is a serious question. Being used to my D200 and having held a D3s the other day, one of my first thoughts was that this piece is heavy!

If I was to carry this camera with pro glass mounted all day or even half a day, I guess my neck, shoulders and maybe even arms would hurt.

Do you pro photographers work out specifically to be able to carry your equipment? Do you have tips/tricks for ergonomics?

--
Sven Hedlund
http://www.svenhedlund.se

Click to expand...

--

Disclaimer: Posts written by me are my views, ideas and opinions only, and should not be taken as facts, unless stated otherwise.

Light is everything

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I have shot weddings with a D3s strapped to my wrists, interchanging between a 24-70 and a 70-200II.

By the end, my wrist hurts a bit and my forearm hurts a bit.

I'm 6ft tall and fat, so the body is used to extra weight. The hand suffers a bit.

The end solution is a good strap. My salvation came in the form of an R-strap style strap. I can let the camera hang without issues, and it stays out of the way otherwise.

There are other straps as well that would do just as well (such as Spider Holster). Basically you would be well advised to pay more attention to ergonomics.

I think that strength training is vital to getting good photos. By that, I dont mean you need to be a record breaker at dead-lifting. If you have a D3s and a 70-200 on your shoulder, You will be uncomfortable unless you are an elephant!

I am 31 and have been working out since I was 12 years old. So I don't notice the weight too much. Most of my weddings and event are at least 6 hours floor time. I invested in a black rapid double strap this year. It has made a massive difference. I will carry as practice, D3s 24-70mm a D700 with 70-200mm and I will have an SB900 on my belt with 2 spares left in the bag.

I did a wedding last weekend and was on my feet for 9 hours. I didn't feel to bad by the end of the day.

If any of the exercise phobic are looking at gaining physical strength without getting a gym membership, basic exercises will help improve you longevity in any one given photo shoot. Its worth doing something.

The key body parts that you use are: Your core: Lower back and Abs, your legs and your arms. I bet that if someone was getting tired taking photos over periods of time, that a very simple exercise plan would make a huge difference.

Try this if its you, (if you are medically fit)

Sit-ups 3 sets of 20 reps

Lower back raises 3 Sets of 15 (lie on your belly on the floor, put your hands behind your head and lift your head slowly of the floor extending you chin away from the floor.

Lungs 3 sets of 15 reps. Stand static, step forward with one leg to create a 90 degree angle,
Squats 3 sets of 15
and lastly bicep curls with a couple of bags a sugar.

All free and all without weights. You will notice a difference if you don't exercise regularly.

--
http://www.iweddingz.co.uk/

To be honest, it's just something you get used to if you carry gear around long enough. I don't even think about it with my primary equipment at all.

For me, my legs and feet usually gets tired long before my arms, hands, or shoulders ever does. As others has suggested, using a good strap (and wear technique) is very important. And also to just exercise the limbs you'd use. One easy way to do that is to do some all-day carrying around of gear and shooting.

The traditional way of carrying cameras with a neck strap is probably the worst way of doing it for weight distribution reasons and also increases risk of damage. There are other and much better ways of carrying gear.

Sven, not a pro but shoot with heavy gear. Straps and bags make a big difference for me. ThinkTank holsters with the weight on my hips works when I am not worried what I look like. Black Rapid strap is another way to carry the D3s , 70-200vr and carrying/shooting D300s MB10/300 2.8vr.

That said I was using 10kg and 5 kg weights every morning and that did help a lot Just some arm curls and extended arm lifts in the mornings with coffee. Maybe some set-ups.....just enough to see the "Wall" , never tried going through it
Cheers,

--
Anticipate the Light and wing it when you get it wrong
Tom
http://taja.smugmug.com/

The general advice seems to do some upper body strength training and use ergonomic carrying systems.

Half a year ago I begun regular upper body training (modest but at least regular ;-) ) to meet the needs of carrying around my second baby. I hope that my photography will benefit from that to, should I decide to invest in a bigger camera body. (I have been a jogger for decades, so leg strength is not a problem.)

The black rapid system looks interesting - I will have a look at it!

Thanks all!

--
Sven Hedlund
http://www.svenhedlund.se

Thanks a lot for your tips - especially your exercise suggestions! Those exercises are not far from what I started doing half a year ago, to better handle my new family situation as a father of two childs!

BTW, I had a look at your web-page - very nice work!

--
Sven Hedlund
http://www.svenhedlund.se

--
http://www.iweddingz.co.uk/

I do. Holding the 200-400 requires arm and shoulder strength. Hiking with the 600mm requires full body strength and endurance.

The Nikon strap will kill you. Padding is inadequate and it won't stretch at all.

Strap doesn't need to be uber-pricey. I think mine were around $25. Then sling it around your shoulder to where you can still shoot but the camera and lens rest on your hip.

Then shoot, shoot, shoot. Weight and size of the pro-bodies don't bother me. Then again, I'm 29 and fairly healthy so maybe that plays a role too?

So I have issues with this as well. Firstly, as mentioned, a good strap with some elastic. I bought a neoprene non-slip strap on ebay for a few dollars that is infinitely easier on my body than the Nikon unit (plus- do I need to advertise the brand?)
Second, I use one of the many generic "sling" packs (do a search on amazon).

I can stow my D700 and 4 small to medium lenses in it and swing it around for quick access since it has only one strap and is accessible from the side. I haven't used it with 2 cameras, but I don't see why one couldn't be carried around the neck and the rest of the gear in the pack.
Wolfgang
--
Old timer

Hiking the Sierras with a D700 and D300 plus a couple of lenses in your backpack. Add a bottle of water and some snacks for your day-hike, and you'll feel it.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's easy to argue about equipment and technique, but hard to argue with a good photograph -- and more difficult to capture one .



Gallery and blog: http://esfotoclix.com
Special selections: http://esfotoclix.com/store
Wedding & Portrait: http://esfotoclix.com/wedevent
Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22061657@N03

All you really need to add to that is a few arm and leg excercises and you wil be able to shoot for along time without fatigue. Of course, the health benefits don't hurt too.

Grundit said:

Try this if its you, (if you are medically fit)

Sit-ups 3 sets of 20 reps

Lower back raises 3 Sets of 15 (lie on your belly on the floor, put your hands behind your head and lift your head slowly of the floor extending you chin away from the floor.

Lungs 3 sets of 15 reps. Stand static, step forward with one leg to create a 90 degree angle,
Squats 3 sets of 15
and lastly bicep curls with a couple of bags a sugar.

All free and all without weights. You will notice a difference if you don't exercise regularly.

--
http://www.iweddingz.co.uk/

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--

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

“Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.”

Chris, Broussard, LA

That's what I want to do. Hand holding the 600mm. :0)

rskoss said:

I do. Holding the 200-400 requires arm and shoulder strength. Hiking with the 600mm requires full body strength and endurance.

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Not only would someone need to be strong, they would have to have long arms.

nikhgan said:

rskoss said:

I do. Holding the 200-400 requires arm and shoulder strength. Hiking with the 600mm requires full body strength and endurance.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

“Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.”

Chris, Broussard, LA

After back surgery and 2 shoulder operations (not connected to photography) I have some tips from the physical therapist that helped me in my rehab;

1. Don't do everything the same way each day. Vary your routiine. For photogs maybe carry the bag on alternate shoulders several times a day. If kneeling trade Knees.etc.

2. You only need to use a muscle twice a week for it to grow. If your not shooting carry your gear around the house for a bit. Maybe wait untill there is no one to see you. LOL. 5 minutes can do a lot. I was amazed at how little was required to produce progress.

3. Avoid repetitive operations. Not much you can do here to help yourself, uless you could do left eye right eye shooting, alternate shoulder for tripod carry etc. Some people used to shoot the 35mm cam upside down to get support from their forehead! FWIW

4.Avoid fatigue. Try to ease into that 12 hour camera day. Dont' overdue it. The recovery will impede your progress.

5. Don'ts; over extend, stretch, scrunch ie. Move with your feet, If your bag is making you scrunch to hold it up put it cross shoulder or adjust it so you are not hunching your shoulders up. Think twice about holding that cam way out in front or off to one side- you are isolating your muscles putting a stress test on them. After age 30 they like to snap not stretch:-(.

6. Try to keep your back straight, chin down, hips tilted forward while walking. Swing both arms. Swinging arms while toting a camera is a tough one. I found if I shift my camera doing a one shoulder carry camera turned inside, and my bag cross shoulder it is somewhat possible. I envy the hikers that are enjoying the sights and traveling light. but of course they have memorys but I have art or evidence depending on how it went.

Hope this is helpful in some way.
deziner-d

eNo said:

Hiking the Sierras with a D700 and D300 plus a couple of lenses in your backpack. Add a bottle of water and some snacks for your day-hike, and you'll feel it.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's easy to argue about equipment and technique, but hard to argue with a good photograph -- and more difficult to capture one .



Gallery and blog: http://esfotoclix.com
Special selections: http://esfotoclix.com/store
Wedding & Portrait: http://esfotoclix.com/wedevent
Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22061657@N03

Click to expand...

I do that quiet a lot, hike a lot in Yosemite with my D3+ 24-70G and 14-24G or some times the 1DS2 + 14 F2.8 , 24-70L and Zeiss 21 or sometimes a 70-200 F2.8L , go up Half Dome or El Capitan, Cloudsrest, Mt.Dana......and we do it as day hike most of the time. Pretty fun actually. One time we actually did Half Dome and Cloudsrest in one day, totally 13 hours from Happy Isle. We want to try El-Capitan and Half Dome in one day next time. we typically do Half Dome in 6.5 to 7 hours round trip. We did Mt.Whitney as a day hike for 15 hours round trip, I had a 20D back then with 10-22, 24-105, 70-200 and my friend had his 5D+ 16-35L 24-105, 70-200 F2.8 IS and a tripod but he beat me to the top by more than an hour.

Thanks deziner-d, it is helpful and your tips have been saved locally on my computer!
--
Sven Hedlund
http://www.svenhedlund.se