Photographing Chantel Heath in the studio was an energising and inspiring session. It had been a couple of years since we last worked together so this shoot was the perfect opportunity to update her imagery across her website, social media and wider marketing. Chantel is a Suffolk-based personal fitness coach and Pilates instructor. At 45 she brings more than nine years of experience as a personal trainer specialising in working with women across life stages and clients with a range of additional needs including chronic health conditions, pre and postnatal recovery and cancer prehab and rehab.
Our session focused on movement, confidence and authenticity. Chantel is passionate about helping women thrive through perimenopause into menopause and beyond. Her fitness philosophy is clear. Health, function and longevity come first. Aesthetics are secondary. That ethos runs through everything she does and helped shape the tone and purpose of this shoot.
The session was split into three core looks. We started with bold colours against a neutral studio backdrop. Chantel wore a series of vibrant outfits including a white crop top and coral leggings, a yellow and black combination and a powerful all-red set that really stood out. These looks captured her personality. They also gave her a broad set of images to use across different platforms while maintaining consistency in tone.
From there we moved to floor-based Pilates work. This shift in set design and pose allowed us to tell more of Chantel’s story. She teaches contemporary Pilates both in person and online adapting her classes for every fitness level. Her work combines classical technique with functional fitness so it was important to reflect both strength and accessibility in the images. The clean dark blue wall and herringbone floor helped frame her form while keeping the composition elegant and minimal.
Throughout the session Chantel moved effortlessly through each pose. Her body awareness and sense of control made it clear she practises what she teaches. She has a powerful presence but is also incredibly down to earth. It was easy to capture genuine expressions from her. Moments of joy strength and thoughtfulness all came through naturally.
One of the key goals of any personal branding shoot is to reflect the person behind the business. It is not just about what you do but why you do it. Chantel’s commitment to her clients goes beyond reps and routines. She brings an educational background into her fitness coaching. She does not just guide people through a session. She helps them understand how their body works how to train with intention and how to make fitness sustainable. That depth needed to come across in the photography.
Chantel runs a well-established private studio near Leiston and also delivers online sessions via Zoom. Her services are diverse from one-to-one personal training to group Pilates classes all underpinned by years of education and experience. She also offers a membership system with access to a huge on-demand library of recorded classes recipes and guides. We discussed where and how she would be using the images. She needed a fresh collection of portraits for her website Instagram blog and community group. The final images will support newsletters class promotions testimonials and even future ebook guides.
This shoot was a great reminder of how valuable personal branding photography can be for coaches and professionals. Unlike a standard headshot a branding session creates a varied and versatile image bank. It tells your story shows your personality and helps your clients get a sense of who you are before they meet you. For Chantel that trust and connection are crucial. Her clients rely on her not just for physical training but for emotional support and expert guidance during some of the most important and challenging periods of their lives.
If you are a coach consultant or self-employed professional think about what your current photos say about you. Do they show your energy values and expertise or are they outdated or too generic to stand out. When your face is your brand your imagery needs to be just as clear and confident as your message.
Thanks again to Chantel for trusting me with her visual story. It was a pleasure to work together again and create a new set of images that reflect the strength intelligence and positivity she brings to her work every day.
Need Personal Branding Photography?
If you’re a coach consultant or small business owner looking to update your professional imagery let’s talk. Together we can create a consistent and authentic image library that supports your message and connects with your audience.
Contact Me TodaySee more about my personal branding photography in Suffolk.