Ariel Burch: Fashion x Fitness Studio Shoot, Why a South Florida Fashion Photographer Travels for This Energy

Ariel Burch brought power, poise, and a WWE-ready presence to a Summer 2024 fashion-meets-fitness studio shoot in Los Angeles, and we, a Boca Raton-born creative team, were there to turn that energy into editorial frames. Ariel’s goal was simple: document her journey to the WBFF stage, show the work that goes into peak-level conditioning, and express her personality in images that read sexy and edgy. We’re lucky to have had the chance to work with her.

Though this session happened in LA, our approach is pure South Florida: bold lighting, cinematic styling, and hands-on direction that turns athletes into icons. If you’re a model, fitness coach, or brand in Miami, Boca Raton, or West Palm Beach, this is the kind of film-and-photo energy Dennis & Tessa bring to every shoot.

Concept: Fashion Meets Fitness with a Wrestler’s Attitude

We designed the set to blur the line between editorial fashion and hardcore athletic portraiture. Think runway-ready silhouettes lit like a magazine spread, combined with raw gym moves and power poses that read like a character study. Wardrobe leaned into high-contrast textures: patent leather, mesh, sculpted swimwear, and performance fabrics that flex with her muscles.

The brief was to produce content that works across platforms: hero images for Ariel’s portfolio, reel clips for social storytelling, and detail shots for sponsors. This is the kind of work that elevates a model portfolio photoshoot into a brand-defining moment.

Location & Logistics: Studio, Los Angeles, South Florida Energy

Shooting in a controlled Los Angeles studio let us sculpt light the way we do in Boca Raton and Miami, highly punchy and editorial. We control every shadow, apply cinematic rim lighting, and keep the focus razor-sharp on the subject and its form.

Even when we travel, our process stays the same: pre-shoot consults, storyboarded shot lists, and strategic warm-ups. Ariel warmed up with mobility sequences and resistance band flows while we dialed in the lighting. That two-way rehearsal between photographer and talent is how we get images that feel effortless and intentional.

Lighting: Bold, Punchy, Editorial

Studio strobes were the backbone of this session. We used hard rim lights to carve muscle definition, a large soft key to model the face, and a kicker for that high-fashion shine. Our goal: dramatic contrast without losing skin detail.

Equipment highlights:

1. Sony A1 as primary camera with 24–70mm and 70–200mm GM lenses for versatility and buttery compression.

2. Profoto/Godox-style strobes with grid attachments for controlled beams.

3. Reflectors and negative fill for sculpted shadow.

We layered light like a wardrobe, strong highlights, deep midtones, and crunchy blacks. The result reads cinematic on a billboard and clickable on Instagram.

How we directed Ariel on set

We used short, actionable cues: “Torpedo chest,” “drive the hip,” “chin down, eyes up.” For dynamic frames, we requested controlled explosive moves, single-rep jumps, and slow-motion kicks, then timed a sequence of burst shots at 30 fps. For static shot,s we built tension: a held breath, clenched fist, jaw set, then release for the next frame. The direction is immediate and visual; models respond to physical images, not vague adjectives.

Posing & Performance: From Pageant Prep to Ring-Ready

Ariel’s physique and presence pushed us to combine pageant poise with professional wrestling attitude. We worked through:

1. Power poses to emphasize the shoulder and back lines.

2. Transitional movement for natural flow between looks.

3. Close-up beauty frames that reveal grit, beads of sweat, textured makeup, and focused eyes.

We coached subtle adjustments: rotate the ribs, press the heel, and micro-tilt the head, because those small moves read as huge in 70–200 compression.

Key Moments & Highlights

• A sequence where Ariel looks like a WWE superstar, low-slung power stance, rim-lit traps, and a gaze that owns the frame. Instant favorite.

• Studio reels of a high-knee sprint and controlled drop sets for social cutdowns.

• Hero portrait that straddles fashion and fitness: editorial lighting, fashion-forward styling, and athletic form that sells performance.

We’re lucky to have had the chance to work with her; the photos show a competitor at the top of her game.

Why this Work Matters for Models & Fitness Pros

Professional imagery is strategic: it signals to coaches, sponsors, and casting directors that you’re serious. For pageant competitors and fitness athletes, this content functions as:

1. Portfolio material for booking and sponsorship.

2. Social content that converts followers into clients.

3. Submission-ready images for stage and branding opportunities.

If you need clean, powerful visuals to amplify your story, high-end photography and videography are investments that pay with visibility.

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

Explore our Miami swimwear shoots at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/swimwear

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

Browse our lifestyle and fitness projects at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/lifestyle-fitness

Find portrait and headshot services here:

• Portrait: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/portrait

• Headshot: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/headshot-photography

• Glamour: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/glamour

Ready to book South Florida & beyond

We travel where the work is, LA this summer, South Florida all year. If you’re a model, pageant competitor, fitness coach, or brand in Boca Raton, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach looking for high-end editorial photography with a directional edge, let’s plan a shoot that turns muscle and style into marketing gold.

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