How to Become a Sports Photographer

Co-authored by Heather Gallagher and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: January 27, 2022 References Approved

Do you want to combine your love of photography with your favorite sport? If you’re a sports photographer, you get a chance to capture all of the exciting moments in the game. You’re probably wondering how you can break into the business, so we’ll answer your most common questions so you can start shooting photos now!

Question 1 of 8:

How can I become a sports photographer?

1
Take some photography courses so you can learn composition. Getting a clear and balanced image is important for any type of photography. If you’re still in school, sign up for photography classes if they’re offered to learn how to use a camera and set up a good shot. If you’re out of school, look for some online or community courses so you can get some hands-on experience behind the camera.^{[1]
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- Try to focus on action photography, which is when you’re capturing pictures of objects in motion.^{[2]
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You don’t need a college degree, but it can help you get hired. While you don’t need a degree to photograph sports, you might get considered for more jobs if you do. Look for an associate’s or bachelor’s program that focuses on photography and apply so you can learn more about being behind a camera and the business.^{[3]
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- About 65% of sports photographers have a bachelor’s degree.
- Don’t worry if you don’t have a degree since some employers might only consider your photography portfolio and experience behind a camera.
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3
Build up your portfolio by taking pictures independently. You don’t have to take sports photos right away, but take some action shots that show off your expertise behind a camera. Post all of your best pictures on a personal website, social media page, or blog so other people can see your images.^{[4]
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- Your portfolio is the most important part when employers are looking for new photographers. Make sure you only post your best pictures to showcase your skills.
4
Look for internships with magazines or newspapers. Reach out to local publications and ask if they have any openings that you can apply for. Show them your portfolio and let them know that you want to photograph sports so they’re able to find the best available position for you. While you’re interning, you’ll learn from professionals, build your portfolio and skills even more, and meet potential employers for the future.^{[5]
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- If you’re still in college, talk to career services to see if they have any potential internships you can try.
- Sports photography can be a pretty competitive field, so see if you can find a position in journalism or editing when you start out. That way, you can still take photos on the side and build your connections.
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Learn the rules and plays of sports you want to photograph. If you have a specific sport in mind, read all of the regulations and rules to learn how it’s played. Watch the sport so you can see how the players move around and react throughout the game. That way, you’ll anticipate what the players are about to do so you can set yourself up for the most exciting pictures.^{[6]
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- Look at other photographs of the sports so you can see what actions and plays you should take photos of.
- Take some classes or play the sports you’re interested in recreationally if you want to get first-hand experience of how players react.

Question 2 of 8:

What other skills should sports photographers have?

1
Be able to anticipate the actions and movements of your photo subjects. You never know when something exciting will happen, but watch your subjects for signs of what they’re going to do next. Pay attention to how a person moves around and think about how other people will react to it. Try to take your pictures right as the action is happening or just before it so you don’t miss any moments.^{[7]
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- A lot of sports photographers say, “If you see the action in your viewfinder, then you’ve lost it,” which means that it will be too late to get the most exciting picture.
2
Learn to compose pictures in a sequence that tells a story. When you’re taking pictures, think about what’s the most important part of the composition for your subject. Consider what they’re rooting for, how they interact with the people around them, and what elements of the background add to the emotion of your photo. Keep a list of shots that you want to capture in your head and watch for them throughout your shoot.^{[8]
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- For example, if you’re photographing a high school football game, you may try to capture a picture of the quarterback celebrating a touchdown with their parents cheering in the background.
3
Be ready and willing to spend a lot of time on the road. Many sports photographers spend time on the road following a team for every single game. Make sure you have a reliable vehicle or way to get around so you’re able to keep up with the team. You may also need to edit or send photos no matter where you are, so having a mobile workstation or laptop can help you stay connected.^{[9]
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Question 3 of 8:

How do I get a photo pass for sporting events?

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Talk to a school’s athletic director to photograph their games. Visit or contact a local high school or university and ask them if they need anyone to take pictures of their events. Offer them your photos for their yearbook or school paper so you’re more likely to get the opportunity. While you’ll only be able to shoot events at that school, it’s a great way to get your foot in the door and build credibility.^{[10]
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- If you have a child enrolled in the school, you’re more likely to take pictures for them.
- Taking pictures for a school might not be a paid position, but you may still be able to sell some of your photos to publications.
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Request passes from your state’s athletic association. Every state has its own application and requirements to get a media pass, so research what you need for where you live. If they give you a pass, you might only be able to cover the current season of the sport. As you build up your portfolio and repertoire as a photographer, you might get offered yearly passes.^{[11]
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- This is usually only for high school or college games, but that’s a great place to start if you don’t have a lot of experience.
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Reach out to media outlets for freelance work. If you want to cover games in your area, contact any local newspapers or sports magazines to check if they need someone to cover the game. For larger professional events, reach out to national sports magazines, websites, or social media pages instead. Show off your portfolio to prove your photography skills so they’re more likely to give you a media pass.^{[12]
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- Some passes are given out on a game-to-game basis, but you may get hired to cover the entire season if the company is impressed with your portfolio.
- Instead of payment, some smaller companies may offer a byline, which is crediting your name on the photo. If they offer this, ask to include a link to your portfolio site or social media page so other potential employers can contact you.

Question 4 of 8:

How much does a sports photographer make?

You’ll usually make between $20,000–35,000 USD a year. The amount of money you earn really depends on how many events you shoot and where your photos get published. When you’re just starting off, expect a salary closer to $20,000–26,000 USD. If you’re staffed on a publication or working for larger professional games, you’ll usually get around $35,000 USD annually.^{[13]
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- Most sports photographers need to provide and maintain their own equipment, which can be pretty expensive when you’re starting off, so make sure you budget for those expenses.
- You’ll have to cover your own benefits and insurances if you work and sell your photos freelance. If you’re hired by a team or publication, they may offer those benefits along with your salary.

Question 5 of 8:

What cameras do sports photographers use?

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Pick a DSLR camera with a telephoto or zoom lens. Since you won’t get to be really close to the action, a standard lens won’t give you as dynamic of a shot. Instead, choose a camera that has a built-in zoom lens or interchangeable lenses so you can easily change them.^{[14]
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Research source} Aim for a lens that reaches at least 200–300 mm to help you get crisp photos from a distance.^{[15]
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- There isn’t a “correct” brand of camera for sports photography, so choose whatever you’re the most comfortable using. Panasonic, Nikon, and Kodak all make great and versatile cameras you can use.
2
Find a camera that has burst and auto-focus modes. Since action happens so fast during sports, you won’t have a lot of time to manually adjust your settings. Make sure the camera you use has an auto-focus setting so your images look really crisp. Burst mode lets you hold down the shutter and take multiple pictures at once, which helps you capture fast gameplay and movement without losing any quality.^{[16]
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- Burst mode might be listed as “continuous mode” on some cameras.
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Invest in a monopod and fast memory cards. You’ll need to stabilize your camera to take clear pictures of the action. Since tripods are more difficult to set up and move around, get a monopod that extends to the ground to attach to your camera. You’ll also want a few fast memory cards that are around 128 GB to process and save images faster so you’re able to take more.^{[17]
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- Get a nice camera bag to keep all of your gear safe and in one place.

Question 6 of 8:

What camera mode is best for sports photography?

1
Change to auto-focus so you don’t have to shift it manually. Since the players move around really fast and there’s a lot of action in sports games, it’s really hard to maintain focus manually. Find the auto-focus mode in the camera settings and turn it on whenever you start photographing sports. If your camera has multiple auto-focus points, change it to single-point focus so you have more accurate images.^{[18]
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- Auto-focus doesn’t work very well in low light settings, so you may have to manually focus your images if it’s dark or if your camera can’t find focus on your subject.
- If you can, re-assign the auto-focus function to a button on the back of your camera rather than the shutter button. That way, you won’t have to refocus as much as you adjust your composition.
2
Switch to continuous mode to take a lot of pictures quickly. Continuous mode lets you hold down your shutter button to take a burst of pictures. That way, you can just hold the button down when a lot of fast action happens without worrying about missing the most interesting moment. You can also move your camera while you’re taking pictures and your subject will stay in focus as long as you have your auto-focus also turned on.^{[19]
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- Taking a lot of photos will fill up your memory card fast, so try to only take pictures in short bursts so you can save some room.
3
Shoot in JPEG so you have more room for pictures. While most photographers shoot in RAW format for higher quality, it takes longer for your camera to process and takes up a lot of memory. To shoot more photos at a faster speed, go into your camera’s setting and change the format to JPEG instead. Even though the image quality won’t be as good, you’ll still have more chances to catch the most exciting moments in the game.^{[20]
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- Always bring extra memory cards so you don’t run out of space while you’re taking pictures at an event.

Question 7 of 8:

What is the best shutter speed for sports?

1
Use 1/500 of a second to get action shots for most sports. Go into your camera’s settings and turn up your shutter speed to a minimum of 1/500 of a second. This setting lets you capture crisp and clear photos even when the players are moving around a lot. Take a few test shots right before the event starts so you can check your photo quality and adjust your shutter speed.^{[21]
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- If you set your shutter speed any slower, then anything that’s moving in your picture might look blurry.
2
Switch to 1/1000 for motorsports. Since race cars and motorcycles move a lot faster, you have to compensate by turning up your shutter speed. Go into your camera’s settings and turn up your shutter speed so it’s even faster. That way, you won’t get any motion blurs on the vehicles when you take your pictures.^{[22]
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Question 8 of 8:

What is the best aperture for sports photography?

Pick a wide aperture around f2.8 or f/4. A wider aperture lets more light through your camera’s lens so your subjects look well-lit. It also makes things in the background go out of focus so the players or subjects of your photo stand out more. Go into your camera’s settings and look for the “f-stop” or “aperture” settings to make your adjustment.^{[23]
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- Blurred backgrounds look great during high-speed sports, such as cycling or hockey.
- It’s always better to get a wide shot of the photo rather than zooming in all the way with your lens since zoomed pictures let less light through the lens. You can always crop your images smaller when you’re editing them.

Community Q&A

Question

Is it possible that one day I could be a photographer for a national team?

CrazyGirl4

Community Answer

Yes, anything is possible if you work hard.

Warnings

Sports photography is a really competitive field, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a lot of gigs right away. Keep working on building your portfolio so you can improve your skills.^{[25]
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Avoid using the flash setting on your camera since it can distract the players.^{[26]
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