Get in the Game: How to Take Better Kids Sport Action Pics with Your Smartphone

The smell of the dirt, the cool breeze, and the welcome warmth of the sun - it's finally spring sports season! Can you believe it? For many families, this time of year can mean long hours away from home, quick meals on the go, and a hectic schedule that is all somehow worth it when you see your kid out on the field doing what they do best. 

And with all of the time and dedication sports families pour into a season, it's totally normal to want to capture as many of these moments as possible as a keepsake to an amazing time. It's also probably a good idea to share at least a few pics on social media now and then so people know you're OK. We all know that for several weeks out of the spring sports families have been known to disappear almost entirely from regular civilization. 

6 Tips to Capturing Better Sports Action Shots From Your Smartphone

You're out there on the bleachers, watching every move and beaming with pride. Your kids team is in the lead and the excitement is contagious. This would be such a great moment to capture on film but alas, all you have is your smartphone. That's ok! You can totally take share-worthy pics on your phone with these six simple tips. 

1. Always Take a Photo in the Camera - Never use an app!

The first thing you want to remember is to always take your photos in the camera itself. This mean never try photographing in an app - this includes both social media apps and photo editing apps. 

Why? There are many reasons! But one of the most important reasons, that we will touch more on below, is that it limits your ability to keep taking photos. 

And that brings me to my next tip. . . 

2. Take More Photos Than You Think You'll Need.

The great thing about digital images is that you can take a bunch of photos and simply delete the ones you don't like later on. So go ahead, take as many photos as your storage will hold! 

3. Don't Check the Image After Each Picture. 

When we're taking kids sports photos at the schools/organizations we partner with in the community, we ALWAYS check our images. We look for open eyes, straight clothing, and minimal hair fly-away's so you're getting the best image possible. But when you're trying to capture a moment in the middle of a game, it's best to try and keep this (oh so tempting action) to a minimum! With the fast pace movement of the game, checking your pics could mean missing something better. 

4. Use Burst Mode for Action Shots. 

This is another great thing to remember and use for capturing fast moving action shots. In the camera, most smartphones have the option to take photos in burst mode. This means that the camera will take photos one after another in a quick sequence. Using burst mode could mean the difference between the winning catch and a second too late. 

5. Never Crop in Camera. 

Please, leave that zoom alone! Yes, it's tempting but smartphones don't really zoom well and your pictures will end up pixelated.

The best practice would be to get as close to the subject as possible (no, you can't walk out into the game) and to photograph with just a little extra space around the image. Then, after you've taken the photo in camera, move it into an editing app and crop it down to the perfect photo. Even if you can't get close, cropping in an external app is always better that using the zoom on a smartphone. 

6. Be different. Find a New Angle. 

Look around. How many parents are taking a photo of the same game from the same spot? Finding a new angle can help your images stand out from the crowd! So stand up, walk around, maybe try taking a photo from the ground level. There are many different angles in which a photo can be taken. 

Sports photography can be a little bit tricky to get right, but we hope that with these six simple tips you'll be on your way to capturing stellar action shots in no time! And when it's time to sum up an amazing season, we look forward to providing you and your family with an amazing keepsake image of your athlete and their team! 

If you're wondering when we'll be at your school or organization to photograph the players, check with your sports administrator, give us a call at 810.629.9593 or send us an email and we would be happy to let you know! You can also contact us to learn more about how we give back to the communities we serve through our sports photography sessions. 

So... happy spring sports season everyone! We look forward to see you on the fields, track, and basketball courts soon! Go team! 

Are you super proud of your kid and can't get enough images to share? We also offer in studio sports packages that truly show your athlete in their element!