Composition & Content

  • Fill the frame with the athlete and/or action.
    • Ensure that you are capturing action and/or moments that fill the frame. You want the emphasis to be on the subject, or make sure to capture pivotal moves/moments that families would want to cherish as memories.
  • Focus on faces.
    • Whenever possible, shoot in a way that captures faces and expressions. With rare exceptions, the photos that sell prominently feature faces or, at the very least, clearly show jersey numbers and dynamic movement.
  • Capture behind-the-scenes, sidelines, and emotional moments.
    • DON’T PUT THE CAMERA DOWN JUST BECAUSE THE WHISTLE BLOWS. Candid, between-action shots are surprisingly popular at Phlox Photography. Make sure to include in-between/sideline moments as much as possible. Images that show the athletes’ faces sell best; those that show both the face and jersey name/school name sell even better. If you can, capture photos AFTER THE GAME that show interactions between athletes, friends, coaches, and, of course, family members. As sports photographers, we also strive to create lasting memories. It is those unexpected emotional moments that families want to cherish forever.