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David Laid

@davidlaid · fitness, gym, bodybuilding

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Gymshark Creative Director Of Lifting @gymshark | 10% CODE “DAVID10” @transparentlabs | 10% CODE “DAVID10”

https://athlete.transparentlabs.com/david4xu

5.9M followers
30 reels read
67.9x best outlier
16.9x typical
221M views in here
16 Jul 2026 newest

how they make thembroad appeal, right length, gym setting, show not tell, shot changes, no text, shown not told, broad interest

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30 reels in the database, most viral first

21

@davidlaid David Laid · 25 Sept 2022

12.7x outlier

A fit man relaxes in a cold water plunge tub before stepping into a warm sauna.

4.3M views
212K likes
440 comments
317 shares
8.1K saves
5.9M followers
41s long
4.9% liked
hookA moody shot of a fit man lying underwater draws viewers into a calm, cinematic scene.
  • Muscular look. A fit, muscular man lies floating in a dark water tub.
  • Dark mood. Dark lighting with a bright underwater glow creates a calm and moody feel.
  • Sad piano song. Gentle piano music plays softly over the quiet scene.
  • No text screen. There is no text on screen to distract from the quiet picture.
  • Broad interest. Recovery, ice baths, and fitness appeal to anyone interested in wellness and self care.
retainThe soothing shift from icy water to a warm sauna keeps viewers watching the peaceful routine.
  • Show not tell. The video shows a full wellness routine without speaking a single word.
  • Calm acting. The man stays calm and relaxed through cold water and heat.
  • One unbroken take. The entire video is 1 unbroken take that lasts 40.8 seconds without hard cuts.
  • Essential props. The cold tub and wooden sauna create the whole contrast of ice and heat.
  • Simple sequence. The flow moves smoothly from floating in cold water to rising and resting in heat.
  • Right length. The 40.8 seconds duration gives enough time to feel the quiet mood without rushing.
rewardViewers feel calm, peaceful, and inspired to take care of their own bodies.
  • Calm feeling. The soft music and slow movement help the viewer feel relaxed.
  • Fitness inspiration. Seeing a fit athlete care for his body encourages healthy habits.
  • Aesthetic pleasure. The contrast of dark shadows, glowing light, and clear water looks beautiful.
  • Peaceful routine. Watching a quiet wellness ritual brings a sense of quiet focus.
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Fear Of The Water

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22

@davidlaid David Laid · 22 Apr 2023

11.7x outlier

A designer works inside a Gymshark facility to craft custom fitness clothing from scratch.

3.9M views
144K likes
390 comments
255 shares
2.3K saves
5.9M followers
46s long
3.6% liked
hookA view of a modern building with an indoor tree stops viewers to see where the story goes.
  • Visual setup. A person walks down a sleek hallway with a real tree planted inside.
  • Lighting and atmosphere. Cool tones and bright overhead light give a high tech feel.
  • Audio cues. Dramatic orchestral music plays to build curiosity right away.
  • Audience appeal. Gym fitness apparel and design appeal to a huge global audience.
retainFast cuts show industrial knitting machines and hands working to build clothing step by step.
  • Visual storytelling. The video shows the creation process instead of just talking about it.
  • Editing pace. The video uses 16 shots over 45.7 seconds, changing every 2.9 seconds.
  • Props and tools. Heavy industrial sewing and knitting tools make the craft look real.
  • Story flow. The story moves clearly from machine knitting to hand cutting to a finished fit.
  • Video length. The length of under 46 seconds fits the short behind the scenes tour well.
rewardViewers feel inspired by the detailed craft that goes into making high performance activewear.
  • Craft appreciation. Seeing raw fabric turned into finished gym gear feels satisfying.
  • Inspiration. The high focus of the designer makes viewers want to build something too.
  • Brand access. Viewers get an inside look at how famous athletic clothing is created.
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With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

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23

@davidlaid David Laid · 16 Jul 2026

11.3x outlier

David Laid looks back on his ten year fitness journey to celebrate the return of his original workout clothing line.

3.8M views
175K likes
723 comments
8.5K shares
7.2K saves
5.9M followers
57s long
4.6% liked
hookA stacked triple video layout shows a young muscular guy telling a personal story from inside his car.
  • Young muscular guy. A teenager shows off his muscles and drives his car.
  • Stacked video view. Three videos play at once to show different parts of his life.
  • Personal story audio. He speaks directly about ordering gym clothes when he was fourteen.
  • Broad audience appeal. Anyone who likes fitness or self improvement stories will stop to watch.
retainOld home videos mixed with dark cinematic gym scenes keep the video exciting from start to finish.
  • Nostalgic story. Old clips of unboxing packages show his early start in fitness.
  • Shown not explained. Cinematic gym footage shows the sleek gear in action.
  • Genuine excitement. His real smile and high energy make his words believable.
  • Fast edit pace. The video uses 17 shots in 57.0 seconds with a cut about every 3.4 seconds to hold attention.
  • The main gear. The special workout shirt is the key item that makes the video work.
  • Clear simple story. It moves smoothly from early memories to modern hype.
  • Right video length. The total duration of 57.0 seconds gives enough room to build big hype.
rewardViewers feel motivated to work out and excited to buy the classic gym gear.
  • Feeling inspired. Watching ten years of progress motivates viewers to work on their own goals.
  • Warm nostalgia. Seeing old home video clips brings back good memories of early workout culture.
  • Wanting the product. Sleek gym shots make viewers want to wear the limited workout clothing.
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Original Onyx is back, 10 years later. Today 2pm EST. Now or never. code DAVID10

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24

@davidlaid David Laid · 22 Aug 2022

11.2x outlier

A bodybuilder shows off his muscular body in different poses and lighting.

3.8M views
212K likes
695 comments
0 shares
0 saves
5.9M followers
14s long
5.6% liked
hookViewers stop scrolling because a shadowed, highly muscular body instantly captures attention in dim lighting.
  • Muscular body. A man stands in shadow displaying very big muscles.
  • Dim doorway. Soft light comes from a side door while the room stays dark.
  • Moody music. Slow music plays quietly in the background.
  • No text. There are no words on screen to distract from the body.
  • Broad appeal. Anyone interested in fitness or building muscles will stop to watch.
retainThe video keeps attention by swapping quick shots of intense poses under different dramatic lighting.
  • Visual changes. The man shows off his muscles instead of talking about them.
  • Focused emotion. His serious face matches the quiet strength of his body.
  • Shot changes. The clip uses 5 shots in 13.6 seconds, changing every 2.7 seconds.
  • Simple setup. A dark room and gym equipment keep the focus entirely on his shape.
  • Easy flow. Each clip shows a different muscle pose without any confusion.
  • Right length. The short duration fits the quick showcase of muscle poses.
rewardViewers walk away feeling motivated to work out and hit their fitness goals.
  • Feeling motivated. Viewers want to exercise and build a stronger body.
  • Feeling impressed. The hard work needed for such muscle size is obvious.
  • Simple beauty. Dramatic light on strong muscles creates a striking visual.
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25

@davidlaid David Laid · 23 Feb 2023

10.2x outlier

A fitness creator showcases a gallery of powerful gym photos on his computer screen after showing his camera.

3.4M views
118K likes
326 comments
175 shares
2.5K saves
5.9M followers
30s long
3.4% liked
hookA viewer stops scrolling to see a sleek professional camera sitting under studio lighting on a white desk.
  • Camera focus. A sleek black camera body sits directly on a bright desk.
  • Desk setting. Studio lights and glowing computer screens in the back create a calm workspace look.
  • Chill music. A smooth instrumental beat starts playing softly right away.
  • No text screen. There are no words on screen, keeping the focus entirely on the gear.
  • Broad appeal. Camera gear and fitness culture appeal to creators, lifters, and photo fans alike.
retainViewers stay to watch the fast gallery of impressive fitness portraits displayed on the studio screens.
  • Shown not told. The video shows finished gym portraits instead of talking about how to take them.
  • Fast pacing. The clip uses 33 shots in 30.0 seconds, with a new shot about every 0.9 seconds.
  • Essential props. The camera body and dual monitors are required to make the preview showcase work.
  • Easy progression. The camera moves from the camera body to the screen gallery and back to the desk.
  • Right length. The 30.0 seconds video length fits the quick portrait reel idea without dragging.
rewardThe viewer leaves feeling inspired by the dramatic fitness photography and clean editing.
  • Creative motivation. Viewers feel inspired to take better gym photos and edit with strong contrast.
  • Fitness inspiration. Watching fit athletes in dark gym lighting builds workout energy.
  • Visual satisfaction. Seeing sharp pictures scroll across clean screens feels smooth and polished.
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26

@davidlaid David Laid · 3 Jun 2021

10.0x outlier

Two very muscular men take turns doing heavy arm curls at the gym.

3.4M views
198K likes
1.1K comments
0 shares
0 saves
5.9M followers
30s long
5.9% liked
hookViewers stop scrolling to see huge muscle gains and intense weight lifting.
  • Strong look. A big guy with huge arms fills the screen instantly.
  • Gym setting. Bright gym lights show off veiny muscles.
  • Pumped music. Fast synth music builds energy right away.
  • Massive appeal. Fitness fans and workout lovers will all want to watch.
retainPeople watch to the end to see both bodybuilders push through tough lifts.
  • High energy. The men lift heavy weights with intense expressions.
  • Show not tell. The video shows real hard work instead of talking.
  • Shot pacing. Three shots in 30.0 seconds give a clean view of each set.
  • Gym gear. The arm harness helps focus the lift and holds attention.
  • Clear story. Switching between two lifters creates a fun workout rivalry.
  • Right length. The 30.0 seconds clip fits a quick workout set perfectly.
rewardViewers feel pumped up and motivated to go work out.
  • Huge motivation. Seeing big arms makes people want to lift weights.
  • Great music. The intense music gives an extra surge of excitement.
  • Fun energy. Watching hard effort makes gym goals feel exciting.
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27

@davidlaid David Laid · 9 Aug 2022

9.3x outlier

A bodybuilder flexes his back and arm muscles in front of a big gym mirror.

3.1M views
229K likes
785 comments
472 shares
8.1K saves
5.9M followers
11s long
7.4% liked
hookA person stops scrolling to look at a fitness creator showing off his muscular physique.
  • Muscular look. David stands shirtless and flexes his huge muscles in a gym.
  • Gym setting. Dim room lighting highlights his muscles near a large mirror.
  • Background music. Upbeat rhythmic music plays as he gets into position.
  • Broad appeal. Fitness and muscle flexes appeal to anyone who likes workout motivation.
retainViewers keep watching to see the impressive muscle movements and pose changes.
  • Visual flex. He shifts his arm and back pose to flex different muscles.
  • Show not tell. The video shows his physique directly without any talking.
  • Shot changes. There are 2 shots in 11.1 seconds, with a cut near the end.
  • Mirror prop. The mirror shows his front and back body shapes together.
  • Clear steps. The movement is controlled and easy to follow from start to finish.
  • Short length. The brief video length fits the quick muscle flex perfectly.
rewardViewers leave feeling motivated to work out and impressed by the physique.
  • Workout motivation. Seeing a fit physique makes people want to go train at the gym.
  • Visual satisfaction. Watching strong muscles flex in slow control feels satisfying.
  • Inspiration kick. Viewers feel inspired to work hard on their own personal health goals.
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28

@davidlaid David Laid · 18 Jan 2022

9.0x outlier

A fit man walks through deep snow at night to relax inside a warm outdoor sauna.

3M views
215K likes
622 comments
128 shares
7.4K saves
5.9M followers
27s long
7.1% liked
hookA shirtless guy walking through freezing snow into a glowing outdoor sauna instantly grabs attention.
  • Fit person. David Laid shows off a muscular build while walking bare-chested in the freezing cold.
  • Snowy setting. Deep snow covers the ground around a glowing barrel sauna in the dark woods.
  • Gentle music. Soft piano music plays softly in the background.
  • Broad appeal. Anyone can appreciate the contrast between freezing snow and a warm sauna.
retainViewers stay to see the cozy warmth inside the sauna after watching him trudge through the dark snow.
  • Show not tell. The clip shows the cold walk and hot sauna without any talking.
  • Calm emotion. The slow steps and soft lighting create a peaceful feeling of comfort.
  • Shot pacing. There are 4 shots in 26.5 seconds, changing shots about every 6.6 seconds.
  • Key props. The massage gun and wooden barrel sauna make the scene feel quiet and peaceful.
  • Simple story. Walking from the cold into a hot room is very easy to follow.
  • Right length. The short clip gives just enough time to feel calm and relaxed.
rewardViewers feel calm, cozy, and inspired to take care of their bodies.
  • Cozy feeling. Watching someone enter a warm room from the freezing snow feels very comforting.
  • Fitness goal. Seeing an athlete take care of his muscles inspires good health habits.
  • Peaceful mood. The quiet snow and soft music help the mind relax and slow down.
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29

@davidlaid David Laid · 1 Aug 2022

7.6x outlier

A fit man rests in a sauna, swims underwater in cold light, and shows off his leg muscles.

2.5M views
159K likes
569 comments
111 shares
4.6K saves
5.9M followers
37s long
6.2% liked
hookA fit man sitting hunched over in a dark wooden sauna grabs viewer attention right away.
  • Striking figure. A fit man sits shirtless on a plastic chair.
  • Dim setting. The room is dark with wet wooden walls.
  • Soothing sound. Soft background music plays slowly.
  • Broad appeal. Anyone who likes fitness, swimming, or dark visual art will stop.
retainSensory transitions and impressive physical shape keep people watching the entire video.
  • Surprising style. The scene shifts from a sauna to swimming under ice.
  • Shown not told. Visual actions tell the whole story without any speaking.
  • Calm emotion. The man remains still and composed throughout.
  • Single shot. The video is 1 unbroken take, 37.1 seconds long.
  • Key props. The plastic chair and icy water set a cold, intense mood.
  • Simple sequence. The heat, cold water, and muscle check follow a clear path.
  • Right length. The 37.1 seconds length fits the slow and dark mood well.
rewardViewers walk away feeling inspired by hard work and calm strength.
  • Feeling motivated. Seeing extreme fitness makes people want to work out.
  • Deeply calmed. The quiet underwater scenes and slow music help the viewer relax.
  • Visual awe. The lighting and silhouette make the body look very impressive.
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30

@davidlaid David Laid · 17 Nov 2022

7.5x outlier

A fit man quickly swaps through different gym clothing outfits in front of a camera.

2.5M views
265K likes
758 comments
0 shares
0 saves
5.9M followers
24s long
10.5% liked
hookThe viewer stops scrolling to see a fit young man rapidly changing outfits in a gym setting.
  • Strong presence. A fit young man wearing headphones stands in dark gym clothes facing a camera.
  • Simple setting. The room is a bright gym space with folding chairs and a camera on a tripod.
  • Sad grunge song. The song Something In The Way by Nirvana plays in the background.
  • Broad interest. Fitness and clothing transition clips appeal to a huge audience.
retainThe viewer stays to see each distinct gym outfit change synced to the music.
  • Fast transitions. The video quickly cuts between different black and red tops in quick succession.
  • Visual presentation. The creator shows off different gym looks without saying a word.
  • Confident mood. The creator moves with steady calm focus in every frame.
  • Shot pacing. The video has 2 shots in 23.9 seconds, with a cut near the very end.
  • Important props. The camera on a tripod and gym chairs help set the gym context.
  • Easy to follow. Each outfit swap follows a clear pattern from start to finish.
  • Right length. The short duration keeps the quick clothing showcase exciting throughout.
rewardThe viewer feels motivated to work out and update their gym wardrobe.
  • Gym motivation. The viewer feels inspired to get in shape and exercise.
  • Style inspiration. The viewer sees clean dark gym clothes they might want to wear.
  • Satisfying rhythm. The smooth cuts between outfits create a pleasing visual rhythm.
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Black Friday

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