Antonia Reed: Fashion Meets Fitness, Miami Fashion Photographer Captures a World Champion

Antonia Reed walked into our Miami studio like she owns every room she enters, because she does. World-champion fitness model, WBFF stage contender, and one of the most polished athletes we’ve photographed, Antonia booked a Summer 2024 studio session to document her journey to the WBFF stage and capture the raw, sexy, and edgy looks that define her brand. This was fashion meets fitness in South Florida, shot for portfolio updates, social storytelling, and stage-ready promotional content.

Concept: Sexy, Edgy, Editorial

The brief was simple on paper and complex in execution: editorial-level fashion imagery with the physical precision of fitness photography. We tailored a concept that blends high-fashion poses with athletic contractions, think couture silhouettes with stage-ready muscle definition. The aesthetic leaned cinematic: bold highlights, deep shadows, smoke for atmosphere, and a wardrobe that read both runway and competition floor.

See more of our fashion photography at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/fashion

Location & Prep: Miami Studio, South Florida Mindset

Though shot in a controlled Miami studio, this was a South Florida production through and through. Antonia’s prep included her peak conditioning for WBFF, hair and make-up tuned for dramatic lighting, and multiple costume changes to cover editorial gowns, competition bikinis, and high-fashion athleisure.

We treated this as a mini-campaign: social images, hero images for sponsors, and close-ups for pageant promos. If you’re a model or influencer in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, or West Palm Beach, this is the level of detail a pro portfolio needs. Book your South Florida photoshoot at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/contact.

Lighting & Gear: Complex Setups, Cinematic Results

We pushed our kit to produce punchy, editorial results. Primary camera: the Sony A1, backed by our workhorse lenses, the 24-70 and the 70-200 GM. Lighting was the star: two distinct sets on the same day, totaling 7–9 lights across Profoto and Godox modifiers. One setup favored crisp rim light to define muscle and texture; the other embraced deep, moody key light with heavy fill control to sculpt bone structure.

We introduced smoke to the studio for the first time on this shoot, using controlled haze to add depth and separation to the strobes. The result: frames that read like magazine spreads but keep the grit and power of fitness imagery. Explore more of our lifestyle & fitness work at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/lifestyle-fitness

Posing & Direction: Muscle Meets Model

Antonia’s experience on stage made our job easier, but we still directed with precision. The warm-up began with mobility drills and muscle flexes to make contractions look effortless. From there, we layered model technique: micro-adjustments to the shoulders, angled hips for longer lines, and face work that alternated between smoldering and upbeat.

For fitness-focused shots, we timed her peak contractions to our bursts; for editorial poses, we used longer sequences to explore silhouettes and negative space. We coached eye contact, jaw tension, and breathing, small coaching details that set a run-of-the-mill portrait photographer apart from a South Florida fashion photographer who knows how to translate athleticism into still imagery.

Find more portrait work at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/portrait and headshot styles at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/headshot-photography

Challenges & Solutions: Complexity, Heat, and Smoke

Challenge: Two different lighting setups and smoke introduced unpredictability in exposure and contrast. Solution: We pre-mapped both setups and used reference frames to maintain consistent color and tonality. A custom power plan for strobes kept recycle times tight so Antonia never cooled down between sets.

Challenge: Studio humidity and heavy makeup risked sheen and slippage. Solution: Quick touch-ups, strategic blotting, and selective use of matte powders kept skin texture realistic and flattering under harsh lights.

The result: clean, punchy editorial frames that read perfectly on mobile and in print.

Key Moments: World Champion Energy

There are a few frames you know are winners as you see them on the back of the camera. One was a low-angle, 70-200 GM shot with back rim light slicing through smoke, Antonia in a power stance, jaw set, every muscle defined. Another was a close-up with the 24-70 that turned a stage-ready smile into a brand image for sponsors.

Working with a world champion like Antonia is both an honor and a masterclass in collaboration. Her timing, presence, and awareness of angles made fast work of otherwise complicated setups.

Explore our swimwear and resort work at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/swimwear and commercial options at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/commercial.

Why Pro Photography Matters for Models & Athletes

A high-level shoot like this is more than pretty pictures. It’s strategic storytelling: portfolio pieces that win bookings, social content that converts followers into sponsors, and stage images that communicate readiness to judges and fans. As a South Florida photographer team, we know how to translate Miami Beach energy, Boca Raton polish, and Fort Lauderdale street edge into imagery that sells.

If you’re preparing for a pageant, building a modeling portfolio, or leveling up branded content as a fitness coach or influencer, the right photographer saves time, avoids costly retakes, and produces work that performs.

We photograph everything from editorial fashion photography to fitness lifestyle campaigns and commercial content. View more of our commercial work at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/commercial

Ready to Elevate Your Portfolio?

Antonia’s session is a blueprint for ambitious talent in South Florida, with world-class results in a single studio day. If you’re a model, pageant competitor, fitness athlete, or brand in Miami, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach looking for that same high-impact imagery, let’s make it happen.

See our glamour work at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/glamour, and if you’re booking events or need a corporate shoot, check https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/event

Book your shoot and bring your A-game: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/contact