Photographing Fast-Moving Subjects & Action - What you need to know

I haven’t always specialized in filming and photographing dancers. But I HAVE always enjoyed fast-moving subjects, whether that be athletes, animals, leisure sport, or cars. I find it challenging in the best possible way, and really feel it elevates your skill as a photographer, since time of capture is so essential. You have just one moment to get the shot! Today I want to share some tips for photographing subjects in motion.

I have photographed all types of action/sports, and am particularly drawn to it as a mover myself. I love to be where the action is. I’ve photographed track events, countless dancers, recreational sports, and more. It was what I would practice photographing most when I was starting out with photography.

If there’s one thing you should consider when diving into this style of photography, it is available light, and shutter speed. Depending on how much you want to “freeze” your subject, you’ll want the ability to shoot a very high shutter speed. Which is not a huge issue so long as there is plenty of available light. Of course, if it’s getting dark and you don’t have one of those fancy low-light cameras, you will need to either supplement light with a strobe or on-camera flash, bump the ISO significantly (likely resulting in poor quality images), or risk getting a LOT of motion blur.

In order to get a decent freeze-frame, you’ll want to shoot at 1/500 second shutter or higher. I think it’s important to have a LITTLE motion blur to show the subject is actually in motion. It would look like of awkward otherwise.

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