10 surf photography tips to get yourself to the next level

This video will give you 10 quick tips that are designed to get you thinking more about your surf photography and give you some insights that you may not be considering when shooting surf action.
Topics include Composition, Focus, Camera Settings, Water drop free lens ports, Stabilisation, Using Light and much more.
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WATER PHOTOGRAPHY | PHOTO TIPS | PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Disclaimer: (This video is not sponsored. Some product links listed are affiliate links which means if you buy something I may receive a small commission... but you will get the product for the same price or normally cheaper with most of the links I share, and it will help the channel stay alive)

[@zoestrapp4359]

Thanks so much for these amazing tips ! Loving all your videos, especially during this down time

[@jariol]

Your photos are beautiful thanks for the tips

[@dreamlifephotography]

thanks so much, glad you liked the video!

[@PaulLavoine]

The last advice with all others shots that can tell the story of the trip is the best one

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks so much Paul, appreciate your feedback. Yes the back story or in between moments that bring it all together are really valuable. Cheers

[@krisgross5224]

great great video man

[@dreamlifephotography]

thanks so much Kris... really appreciate. I've just filmed a new video on how I shoot surf action with a long lens from the land, so I would love for you to tune into that when I get it all edited and loaded up... cheers mate

[@hannahprewitt4721]

Great video Tom. You really made me think about some things here. Your work is top of my inspiration list at the moment!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Wow thanks so much Hannah really appreciate. So stoked you like the video!!! Yew

[@henrietpierre]

Great video!

[@jasonmasterman9735]

Great work, thanks for pumping out this type of video 🤙🏻

[@dreamlifephotography]

You are most welcome, so pumped that it has provided some value, thanks mate

[@hudsonsshittyvideos]

Finally someone giving tips that actually takes good photos.

[@dreamlifephotography]

Oh thanks legend!! appreciate the kind words mate

[@fennadeking]

Awesome video Tom - thank you !!!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Cheers Fenna - So happy you enjoyed it!

[@julianrodriguez_]

Thanks for making this video man! I've been filming surf with my drone for 2 years and only recently got the courage to pick up a Sony a6300 to try my hand and beach shooting and maybe get into the water shots. subbed!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thats awesome mate! If you can combine drone, beach and water together you will get some really great results. Takes the visual story telling to a new level. Thanks for stopping by my channel . Cheers Tom

[@nickathos7428]

One of the best vids ive seen in awhile keep them coming mate🤙

[@dreamlifephotography]

Oh awesome, thanks Nick... super stoked that you liked it! appreciate

[@caulicuretm9258]

Great Tips. Thanks for the effort. Appreciated. 🙌🏼

[@dreamlifephotography]

Cheers, glad you liked it!

[@66Jigsaw]

Great Vid mate, your shared experience has opened my eyes!! everything you said makes perfectly good sense... cheers mate

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thats so amazing to hear, thanks for reaching out, I really appreciate it!!

[@megandinnie38]

Great video! Thanks for the tips and awesome insights!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks Megan, so glad you got some good insights, appreciate your message

[@bvista58]

thank you Tom, some great tips here, much appreciated!....will try to keep your words of inspiration at the back of my mind at Bells next month :)

[@dreamlifephotography]

awesome mate, glad to hear this!!! Bells produces amazing light it bounces off those cliffs in the mornings so nicely.. freaking love the energy there, are you going for the comp?? ... got a new KZbin coming soonish about shooting surf action from the land, so stayed tuned for that.. thanks for your message

[@bvista58]

@@dreamlifephotography thank you Tom for taking the time to reply ...Yes, going to the comp....before the easter crowd arrives :). One of my highlights every year.... Looking forward to your next video...cheers

[@dreamlifephotography]

@@bvista58 epic mate... hope you score some good swell and nice light... enjoy!

[@bvista58]

@@dreamlifephotography thanks Tom.....to you all the best too and thanks again for passing your knowledge on...!

[@robbieirlam414]

Incredibly amazing shots! Thanks for the heads up, Tom! Aloha from Jeffreys Bay. #supertubessurfphotography #inspiring

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks so much Robbie! really appreciate your message. Jeffreys Bay is on my bucket list for sure, lucky to have a spot like that mate!

[@Realletsplaygrey]

Thank you for these tips, I recently moved to Guam and got my first water housing, I tried shooting surfers the other day and it went so poorly haha. These tips definitely help.

[@dreamlifephotography]

Cheers mate, yeah surf photography can be challenging but super rewarding!! stick with it. I have a free 40 minute online workshop if you haven't already seen it. You can get access at the link below: waterphotographycourses.com/wp-sign-up-page

[@yahyachawki4236]

شكرا جزيلا

[@danielfriasfotografia]

Great video Tom!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks so much Daniel, appreciate the feedback

[@michaeldelore7245]

Great vid Tom

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks Michael, stoked you liked it!

[@surfersofcanarias]

Great tips to think about!! LIKE!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks so much Xavier !! appreciate your feedback

[@thisisfrankie]

I don’t even shoot surf 🏄‍♀️ but your tips and images were incredible mate!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks much mate, so happy you liked it and appreciate your message🙏🏽😀

[@saajidluenzo]

Thank you so much

[@dreamlifephotography]

My pleasure! I love sharing my experiences with water and surf photography, so glad you liked it. If you do want more on this topic I have a free workshop on water and surf photography. Join up to it here: waterphotographycourses.com/wp-sign-up-page

[@jennfarmer7240]

thats amazing

[@dreamlifephotography]

thanks so much for your feedback

[@thomastarner8683]

So stoked right now..... Just ordered my housing and a couple ports to start shooting from the water. Keep up the great work Tom!!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks mate!! this makes me so happy!!!! such a healthy and creative outlet that will bring you so much joy and opportunities. What housing did you end up getting?

[@thomastarner8683]

@@dreamlifephotography I'm going with the Aqua Tech Elite II for the D850 along with two port set ups to accommodate the Tamron 15-30mm and the Nikon 24-70mm. Probably going to get a port for the 70-200mm later on too.

[@dreamlifephotography]

@@thomastarner8683 That is one EPIC setup man. You will be loving it! so stoked for you

[@johnjulian3851]

Thanks so much for your vid Tom. Cheer's John

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks John, stoked you liked it!!

[@surfersofsiargao3714]

Thankyou for this

[@dreamlifephotography]

Cheers for the message, glad you liked it!

[@Jackson-mp7di]

fantastic tips great vid.

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks so much for your feedback, so glad you liked it!

[@gregmccarthycronulla]

Very well done

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks Greg! appreciate mate

[@waipahutube]

great video !! mahalo

[@dreamlifephotography]

thanks so much for your response. So stoked you liked it

[@nomadictimbo9185]

Brilliant video mate! I'm going to start surf photography very soon and I think the information you gave could not have been better. I have a 55-200mm at the moment, but I will soon purchase a Sigma 100-400 DG OS HSM for my M50 mk ii. I know you said 200mm can work sometimes, but is it only when the beach breaks are close to shore? The reason I ask is because I'm hoping to get some good shots before I get the 100-400. Thanks dude and have already subscribed to your channel 🤘

[@dreamlifephotography]

Thanks mate, so happy you got some value and thanks so much for subscribing. Yes the 400mm will be more suited for the waves that break further out and give some impact if looking for that tight action. I find the 200mm lenses are good when you can either include interesting foreground or back drops. If the surf is just straight out to the horizon the 200mm is not the best. It will be good for close shore breaks however. But yeah try and find spots with good backgrounds and foregrounds and that way you can get away with the shorter focal lengths. Enjoy the journey mate.. thanks again for taking the time to write this comment!

[@simonharper4225]

Great video! I'm having trouble getting the autofocus right for shots from the beach where the surfers are pretty far away at Ocean Beach in San Francisco using A7iii. It's a hectic beach break and there's white water everywhere. I'm using a 100-400 with a 1.4x extender, but often find the focus is on whitewater away from the surfer and the image isn't sharp. I've tried different AF settings and AF modes but can't seem to get it right. Any tips from anyone would be really helpful. Thanks!

[@dreamlifephotography]

Hi Simon, If you aren't already I would try to set the focusing POINTS to single point. A lot of cameras have all over focusing points the camera will naturally choose the closest point (which is the foreground whitewater) and lock into that. To avoid this choose a single point of focus in the middle or maybe either side of the middle and then follow the surfer with the focusing point over the surfer the entire time. Use servo focus or continuous focus mode for best results with sport photos. Also you can use the "back focus" method which is hard to explain in a KZbin comment but I have an entire video tutorial on that inside my Water Photography Courses. The other thing is that the 1.4 extenders can effect the quality of auto focus if the extender isn't of a very high grade, if it is top quality then it should be still fine. Hope this helps mate

[@autumnbrowning9682]

@@dreamlifephotography Hi, it's been awhile since you posted this video so I hope you see this. I'm not new to shooting surfers from land (or piers or jetties) but I am new to the 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 II (Canon). In my first couple times out, I do seem to miss focus more than I am used to with other lenses. I use AI Servo, AF mode 1, burst. I shoot in manual but have the shutter at least 1/1000. Also using a monopod. I came here to ask about the single point vs other options. I was thinking maybe I shouldn't use single point focus bc it seems I get the water or the surfer's body but not face in focus. I use a crop sensor camera and am comfortable with back-button focus. I feel like I'm doing something wrong with this lens. Or perhaps just need more practice with it? Photos mostly look good on my screen until I look at 1:1 (100%) in Lightroom.

[@dreamlifephotography]

@@autumnbrowning9682 Hey there, sorry to hear you aren't getting the results you are happy with. I have found with my photography that single point focus in the most precise, as long as you have the focus point on the surfer. With this lens and how far away you are from the subject if their body is in focus then their face will be as well. Focus is just locking in distance and as far as your lens is from the surfer this will be the same distance. I shoot with the 400mm 5.6 prime lens and have found I get sharper results when I set my aperture off the maximum of 5.6 - I have started setting it at F 6.3 and have found I get sharper results. Viewing at 100% in lightroom can show up flaws that would not be visable in print, so maybe don't be too harsh on yourself with that.

[@davidelliott6610]

thanks for the tips, the photo of 6:52 did you use a polarizing filter?

[@dreamlifephotography]

Hey David, thanks for your message, glad you liked the video. I did NOT use a polariser filter for that photo, I don't use them that much except for in rain forests, or super reflective rock faces in a landscape (and other scenes).... but they can be handy in certain situations. I actually have a tutorial inside my "Confident Photographer" course. It goes into when to use them and when not to. But yeah they can be a handy tool or a super distructive tool depending on when you choose to use it.

[@thepanel2935]

Tom, do you know the surf spot in Tahiti called Teahupo'o? I guess most surfers would be familiar with it, but I'm only a photographer, not a surfie. Anyway, I have an opportunity to be in Teahupo'o next year and I've heard it has some of the world's biggest waves and best surfers. Have you been there? If so, what lenses would be best? Someone told me it's almost impossible to shoot there because the waves are _"a mile out to sea"._ Is that correct? How would you tackle the job if you were limited to shooting from the shoreline, not from a boat or jet-ski?

[@dreamlifephotography]

Hey There, yes well aware of the wave Teahupoo ... amazing break!!! All of the images from that waves are either taken from the side of a boat or jet ski, or from the water by very experienced water men / photographers.... you should be able to get a boat out there, I don't think you would get even a half decent photo from the land... possibly via a drone (if that's allowed) I have not been there, but hope to one day... although it has been over photographed so much in the last 10 years, so there's nothing new about it anymore, but its got to be one of the most amazing waves on the planet.. the mountain range looks incredible there and the opportunities around the island for underwater photography would be world class!! hope you have a great trip!

[@victoriarte]

What about focus ?

[@dreamlifephotography]

thanks for your question Victoria. I have a stack of information about focusing in my online workshops. Some are free and some are paid. You can check out all the info at: waterphotographycourses.com/ I also have focusing stuff inside my KZbin channel as well. Cheers Tom

[@user-xq7bh1yk6o]

Great video / thanks/ I need advice to update/ From a R-T-6 w 300mm to either new lens 500+ or whole new set up / angle more towards videos/ but on a budget/// is the cannon D really better 4k is almost a must now / and this mirror less thing too ,,, so much to know for a hobby… @jeffhandysurfphotography.

[@dreamlifephotography]

Hey Jeff, yes there are many options and almost all of them will produce great results, so I feel its more about refining your craft and skills rather than focusing too heavily on the gear, but the big 3 of Canon, Sony and Nikon are the safest brands to go for long term. I you get really in depth with it all, these 3 brands have everything that you will need... lenses are not interchangeable between brands so its good to pick one and stick with it. I have used Canon for 24 years now and they have performed with everything Ive done from personal projects to high end commercial work, so I can 100% reccomend their gear... the colour straight off the camera is the best and the focusing systems are very accurate, especially with the newer mirrorless range... but Sony and Nikon cameras are also super powerful and will do everything you require of them.... I think mirrorless for video is a big advantage so look at your options there I would say.... let me know if you have any questions