Should you take progress photos before or after a workout?
After a workout you look your best. That’s exactly the problem.
Short answer
Before. Ideally in the morning before eating or training. A pump, sweat and blood flow after training make muscles look bigger and more defined for an hour or two, which you can’t reproduce exactly. If you want pump photos, keep them under a separate label.
Why after-workout photos mislead
Training pushes blood and fluid into the muscles you worked, so they temporarily look fuller and veins stand out. How much depends on the session, so a chest-day photo and a leg-day photo aren’t comparable, and neither is comparable to a rest-day photo.
The most consistent time
Morning, after the bathroom, before food, drink or training. You’ll also look the most similar from week to week because you’ve had the same overnight fast.
If you love pump photos
Take them. Just give them their own label (“Pump”) so they don’t mix with your morning check-ins, and compare pump to pump.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I look bigger after a workout?
Yes, temporarily. Muscles fill with fluid and blood during training, and the effect fades over an hour or two.