How to Photograph Wrestling: Gear, Positioning, Settings, and Other Tips

[@JessicaPattersonPhD]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@cesarangeles1699]

Perfect timing on this video since I may be traveling for a wrestling event this weekend! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Would be awesome, in the future, if you had someone filming BTS of you capturing the shots.

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Thanks! Yes, shooting video of myself while also trying to get decent photos of the game is a challenge I haven’t quite mastered. My intent is to be more “vloggish” in the future.

[@peakwebineering4977]

I’m not sure how to share photos in these comments, but your tips contributed to my getting some amazing wrestling shots this weekend, even at ISO 10,000 and 12,800 with my little EOS 90D. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise!!!

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Glad I could help!

[@PetrThaGr8]

Brushing up before an event today. Thank you!

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Good luck!!

[@markguerin6071]

Great information. Thank you for sharing it! I went to a meet last weekend and used some of the types found here.

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danielmower5261]

Thank you! This helped out a lot

[@918ChevyGuy]

Great video Jack. I have shot quite a bit of wrestling matches and I can say that there's one thing that I encounter and that is the cheerleaders. Most cheerleading squads are on the opposite side from the scorer's table. If both cheerleading squads are there, the home team squad will sit in front of the scorer's table. I typically will sit on the opposite side of the scorer's table as well but will sit in the corner. I'll try to switch corners if I can. You can get some good shots of the cheerleaders doing their cheers. I just started shooting with my 70-200 f2.8 on my newly acquired D500. I also will take my 24-120 f4. Thanks for posting. Love your videos. Great information as always.....

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Thanks! I didn’t mention cheerleaders because it doesn’t seem to be a thing around here - at least not anymore. I do remember growing up in this region and they had “mat maids”. I’m guessing they don’t call them that anymore!

[@Cali62825]

I absolutely LOVE your video! This is as informative as Jerry Lai’s videos! Thanks for the diagrams and positioning info!

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Thanks for watching!

[@dangerspouse4741]

I really got a lot out of this video, even though I don't intend to shoot wrestling matches. I was actually searching for videos on how to photograph fencing matches (along the lines of what Serge Timacheff does) but have not had much success on that front. My local high school asked me if I would shoot some of their fencers in action, and I was looking for tips. I have an extensive knowledge of the sport from having been a decades long competitor, but I've never done sports photography of any sort. I did glean a lot of general info from this video however, for which I'm grateful. Your production values here were excellent, and you have an equally excellent on-camera presence. I look forward to seeing more of your work. All the best to you (and your son, in his wrestling endeavors!).

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Thank you! I've worked hard on production values and on-camera presence over the last year I've had this channel. Boy, my early videos were ROUGH! LOL

[@dangerspouse4741]

@@JackBeasleyMedia Well you have certainly improved quickly, and quite noticeably. Well done! And thanks for the reply :)

[@danc3746]

The score table is usually lit with a bright light, not a good idea to shoot into that. I use a mounted bounce flash with a 70-200 lens at 2.8, too much shadow with that center light. I use high speed sync at 320 and let the flash stop the action. 4000 to 5000 ISO, I use that ISO to adjust exposure as they move away and closer to me. My White Balance is at 4500 to 5000.

[@haroldmassey5966]

Love wrestling, thanks Jack

[@jimgarland6231]

I am a 20 year wrestling ref. Here are some call outs. 1) talk to the ref before a meet or tournament. Let them know you are a paid photographer and not a parent who has camera. We hate when parents are around the edge of the mat. There is safety concerns and abusive that may occur with people on the end. 2) When you do talk to the ref, ask them where they prefer you to be for safety and rules. Many time we will let you be by the scoretable away from parents. 3) DO NOT USE FLASH. You may think it won't hurt but it does affect the mat. I have been blinded by a flash. I have had wrestlers stop do to the flash.

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Great advice, thanks!

[@volvoman2324]

In school i played water polo. The jv cheerleaders would kindly come out and cheer for one of our matches once a year. It was funny how they could not figure out when to cheer as they did not understand what was happening. A little research can go a long way 🙂 . Candid and celebration may be more marketable ?? More approachable??? Sometimes the score can help tell the story or getting a little wide to tell the story like the coach or bench

[@bh8263]

Are you using continuous high-speed or single shot shutter?

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Continuous high