Motivation

6 Sports Photography Tips for Beginners

Photojournalist David Miller, recently earned the coveted title of 'People’s Choice Sports Photographer' at the British Photography Awards, 2023. An avid trail runner himself, David is immersed in the trail running community and his passion for the sport takes him around the globe to cover some of the world's biggest ultra-running events. 

His work rarely requires explanation. Instead, he lets his photography do the storytelling, capturing experiences and emotion through the lens in his own unique style.

Here, in this article, David shares 6 of his top tips for any aspiring sports photographers looking to do some storytelling of their own.

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A MOMENT IN TIME (2022) by David Miller

The award-winning image in the Sports Category of the British Photography Awards, 2023.

French athlete Mathieu Blanchard on the finish line of UTMB (Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc) 2022. This is what a sub 20 hour, 106-mile run around Mont Blanc looks like.

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1. Be inspired but be original

Be original and come up with your own creative ideas to stand out from the crowd. The most successful photographers all have their own style going on. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but there’s far too many imitators out there. Find inspiration from others but don't copy their work.

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2. Use the light

Light is your best friend when it comes to photography. It can make the difference between a good photo and a great photo. Golden hour is a good place to start, either early morning or late in the day as it creates beautiful contrasts of colours and light. Lighting is so important when it comes to photography as it determines not only brightness and darkness, but also the mood, tone and the atmosphere of a photo. 

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3. Take photos in bursts

Burst photos allow you to capture multiple shots of your moving subject. Once you've taken a set of burst photos, you can then select the best one! An example being a runner with good posture.

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4. Learn what your camera can do

You don’t need a big expensive camera to take good photos. I shot with a mid-level DSLR camera (with a single zoom lens) for three years! I’ve also seen so many cool shots taken with smartphones. There really are no rules when it comes to photography. 

Take some time to find out exactly what your camera is capable of. Mastering the manual mode by getting to know all the settings and learning the photography theory will propel your skills to new heights and help you take even better photos. This is the main goal. Practice makes perfect!

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5. Easy editing

This is a personal preference as some photographers (like myself) don’t like overly edited photos. However editing tools are in abundance even on smartphones, whether in the camera phones built-in editor, or by using more advanced phone apps like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. You can crop and touch up your photos in a matter of seconds.

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6. Composition

This is one of the biggest things for me. I look for good composition in all my photos. A good example is when you reach a good viewpoint. Try putting your subject (i.e. runner) in the bottom corner and using the landscape as a backdrop to spread across the rest of the photo. It’s a great way to demonstrate the scale of where you are!

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Photos by David Miller. All images are copyright protected.
Follow David on Instagram here

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Are you feeling inspired? Then join our SportsShoes Strava Run Club and become part of our inclusive community.
And for more inspirational tips to become stronger, better and happier, then check out our Motivation category. Because it’s no fun standing still.