Here at PhotoShelter, we work alongside sports photographers every day. We’re constantly inspired by their dedication, their unique skills, and the passionate community of creatives that makes this industry so special.
Last year, we gathered up a list of tips and advice from sports photographers to energize their peers and those looking to get their start behind the camera.
Now, we’re continuing this tradition for 2023. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your photography to the next level, these words of wisdom will motivate you to take on the challenges ahead, approach your craft in a new light, and ultimately succeed in the world of sports photography.
What can you learn from this great group of photographers below? And what can we all learn from you? Tell us: What’s your top tip? Tag us on Twitter or Instagram (@psforbrands) and share your advice for fellow or emerging sports photographers. We’ll share our favorites!
Abby Szlosek
Go shoot!!! Everyone starts somewhere, getting out and getting reps of shooting and editing is going to help more in the long run rather than wanting to immediately jump into shooting big games.
Amanda J. Cain
Biggest piece of advice I can give is to know your worth! Distinguishing between good opportunities and being taken advantage of for the chance to photograph your favorite player isn’t always easy, but it’s crucial.
Andrew Maclean
Try not to make excuses. No matter the situation, there’s an opportunity to get good photos. Work hard and try to see things out of the normal.
Andrew Wevers
Learn to be a tech savvy editor.
Anyone can pick up a camera and make images, but not many people know why or how those images come to be. Not many photographers know the tech side of things – in depth Photo Mechanic variables, efficient editing workflows, FTP Servers and remote cameras are all essential to any team or department, but no one really talks about those.
An experienced photographer can sometimes have up to 3 sporting events a day. An experienced remote editor can have as many as 15 or more. In this past year, editors are in greater demand than ever. By starting out with editing, you can learn from many photographers all over the globe, all at once. Reach out to photographers you follow and see if they need any live editing help, or how you can get into editing. If you can pair editing skills with tech skills, you will always have time to freelance and shoot almost anything you want in between.
Andy McLean
One piece of advice is never stop asking questions about how others shoot. Every photographer has their own method of how they shoot a certain sport and learning from them helps you a lot and can translate to other sports.
I personally love Peter Reed Miller on YouTube and learned about sports photography at the start, then went to Instagram to find sport specific photographers. Some of my favorites are @kadircaliskan and @jeredgruber.
Annie Schütz
Create your own opportunities! The main thing I learned as a student trying to get into the sports creative space is that following another person’s path won’t always work. Not every door will open for you. Sometimes you have to bust a wall down.
So shoot every event you can get into, present an outline of an internship for the marketing department that wasn’t offering one, and make your portfolio so unique that people won’t be able to ignore it.
Ben Green
Photograph anything and everything you can to get better, even if it’s not sports. This part of the industry is a blend of all other types of photography. Getting better at headshots for example will help you take better candid portraits during pregame.
Brandon Brieger
My best piece of advice to young sports photographers is to be a sponge. There is so much to learn in this industry! Never be afraid to reach out to someone you look up to. You never know what they can teach you and where that connection could lead!
Brett Patzke
Create your own opportunities.
Photograph everything. When I first started out, I would go to local parks and shoot pick-up basketball games, go to intramural events and shoot all different types of sports, get a friend group together to play spike ball and shoot that. Create the work that you want to eventually get hired for.
Once you have some photos you’re proud of, build up a portfolio. Send it to local high schools, colleges, etc. and say that you’ll start out shooting for free. Reaching out to the right contact is key here. Don’t just fire away emails to random help inboxes. Do your research and find out who would likely be the decision maker. Short and to the point emails are what works. Don’t tell your life story. Get to the point and share how you can add value. The goal here is to cultivate a solid portfolio, get good experience/improve skills, and network, so that you can then leverage your portfolio to get paid gigs/clients.
Brodie Perry
Don’t lose yourself trying to be like another sports photographer. Be you and find a way to express that through your photos. That can be with a certain editing style, different angles, specific focus points, honestly anything that conveys the photo how you want it to be seen. A photo is only as good as the person behind the camera so just be yourself.
Caitlyn Epes
The biggest piece of advice I would share is to always strive to be better. The best photos come out of hard work and dedication to capturing amazing moments, so don’t settle for anything less! It’s also important to keep shooting whatever you can so you can create a good portfolio. It doesn’t always have to be professional sports.
Carl Jones II
- Big plays come and go, but being able to visually tell the story of the game/event off the field is a valuable skill!
- A good photo can be made at any level of play. Focus on making the best images possible in any given situation.
Chase Cochran
I’d say the best advice would be to not get caught up in where you are shooting or who you are shooting for. You can learn to be a better photographer anywhere, at any level. Just because you are not in a NFL stadium doesn’t mean you can’t create impactful images. Don’t look at what other people are doing and think you don’t compare. Look at it as inspiration and focus on making yourself better!
Cooper Neill
My favorite piece of advice is to go where others aren’t. Covering sporting events is tough because positions are limited and all the photographers have essentially the same gear which means most folks come back with very similar imagery. Take some risks, change up your positions and try to create something unique.
Dan Cooke
Go out and shoot anything and everything that is close to where you are based. You might think you have to be at a big stadium to get good photos and yes the lights do help, but grassroots sports are everywhere and have far fewer restrictions than the stadiums. Approach some teams/coaches and ask to photograph them. Always carry enough food, drinks and wear clothing appropriate to the weather and subject your photographing and you will have a much nicer experience.
David Berdbag
I know a lot of people are going to give advice on actual coverage, which is all valid and I hope people pay attention to, but my biggest piece of advice is to be a good human.
Be accountable for your actions, make genuine connections with the people you work with, and learn to be graceful in rejection. You’re not going to get every job or assignment you try for and that’s okay. Learning how to handle failure is going to be one of the best things you can do for yourself. You can either be bitter about it or you can learn from it and chart a path to help get you where you want to go. It always sucks losing out on jobs or missing a shot you really wanted, but it’s all a learning opportunity.
Faith Anne Worrell
The best advice I’d share with anyone interested in getting into sports photography is to start with where you’re at. I started photographing my high school’s basketball games for free and it was a great experience as I worked up to college and professional games. No sport is lesser than another, so take advantage of what you can!
Henry Marte
Never stop creating, and don’t be afraid of trying something new.
Jake Hernandez
Network in any way possible. Social media is such a pro when it comes to networking resources. Not only are you building networks, but relationships within a community as well. Also, don’t be afraid to post work whether you feel it’s good or bad. The more eyes that see it the better!
Katie Cahalin
One piece of advice that I’ve always held onto is that “success” is something that you define for yourself. Your idea of success is not the same as the person next to you. Everyone’s path is different and you can carve your own however you like. Focus your energy on what fulfills you, what makes you happy, and what your version of success is — not anybody else’s is.
I think it’s also important to acknowledge that it’s okay to slow down. And that can mean so many different things. It’s so easy to become so fully consumed and invested in a job that you love, especially in such a demanding industry. There’s always another game, another moment to shoot. But really taking the time to slow down — whether that means appreciating the moments while you’re in them or taking a day off, whatever it may mean to you, we have to remember to take care of ourselves and appreciate the journey.
Kelsey Grant
The advice I usually give is to tell the story of the whole game. Action shots are great, but there’s so much more to sports than just the big plays. Look for player emotion, fans, scenic shots, and any other details that will capture the atmosphere of each game. We have the opportunity and access to photograph moments that the average fan doesn’t get to see. Move around, find new angles and give the fans a new perspective.
Kevin D. Liles
One big piece of advice I give young photographers is to focus on relationship building. The sports photography community is a small one, and building a name for yourself as someone who is willing to go the extra mile, is a big team player, and does the right things for the right reasons will carry you so much further than photos alone will ever take you.
Kohjiro Kinno’s (Kojo) Instagram account is one of my absolute favorite accounts to follow. The way Kojo sees is like no one else… he really turns sports photography into art. I often find myself saying “damn why didn’t I think of shooting it that way” when I see his posts. But even if I did somehow shoot it like that, I couldn’t sequence it or give it that something that he does. He’s just incredible.
Kyle Cooper
If you’re trying to get into sports photography, the advice I’d give is to be reliable. I think being successful in photography as a whole relies a lot on having a good network and being the person people want to hire because they know they can count on you to be punctual, show up and deliver.
I’d rather hire someone who I can count on and makes good photos over someone who is an amazing shooter but I feel I can’t trust one hundred percent.
Mercedes Oliver
BE YOURSELF. I think sports photography at a glance is often intimidating when you are first starting out. There is so much incredible work that we have access to because of social media that it’s easy to lose your own art trying to replicate someone else’s. It’s also extremely easy to feel as though you aren’t good enough.
We have to remember it takes time to get to certain levels and a certain level of skill has to be developed. In every aspect of life there are growing pains! We alllll go through it and it’s not only normal but IT’S OKAY! I shoot extremely weird stuff and probably break so many photo rules, but my style is unique and it’s not traditional and I’m okay and confident in that! I’m always open to learning and implementing lessons into my style.
Michaela Schumacher
One piece of advice I would give to peers or those aspiring to get into this industry would be to never let self-doubt get in the way.
Whether it be reaching out to a potential new employer or looking to execute a dream idea, remember that it never hurts to ask and never hurts to try. If it doesn’t work out, it simply wasn’t supposed to.
Mike Fiechtner
- Always shoot through the celebration of a big play. So many young photographers are excited to see what they got and instead of shooting the whole celebration they’re looking at the back of their camera.
- Perspective can change your photos so much. Don’t be afraid to lay on the ground for a low perspective or go up into the stands for a high perspective.
- Relationships and networking are so important to getting opportunities to shoot professional sports. Don’t just DM someone and ask them for a credential. Instead, DM them and get to know them. Comment on their posts, ask them questions about their work or shooting experiences. Being a nice person can go a long way. You want that person to think about you when they have an opportunity to share. Assuming you have a good portfolio, they are likely to reach out to you cause you’re the first person they think of.
- Sports are more than just action photos. Storytelling is so important to being a good sports photographer. Look for those in-between moments when the action isn’t happening.
Mike Quintero
Rate your favorite images in-camera. It makes it easier to cull (and find your favs) for a quicker turnaround!
Mikey Berlfein
Work on creating strong compositions. Regardless if it’s photo or video; strong and clean compositions in your imagery will show that you can create professional content at any level.
Mitch Martin
Don’t be afraid to start small! Shoot what’s near you and find some local opportunities where you’ll have good access to build some foundation. It’s better to learn and get experience in low pressure situations first before getting thrown into the fire. Above all else, be kind to those around you and courteous to anyone who offers you insight.
Natalie Clark
My advice is to put work into planning the direction of every event or photoshoot you’re doing. I do this by making a mood board and writing down shot ideas. Not everything goes as planned and the coolest shots have come from experimenting and exploring new ideas.
Ric Tapia
It all starts with a great portfolio. Shoot as much as possible and as many different sports/events. The images need to be your very best. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a little league game or from the Super Bowl. Soon you will grow your own style. Then you’ll be able to get the attention of editors. And don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Take chances.
Rankin White
The best piece of advice I can give is to never stop pushing the boundary. Always look for a different angle, a better way to tell a story, or a unique perspective. The best photographers in the world don’t settle for the same shot everyone else gets.
Tiffany Amisse
Never give up, no matter how difficult. There will be a lot of stuff on your road but you can do it. No one has to tell you if you’re capable or not. Believe in yourself, believe in your dream. Surround yourself with the best people and everything will be fine.
Tim Nwachukwu
Biggest piece of advice I can give is to go into any assignment with curiosity and kindness. Not every day or assignment is the most exciting or may feel fresh at face value, but making pictures becomes more fun and a bit easier when we give ourselves a challenge or question our preconceptions. Approaching with a kind attitude not only helps to just feel good, but it can also open worlds of opportunity and access. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top, but small gestures go a very long way.
Zach Bland
I think my main piece of advice is to just be humble. Sit back, listen, and absorb what’s going on around you. Take note of what those more experienced than you are doing and how they are acting. Have the humility to ask questions. We want to help you. When someone offers sincere advice or a critique, take the time to consider it and see if it applies to you and/or your work. It may not, and that’s fine, but new and different perspectives are rarely a bad thing in this field.
This job is a ton of fun, but it’s not easy. Be willing to put the work in and understand you will have to work your way up to where you want to be. It has absolutely been said before, but there are opportunities everywhere. It might be your local high school, club soccer team or your kid’s little league team. There’s always an opportunity to shoot more and work on your craft. Don’t scoff at something that comes your way just because it isn’t as flashy as you want it to be. Everyone starts somewhere.
Zach Wall
Never be afraid to fail, take angles you think look good and post what you like. Those two things are what make you, you. Always have fun with it and enjoy each time you are shooting and build relationships with others that are in the same profession!
You’re Up!
Sports photographers – what’s your best advice for your fellow photographers as we look ahead to 2023 and beyond? Tag us on Twitter or Instagram (@psforbrands) and let us know!
