Want to make studio-quality sports images outdoors on the playing field? Volume sports photographer Jay Boatwright, who will speak on the topic at Imaging USA, has ideas for you:
1. Mirrorless is indispensable. Electronic viewfinder, superior auto focusing systems, image stabilization, articulating displays—these are a few of the many things that make mirrorless cameras essential for a volume photography sports session, Boatwright says.
2. Overpower the sun. Don’t even think that 200, 400, or 600 watts of lighting will be enough. A 1200-watt strobe will serve you best when shooting outdoors all day long.
3. Use dynamic transmitters. Since lighting conditions change constantly outdoors, you must have the ability to turn strobes on and off and control the power of every strobe from your camera.
4. Great assistants are gold. Posing hundreds of athletes yourself as you make portraits will not lead to quality results. “Hire and train assistants that can pose your subjects quickly and efficiently,” Boatwright says. “Keep the line moving quickly to keep coaches happy.”
5. Plan for the crowd. The last thing you need during a six- to eight-hour shoot is a bunch of parents barking orders in the background, says Boatwright. Plan for crowd control. Where are the players going to wait in line? Where do they go after the photos? Where do coaches and parents wait, and will a line of cars or people be in your background?
Amanda Arnold is associate editor.
Tags: sports photography