SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS You’ve Never Heard

Check out these five sports photography tips you've never heard. These small tricks will improve your sports photography and help you become a better sports photographer. The best sports photography advice you've never heard before. If you want to become a better sports photographer these tips will help you along the way.
0:00 - Intro
0:14 - Tip Number 1 - Body Positioning
2:08 - Tip Number 2 - Practicing Movements
4:45 - Tip Number 3 - Keep Your Second Body Active
5:25 - Tip Number 4 - Highlight Alert
6:18 - Tip Number 5 - Changing Your Focus Point Position
7:27 - Bonus Tip - Get a Cute Dog
Follow along on Instagram @paulrutherford_
Check out my images at www.paulrutherfordphotography.com
As always, leave any questions in the comments!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

What is the best thing you learned when starting out?

[@johnkofi-theultimatelife1315]

An old photographer told me to move the focus button to the thumb (separate it from shutter). Would you recommend that too? It does help for more creative shots and keeping the focus while things are passing by in front of the camera.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

@@johnkofi-theultimatelife1315 Very helpful to be able to make the focus button separate from the shutter button. I think I have a video about back button focus!

[@Twobarpsi]

To lock the white balance!

[@dcarson]

One good tip I learned 30 years ago was to don’t bother with lens caps. Only slow you down. Also, something I do is write stuff down, things I want to learn, things I need to remember, etc. The physical act of writing things down on paper has been proven to work better than typing it. Even if you don’t refer back to the note, you have a better chance of remembering it. Rite in Rain notebooks! You make great content! Seriously.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

@@dcarson Thanks for watching and sharing your tips! I love physically writing stuff down to remember!

[@BruceLeroyUK]

Useful as always, Paul. Thanks man.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Glad it was helpful!

[@songkosra12]

Wow. These are important tips that rarely talked about. Thanks man

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Glad you think so!

[@Twobarpsi]

Good tips!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Glad it was helpful!

[@howardesse1686]

Having a network of mentors who take their time and energy to talk with me about my photo work. Thanks for posting, Paul!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

That is one of the most helpful things to have! Thanks for wacthing!

[@rblast1]

Thanks for the tips!

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Spot on Paul. I always prepare my foot placement to easily rotate in 2 directions comfortably and smoothly. I always move my focus point mostly in baseball/softball. If I am shooting the batter, catcher and ump. I move the point left to be sure my batter us sharpest. Then move it back to the center a little up just for the batter. Finally, I learned by my mistakes on the second camera. I have preset my second camera with wider lens I use mostly for post game celebrations etc...Problem has been, when I preset it, it was light. At the end of an exciting game and instant celebrations begin, I have to pull out the second camera, wake it up and now it needs all new settings for night. Now during the 4th quarter, I pull it out and take a few shots toward the end and now I am ready for any possible celebrations. Thanks for all your tips.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Great point about changing the settings on the second camera as well! Sometimes I'll set it to aperture priority mode so it will at least be in the right ballpark if the light has changed a lot. Thanks for watching!

[@acardena13]

Great video! I use something similar for dual cameras where I prefocus the second camera for 4x4 racing: a400 mm for when the cars are farther away and a 18-135 for when they hit a corner turn

[@Paul_Rutherford]

You must have great timing pre-focusing while shootings cars! Thanks for wacthing!

[@acardena13]

@@Paul_Rutherford I do what you suggested and focus on a subject or something that's not moving and spray and pray

[@woodydwyerphotos]

Good video

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Thanks for watching!

[@rubenestrada8435]

I'm using a 1D mark 4 and a 1DX at work with a 300mm and 200mm lense. Ive noticed what I find the hardest is autofocusing in the subject. any tips? I miss so many shots due to not being able to properly focus.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I've got another video talking about focusing tips! Head to my channel to check it out.

[@bquinn722]

I’ve tried moving my focus points (called flexible spot for Sony) when shooting baseball but have struggled some with moving it fast enough as the players move. Besides the ability to frame the photo differently by moving a focus point to a side is there any big disadvantage to just using center focus and making the center of the frame where I want to focus? Willing to work more on moving the focus point if there is a true benefit, but center has been working for me so far. Would love to hear your thoughts.

[@Paul_Rutherford]

I don't think it is bad to leave it in the center at all times. For me there are a few scenarios I've shown where I move it around. Other than those it is in the center. You can leave it in the center all the time and shoot a little wider, then crop to the composition you want.

[@bquinn722]

@@Paul_Rutherford thanks for the response. Good to see you back making some awesome videos!

[@billyd9955]

I love you. I hate that you shoot New england sports lol. Cant you live in a different area so I dont have to see those awful patriots lol

[@Paul_Rutherford]

Haha, I put in a Tampa Bay player...who used to play for the Patriots.