Anicia Franco, Fashion Meets Fitness in New York: Editorial Fashion Photography That Pops

Anicia Franco is a model, fitness competitor, and WBFF stage contender who asked us to document her journey and present her at peak confidence. We ran around New York, NY, for a Summer 2024 on-location session that blurred the line between fashion and fitness: sexy, edgy, and unapologetically bold. Although DSTNCT Art Media is a South Florida photography team based in Boca Raton, we travel when a story calls, and this was one of those shoots.

This session was about more than pretty frames. Anicia wanted images for her model portfolio, pageant prep, and social feeds leading up to the WBFF stage. Our goal: turn street corners and unexpected alleys into high-end editorial moments that speak to brands, fitness coaches, and contest judges alike.

Concept & Goal

• Shoot type: Fashion meets Fitness, editorial fashion photography with a fitness-lifestyle edge.

• Purpose: Document Anicia’s WBFF prep, build portfolio content, and craft images she can use for branding and sponsorships.

• Vibe / Aesthetic: Sexy and edgy, moody tones, bold contrast, cinematic energy.

We approached the day like a short film. Outfits and movement told the story: sculpted silhouettes and active poses framed with architectural grit. The result was a hybrid set of fashion images and fitness lifestyle photography that works across Instagram, agency comps, and sponsor decks.

See more of our fashion photography at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/fashion and explore our Miami swimwear shoots at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/swimwear.

Location: New York, NY (on-location)

Shooting on the streets of New York gave us texture: graffiti, subway tilt, sun-splashed brick, honking traffic, and strangers who became background energy. We treated the city like a studio, moving from bright avenues to dimmer alleys, using geometry and urban light to frame Anicia.

As Boca Raton and South Florida fashion photographers, we love translating our editorial lighting to other cities. Clients who work with us in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and beyond get that same cinematic edge.

• Suggested South Florida locations we often mirror in mood include Miami Beach/South Beach photoshoot looks, downtown architecture in Fort Lauderdale, and outdoor fashion photography in South Florida.

Gear & Lighting Choices

We shot primarily on the Sony A1, using a mix of lenses: the 24–70 GM for street-to-camera versatility and the 70–200 GM for tight editorial compression and powerful headshots.

Lighting strategy:

1. Using natural light as the base, we hunted for golden edges and overcast windows for a soft wrap.

2. Strobe fill with Profoto-style modifiers or compact Godox units to add punch and control shadows when the midday sun is harsh.

3. Backlight and rim light to separate Anicia from busy backgrounds in tight alleys.

4. Fast shutter speed + long lens for a crisp, compressed look when we needed to isolate the subject from the chaos.

For fitness poses, we used slightly harder lighting to emphasize muscle tone while keeping skin tones filmic and flattering.

View more of our portrait and lifestyle work at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/portrait and https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/lifestyle-fitness.

Behind the Scenes: Directing, Warm-ups, and Posing

Anicia came in energetic and ready, which made our job fun. Our warm-up routine is quick and practical:

1. Walk-and-talk to loosen up and build chemistry.

2. Simple movement prompts: “Take three steps and look over your shoulder,” or “push your hips to the camera, then soften your hands.”

3. Micro-instructions for direction: chin placement, shoulder tilt, and where to put weight. We coach like choreographers.

We push for maximal intention. For pageant-ready looks, it’s small changes: arch of the foot, hip drive, neck length. For fashion frames, we ask for implied motion: flipping hair, a half-run, or a confident stride.

Need modeling or fitness portrait direction? Our on-set coaching is why models, influencers, and coaches book us as their go-to professional photographer.

Challenges & Solutions

1. Loose plan: We turned improvisation into an advantage. Without a strict shot list, we stayed fluid, scouting on the fly, using urban textures we discovered, and letting Anicia’s energy lead.

2. Heat & traffic: Summer heat meant frequent breaks and quick outfit rotations. Traffic demanded fast setups and minimal gear footprint; the 24–70 let us pivot fast, while the 70–200 saved us when we needed distance.

Our crew keeps setups lean, so we move at the pace of the city and the talent.

Key Moments & Favorite Frames

Anicia’s laughter on a sunlit stoop and a cinematic silhouette against subway tiles, those candid, human beats paired with editorial polish are the images that land. Running shots down a side street gave us grit; a quiet rooftop moment gave us vulnerability. Her positive attitude and stamina turned random corners into images we’re still excited about.

View more commercial work and branded storytelling at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/commercial.

How This Helps Anicia and You

These images are versatile:

1. Portfolio and agency submissions for modeling.

2. Promotional content for WBFF stage decks and social campaigns.

3. Sponsored content for fitness brands or lifestyle labels.

If you’re a model, influencer, athlete, or brand in South Florida or beyond, we tailor sessions to get results that convert followers into bookings and brands into partners.

Book your South Florida photoshoot at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/contact. See our glamour and headshot options for refined looks at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/glamour and https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/headshot-photography.

If you want punchy, editorial, and commercially minded images, whether on the streets of New York or on a palm-lined Miami boulevard, we’re ready to travel and create the kind of content that moves careers.

• Fashion clients: explore our fashion page at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/fashion

• Brands and businesses: talk to us about commercial campaigns at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/commercial

• Events and hospitality: we also shoot events and food & beverage projects at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/event and https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/food-beverage

Ready to bring your next chapter to life? Models, pageant competitors, fitness coaches, influencers, and brands in Boca Raton, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, book your session and get photos that do the work for you.

Book your South Florida photoshoot at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/contact