What should a sports photography shot list include?

The phases of the event in time order — warm-ups, kick-off, each half, final whistle, presentation — with the position for each, plus the moments you can't repeat: goals, celebrations, the trophy lift.

Where should I stand to photograph a football match?

Behind the byline near the goal the team you're covering is attacking, within whatever area the ground allows, and at the other end after half-time when the teams change ends.

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Sports Photography Shot Planner & Shot List Template

A football match gives you two 45-minute halves, one change of ends and a few seconds of celebration after each goal. Writing the plan into the Shot Planner — gear, positions and a shot list in match order — means you know where to stand before each of those moments instead of working it out as they happen.

Shot Planner for Sports Photography

Open the Shot Planner

Recommended settings

Shot list in time order, with a position next to each phase: warm-ups and team line-ups, kick-off, first-half attacking play, half-time move, second-half attacking play, final whistle, handshakes, presentation.
Gear to bring: a long lens for goalmouth action at your end and play further up the pitch (a 300mm or 400mm f/2.8 at professional level; a 70-200mm f/2.8 or 100-400mm at grassroots), a second body with a 24-70mm for celebrations that run right up to the touchline, a monopod, and spare batteries and cards.
Camera baseline worth writing into the plan: 1/1000s or faster to freeze a kick, f/2.8-f/4, auto ISO, continuous autofocus with tracking. Under floodlights, turn on the camera's flicker-reduction setting if it has one.
Location: the venue name and the entrance or area photographers use, so the date and place are in the same plan as the shot list.

Tips for this niche

Teams change ends at half-time, so the side you're covering attacks the other goal after the break. Decide your second-half position before the match, not while everyone is moving during the interval.
Many grounds keep photographers in marked areas behind the byline, seated or kneeling. Check the rules — and whether you need accreditation — with the organiser, and note them in the plan.
Get both team sheets before kick-off and note the key players' shirt numbers; captioning and client selections go much faster afterwards.
For an afternoon kick-off in winter, note which end puts the low sun behind you. Shooting into it leaves faces in shadow.

Got your Sports settings dialed in?

Turn your sports shoot into ready-to-post captions, hashtags and matching audio — free to try, no signup.

Want the full lesson?

This topic is covered in depth in Lesson 5: Advanced Focus & Motion Techniques.

Example scenario

A county cup final with a 15:00 kick-off, covered with a 100-400mm on one body and a 24-70mm on the other. Shoot title: 'County Cup final'. Location: the ground's name and the media entrance. Gear to bring: 100-400mm, 24-70mm, two bodies, monopod, four batteries, four 128GB cards. Shot list: '14:30 warm-ups, captains, line-ups · 15:00 kick-off from the byline beside the north goal (our team attacks north in the first half) · around 15:45 half-time — move to the south goal · second-half attacking play · final whistle: both benches · handshakes · trophy lift in front of the main stand'. On the day it reads like a running order, and the only decisions left are photographic ones.

Common mistakes

Staying at one end all match. after half-time the team you're covering attacks the other goal, and their chances happen at the far end of the pitch.
Lowering the camera after the goal. the celebration is often the picture of the match. Keep shooting the scorer as they run towards the corner flag or the fans — put 'goal celebration' on the list as its own shot.
Underestimating storage. a two-second burst at 20 frames per second is 40 frames, and a full match shot in bursts easily runs into thousands. Pack more cards than you think you need and change them at half-time.

FAQ

What should a sports photography shot list include?: The phases of the event in time order — warm-ups, kick-off, each half, final whistle, presentation — with the position for each, plus the moments you can't repeat: goals, celebrations, the trophy lift.
Where should I stand to photograph a football match?: Behind the byline near the goal the team you're covering is attacking, within whatever area the ground allows, and at the other end after half-time when the teams change ends.

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Troubleshooting

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