25 Common Sports Photography Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
By CWP Media
Every sports photographer, from beginners to seasoned professionals, has missed the perfect shot. The good news? Most mistakes are preventable with preparation, practice, and a few adjustments to your technique.
At CWP Media, we've photographed thousands of sporting events across Texas. Here are 25 of the most common mistakes we see—and how you can avoid them.
1. Using a Shutter Speed That's Too Slow
The Mistake:
Motion blur on athletes and the ball.
The Fix:
Use at least 1/1000 second for most outdoor sports and increase to 1/1600–1/2000 for faster action.
2. Chasing the Ball
The Mistake:
Following the ball instead of anticipating the play.
The Fix:
Watch the athletes' body language and predict where the action is headed.
3. Shooting Everything from Standing Height
The Mistake:
Every photo looks the same.
The Fix:
Kneel or sit when safe. Lower angles make athletes appear stronger and help isolate them from distracting backgrounds.
4. Focusing on the Wrong Subject
The Mistake:
Your camera locks onto a referee, another player, or the crowd.
The Fix:
Use Continuous Autofocus (AF-C/AI Servo) with subject tracking or a small focus area.
5. Missing the Athlete's Face
The Mistake:
Capturing backs, helmets turned away, or blocked faces.
The Fix:
Position yourself where athletes are moving toward you whenever possible.
6. Cluttered Backgrounds
The Mistake:
Trash cans, parked cars, spectators, or signs distract from the action.
The Fix:
Move a few feet, change your angle, or use a wider aperture to blur the background.
7. Cropping Too Tight
The Mistake:
Hands, feet, balls, or equipment are cut off.
The Fix:
Leave a little extra space around the athlete. You can always crop later.
8. Cropping Too Loose
The Mistake:
The athlete becomes a tiny part of the image.
The Fix:
Fill the frame while still leaving room for movement.
9. Shooting JPEG Instead of RAW
The Mistake:
Limited flexibility when editing.
The Fix:
Shoot in RAW to recover highlights, shadows, and improve color accuracy.
10. Forgetting to Check Your Exposure
The Mistake:
An entire quarter or game is underexposed or overexposed.
The Fix:
Review your histogram and exposure during breaks in play.
11. Ignoring the Light
The Mistake:
Athletes are backlit or have harsh shadows across their faces.
The Fix:
Pay attention to the direction of the light and reposition whenever possible.
12. Standing in One Spot All Game
The Mistake:
Every image has the same perspective.
The Fix:
Move during breaks to create a more varied gallery.
13. Forgetting About Celebrations
The Mistake:
Packing up after the winning play.
The Fix:
Some of the best images happen after the whistle—celebrations, hugs, high-fives, and emotional reactions.
14. Not Photographing Coaches
The Mistake:
Only players are documented.
The Fix:
Capture coaches teaching, celebrating, and motivating their teams.
15. Ignoring Parents and Fans
The Mistake:
Missing the emotional side of sports.
The Fix:
Photograph cheering sections, families, and school spirit to help tell the full story.
16. Poor Timing
The Mistake:
The shutter fires just before or after the key moment.
The Fix:
Use burst mode and anticipate the action instead of reacting to it.
17. Not Knowing the Rules
The Mistake:
Being out of position because you don't understand the game.
The Fix:
Learn the basics of each sport so you can predict where the action will happen.
18. Using the Wrong Lens
The Mistake:
Your lens is too short to reach the action or too long for close plays.
The Fix:
Choose focal lengths that match the venue. A 70–200mm is versatile, while longer lenses are ideal for large fields.
19. Shooting Only Action
The Mistake:
Your gallery lacks variety.
The Fix:
Include warm-ups, team huddles, equipment details, mascots, awards, and candid moments.
20. Oversharpening During Editing
The Mistake:
Images look harsh and unnatural.
The Fix:
Apply sharpening with a light touch and zoom to 100% when evaluating your edits.
21. Overediting Colors
The Mistake:
Grass looks neon green and skin tones appear unrealistic.
The Fix:
Aim for natural colors that reflect the atmosphere of the event.
22. Forgetting to Clean Your Lens
The Mistake:
Images lose contrast due to fingerprints or dust.
The Fix:
Carry a microfiber cloth and clean your lens before each event.
23. Running Out of Battery or Storage
The Mistake:
Missing key moments because your camera stops working.
The Fix:
Bring extra batteries and memory cards, and replace them before they become critical.
24. Not Backing Up Your Photos
The Mistake:
Losing an entire event due to card failure or accidental deletion.
The Fix:
Create backups as soon as possible using multiple drives or cloud storage.
25. Forgetting to Enjoy the Experience
The Mistake:
Getting so focused on camera settings that you miss the excitement of the event.
The Fix:
Remember why you're there—to preserve memorable moments. Technical perfection is important, but storytelling is what people remember.
Bonus Tips from CWP Media
Professional sports photographers don't just capture action—they capture emotion.
Keep an eye out for:
A young athlete celebrating their first goal
A coach encouraging a player after a mistake
Parents cheering from the sidelines
Teammates helping one another up
Championship trophy presentations
Quiet moments of focus before the game
These images often become the favorites because they tell the story behind the score.
Final Thoughts
Sports photography is a skill built over time. Every game teaches you something new, and every mistake is an opportunity to improve.
Don't be discouraged by missed shots. Study your work, learn from each event, and keep practicing. Before long, you'll find yourself anticipating plays, capturing emotion, and consistently creating images that athletes and families will treasure for years to come.
At CWP Media, we believe the best sports photographs don't just show what happened—they capture what it felt like to be there.
