How to Photograph Volleyball - Focusing, Locations, Indoor Light, Settings, Gear

Pro Photographer explains how to Photograph Volleyball. Come with me and see my POV while shooting volleyball. Tips on gear, settings, focusing, indoor light, and knowing the game. Everything you need to know to improve your volleyball photography.
High school volleyball is shown but all the tips apply to all levels!
0:00 - Setting the Scene
0:15 - Avoiding the Net
2:06 - Focusing
2:43 - Locations
4:23 - Evaluating the Light
5:06 - Reactions
5:40 - Knowing the Game
6:48 - Gear
7:16 - Settings
Follow along on Instagram @paulrutherford_
Check out my images at www.paulrutherfordphotography.com
As always, leave any questions in the comments!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Whats the toughest sport you photograph?

[@russgifford]

For a long time I'd say Volleyball because of the small space and people moving all the time. I'd love to be able to shoot with that much space as you have in this video, most of the gyms I'm in are much smaller (and darker.) Thanks for the videos!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

@@russgifford I do feel lucky with a few of these gyms, although there is one that is so old with flickering lights that I shoot super high ISO. Not my favorite. haha

[@alexmartins4013]

I would say hockey. Because of the glass and the bad lights.

[@Twobarpsi]

For me, soccer. Mainly because my longest lens is only 200mm.

[@MarcoLiraEdufis]

Even the university gyms in my area (which are supposed to be bigger/better) are ridiculously poorly lit. @@russgifford

[@mikephotos225]

I shoot for a Division I Power 5 college volleyball team and I fully agree with Paul's recommendations. He's one of the first people I've seen on KZbin to recommend focusing on an attacker's legs under the net. That really works because, usually, the thighs will be in the same plane as the face on an attack. One additional thing I would recommend is shooting warm-ups. You have more freedom to move around the court before actual play starts. During warmups, you can ask the referees if you can shoot from the referee stand and usually they will say yes. Also, you can get really low. One of my favorite shots is to put my camera on a Platypod on the floor aiming up to get really dynamic shots of attackers in the air. Thanks, Paul - great info.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for the kudos! Shooting warms ups can be very valuable. I normally don't only because my schools don't use the photos that much, but you can for sure get great images then as well!

[@inittoo]

some really nice tips. nice video.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Glad you liked it!

[@boostedmaniac]

I’m glad I shoot swimming outdoors. The indoor lighting would drive me nuts.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I would love to shoot swimming outdoors, not only is it lowlight, but normally the lights have such bad hues to them too.

[@boostedmaniac]

@@Paul_Rutherford yeah totally understand that. The lighting in those gyms are always dingy looking. I had to shoot a swim meet once inside a gym. It’s a battle keeping shutter up to freeze the action vs noise. And to top it off the light quality.

[@billwhite2818]

Great video. Could have used this a few weeks ago when I shot college volleyball for the first time. It took me about 2-3 sets to figure out what I was doing. One of the fastest, unpredictable sports in a confined space I’ve shot. Thanks again for the hard work you put into your videos.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Hope it goes better next time and thanks for the recognition of the hard work!

[@Guyontables]

I do follow the entire game and the fans. Learning who the relatives are helps. Getting their reactions are nice and the the family hugs after the game with players and parents.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

The more you know the better the photos. So helpful to follow a team enough to know the families!

[@fordresearch2312]

Really nice tips. On my last session I tried with manual focus to avod the net. If you adjust the focus on the attack line, there are many chances that you can have a clear photo of attackers and defenders and avoid focusing the net. It is frustrating when you arrive at home and you see all those good pictures ruined by the net :D

[@Paul_Rutherford]

So annoying when you realize the net messed up your photos!

[@waynelukehart3092]

@@Paul_Rutherford .... check the photos after every sequence! Do not wait until you get home to find out that adjustments were necessary to obtain good captures!

[@PeteMazPhoto]

Paul, great tips as usual. Two points I would like to add. Get the basics of the sport you are photographing. Because you will be lost and playing catch-up. Second be prepared to be in some some gyms that are dark as dungeons. I was in one that I had to shoot with my 85/1.8 to save the photos and rethought my positioning. Don’t be afraid to shoot a game with a “non-sport” lens something’s, it might make you into a better photographer.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Love that message of shooting with a "non-sport" lens. Helps to try and see things differently and get you out of the comfort zone.

[@AliEdwardsDesignInc]

Really helpful! Thank you!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

You're welcome!

[@johnmoore8435]

Great Video Paul, thanks for making this one. Volleyball is definitely the toughest for me to shoot, so any tips and reminders are greatly appreciated.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Glad it helps!

[@MariahGage-yt9ex]

N favorites are blocks n spikes or a deep dive

[@Paul_Rutherford]

good stuff!

[@moniganphotography6520]

Great work as always!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

appreciate it!

[@mirandaceef4814]

Muito bom! Obrigado pelas dicas!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ethanscofield1013]

I shot some beach volleyball for the first time back in the summer and the timing was very different than anything else I’ve done before. It’s a lot of fun to shoot tho!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Very fun to shoot! Even if you miss you'll probably get another chance. haha

[@ericmdrs]

Great tip with getting their feet for a spike. never thought of that

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks! Took me a while to figure that one out.

[@Twobarpsi]

That's a great tip.

[@bquinn722]

Fantastic video! Have really been enjoying watching these types of videos. Always something to learn! Really good idea on focusing on the feet. Question on single point focus generally with sports. How did you practice to become good at being able to both move the focus (any sport) and still get the photo? I have been using center focus which has worked good as I’ve found it very difficult to both move to focus point and still have time to get the shot .

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Great question! I'm generally not moving the focus point as I'm taking the photo. I will switch it if I notice I'm not getting the framing I want using the joystick on my camera. Or in the volleyball case, since I was shooting from the endline I knew I was trying to get blocks and spikes. Which means I want my point low. So I kept it low the entire time in the position. When I switch positions or the type of shot I want I will switch the location of the focus point. Hope that helps!

[@RivaiKelana]

Is it possible with the Sony A7iii + Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens? I only have that lens, for Photograph Volleyball

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Good question. For sure you can photograph volleyball with that lens. You'll probably want to stay in the middle of the court instead of the end lines though.

[@charliejg]

I typically use back button focus as well. I agree with you regarding HS being a bit easier to shoot. Club volleyball was harder because the skills are better and because good shooting locations aren't as easy to find. Question: How do you handle white balance? In the video it looks like you have it set to "S" (sunny)???. But, that probably was on a day with lots of natural light coming through the windows. Do you typically set a Kelvin value or just use auto WB? Thanks for the info, have a great weekend.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

If I'm shooting raw then i normally shoot auto white balance. But if it is jpeg I may switch to Kelvin since inside the light shouldn't be changing, unless you have flickering lights. Not sure what the S you saw was. Maybe it happened to be a bright day, but I almost never use that. haha

[@bobstudio4367]

Have you tried using a remote camera placed under the platform for the referee? Just wondering if that would be high enough for a view along the top of the net.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Great question. I havn't tried that. Could be cool with permission, might be tough to get the right focus spot since the blocker/hitter could be at a few different spots. But with a high f/stop I'm sure you could get something!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

I used the same gear and settings but did not get all sharp images and for some reason a lot of images were kind of orange, so I did that one match and was done. No more for me lol

[@Paul_Rutherford]

White balance! And also sometimes the light is just bad and will reflect off of the floor to give an orange hue. Don't give up it'll be better the next time!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Trying a basketball tournament, the next three days@@Paul_Rutherford

[@garyrivera895]

I've had this debate with people before but why are all of your shots horizontal? I've always felt that volleyball is "mostly" not always a vertical game. So much wasted space from side to side.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Honestly I rarely crop/shoot vertical. No great reason except a lot of my photos will be used horizontally for the clients I shoot for. But totally agree with you that some of the photos can have wasted space on the sides in horizontal crops.

[@mikephotos225]

Paul hit it on the head. It depends on the client but people like Sports Information departments, local or school newspapers want horizontal shots because they fit better in news stories. Some will even have a specific crop factor that they require (my college has this). I shoot some vertical but those are rarely picked up for publication.

[@MarcoLiraEdufis]

No way to use 1/2000 in the gyms I hit up. Any cave is better lit, seriously impossible ç_ç

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Its the only one I've been able to do it in. And only during a sunny day game.

[@mmills006]

Haha, that was the first thing I noticed, and I was quite jealous. If I am lucky I can shoot 1/1000 but usually 1/800 or 1/640 with my f2.8. I find myself shooting volleyball more with an 85mm f1.8 these days as I am normally very close to the sideline so don't need the added reach of the 70-200 and the extra light from the f1.8 helps me stay at 1/800 or 1/1000 shutter speed. ISO is usually around 1600-3200

[@DJCENTIF1]

I can’t sit on the floor. I look like a turtle on its back

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Haha. I tend to look pretty silly as well when shooting. You can try bringing a small chair to sit in as well. Or at least sitting on the lowest part of the bleachers.