Introduction to Sport Photography

Sports photography is one of the few remaining pure forms of documentary photography. The moment happens and it is gone. You either capture it in an image or you don't. Unlike sports writers and television, still photographers don't have the luxury of instant replay.

At its best, great sports photography captures not only the tremendous skills and abilities of the athletes in action, but also the passions and emotions of those involved in the game. The best sports photojournalism also tells the story of what happened in the game.

So you want to be a sports photographer?
It can be a great job if you love sports and photography. You get into the games for free. You get the best seats in the house, and you get paid to do it!
However, it is very difficult to make a living as a sports photographer. In fact, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a living as any kind of photographer. You have to be very good excellent at the craft of photography and you have to be a good great business person. You also have to be very lucky because the odds are really against you. There are very few full-time sports photography jobs available.

On the other hand, if you just love sports and photography, and don't need to make a living at it, it can be extremely rewarding and a lot of fun!
On the following pages, I'll try to tell you about what it takes to be a sports photographer, and how to take great sports photos.