Matt Morsia took a break from his normal skits and pouting at the camera to share a quick insight into how professionals set up before taking a few pics for the gram.
Contrary to what you might think, he doesn’t just whip off his shirt, snap a quick pic and go about his day. Even though he has an amazing physique that he has obviously worked hard for, he still has a seven-minute transformation to go through before being camera ready.
Social media can be pretty misleading at the best of times, and Matt’s done his bit to show real life doesn’t always look like Instagram. There’s actually a lot of work and thought that goes into each one, so you can be more or less sure it isn’t the closest depiction of reality.
Before picture:
- Medium downlight
- Loads of natural lighting flooding in from the front
- Not contracting his abs at all
After photo:
- Closes the blinds to control the natural light
- Turns up the downlight to maximum
- Turns up the heating to make the gym warmer
- Most crucially, he gets a ‘pump’ from a few sets of light press-ups, arm curls and dumbbell lateral raises
- Sprays himself with water
- Moves the camera angle higher to give the illusion of broader shoulders and a smaller waist
- Contracts his abs as hard as he physically can
Take Home Message
Something to bear in mind the next time you’re judging yourself against another person on social media — you’re seeing the best version of them, and with influencers and fitness professionals, there is a seriously measured approach to what they share. It isn’t editing, but it is meticulous staging.
Just your daily reminder that what you see on social media isn’t exactly a reflection of what you see in real life. So, don’t measure your own progress or journey against the elite, measure it against yourself. Be objective, be patient, and be kind to yourself.
