How I Prepare for a Swimwear Shoot

This is a frequently asked question, so I wanted to share with you five tips that I practice to prepare for a swimwear photo-shoot. Even if you don’t model, you may find these tips helpful. You may have an important event coming up, or are going away on a holiday in the sun and want to look and feel your best.

I want to note that I don’t follow these rules all the time. I am only this strict one-week before the shoot in order to de-bloat and feel my most confident in front of the camera. I also wanted to point out that this is what specifically works for me, and that these tips may not have the same results for you. I recommend giving them a go and assessing how you feel at the end of the week.

1.     I cut out dairy completely

This is crucial for me; nothing bloats me more than dairy products. I am lactose intolerant and when I eat dairy it bloats me for almost a week.

If you do struggle with bloating, I would recommend cutting out dairy for a week and seeing how you feel. Cutting out dairy has honestly changed my life. I sleep better, I suffer less stomach aches, and I don’t have a bloated stomach all the time. We are so lucky to live in a day and age where there are so many dairy substitutes. I really love oat milk, cashew cheese and soy yogurt.

The image below was taken three days after I ate Parmesan cheese. It was so uncomfortable, and my sleep was really impacted as well. I know it tastes delicious, but it is just not worth it for me, especially when I have a swimsuit shoot coming up.

2.     Lots of Pilates and Yoga 

I really believe pilates is the best form of exercise if you want to be toned and lean. The week leading up to the shoot I will either do a pilates or yoga class everyday. On the morning of the shoot, I will make sure I head to pilates to get that last minute pump of my muscles, especially my abdominal muscles.

Yoga is also amazing for becoming leaner and is a great way to de-bloat through the various twisting poses. In preparation for the shoot, I also make sure the classes I go to are heated. Sweating is a great way to detoxify the body and burn extra calories while you practice.

3.     I reduce my carbohydrates intake and increase the protein in my diet

I definitely don’t stick to this rule all the time, but it is crucial when I’m preparing for a swimsuit shoot.

During this week, I reduce my carbohydrates during the day and will cut them out in the evening. I also increase my protein to replenish my muscles after training. This helps them to grow and for my muscles to appear leaner.

Another tip to increase your protein intake is to boil eggs and leave them in the fridge. Boiled eggs are a great snack and are high in protein so they keep you feeling full. Having pre-boiled eggs in the fridge definitely assists me in opting for a high protein snack instead of a high carbohydrate snack. I would usually eat a fruit salad or a muesli bar if I wasn’t preparing for a shoot, but having the eggs ready in the fridge means it’s easy to swap and break the habit. I just have two eggs with salt and pepper on them. I know it’s not for everyone, but I really enjoy it.

4.     I ask for no dressing or sauces on my food

This is probably the hardest one for me to stick to during the week because I love sauces, but it is crucial for my preperation. As I often get uber eats when I’m at work, it’s hard to know exactly what’s in my food so I stick to this rule to help manage this.

For example, when I order a raw salmon poke bowl, I will either ask for no dressing or just olive oil and lemon. A lot of the time take away places will drench their food in sauces (because that tastes amazing!) and this adds a lot of calories to a meal. I also find I bloat from sauces that aren’t simple, so just keeping it plain is my best option.

5.     I have an infrared sauna session the night before the shoot

I am a big advocate for infrared saunas. If I could afford to have one in my house, I definitely would. 45 minutes in one of these has so many health benefits. From detoxification, better sleep, glowing skin, and a big calorie burner from just sitting there and relaxing.

With all these amazing benefits, I always feel my best the day after. My skin looks brighter, and I just feel lighter.

After following these five rules for the week, I felt confident on the day of the shoot. After the shoot, Tommy and me went out for a Japanese feast full of sushi and tempura. We also enjoyed a bottle of wine. I really believe life is about balance, so it’s important to enjoy life and not follow such strict rules all the time.