How to become a great marathon photographer

If you're looking to become an expert marathon photographer, you've come to the right place. Marathon photography is a unique and challenging art form that requires knowledge of both photography techniques and the sport itself.

To become a great marathon photographer, you'll need to understand the basics of photography, such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. You'll also need to know how to capture athletes in motion and be familiar with the different types of lenses available for capturing marathon events. Additionally, having an understanding of race day logistics will help you anticipate where runners will be at any given moment.

Here are our top tips for becoming an excellent marathon photographer:

Use fast shutter speeds

To freeze motion and capture sharp images, use a fast shutter speed (1/500th or faster). This will ensure that your photos don't appear blurry due to motion blur from running athletes. It’s good practice to set the shutter speed to at least a fraction of your focal length. For example, if you’re taking a photo at 250mm, you’re going to need a shutter speed of at least 1/250 sec. Try and play around with this before the race starts, and make sure you’re checking photos as you go along - no one likes blurry photos!

Choose your lens wisely

Different lenses can produce different effects when photographing marathons. A wide-angle lens is ideal for capturing large groups of runners while a telephoto lens is better suited for close-up shots of individual athletes. A lens with a range around 70mm - 300mm will allow you to crop the runner and give you time to capture the shot even when they’re still far away.

Find that sweet spot

Try and find that sweet spot before the race starts. A corner, or narrow path will mean you can capture runners coming towards you. Having the sun behind the runners means they won’t be squinting. Marathon courses usually have certain points along the route where runners tend to congregate or pass by frequently throughout the race (e.g water stations). Pre-focusing on these locations will help you capture more dynamic images without having to constantly adjust your focus settings mid-race.

Utilize burst mode

Runners make some of the funniest faces during a race -- from wide-eyed surprise to exhausted panting! If you want to capture these hilarious moments, step up your game with a burst mode (or continuous shooting). That way, you'll have plenty of shots to choose from and can increase your chances of getting that "perfect" action shot. Whether it's full stride or mid-air, your photos will definitely capture the unique personalities of these runners!

Anticipate runner’s movements

Knowing what's going on around you during a race can help you anticipate where runners may be headed next so that you can position yourself accordingly for optimal shooting angles and lighting conditions. Try to get hold of a map if you can, and use the GPS on your phone to figure out whether you can cut across the race to get a second chance to capture the same runners.

Capture emotion

Don’t forget about capturing emotion! Look out for moments that show joy, pain, exhaustion or determination – these are often some of the most powerful images captured at marathons! The finish line can be a great spot to capture runners celebrating, hugging, putting on medals or even collapsing to the floor with relief!

Edit selectively

Editing is essential when it comes to creating stunning marathon photos but be sure not to overdo it! Selectively edit only those elements that truly enhance your image without taking away from its overall impact or message .

Have fun!

Above all else, remember that taking pictures should be enjoyable so don’t forget to have fun while doing it!

Following these tips will help you become an expert marathon photographer in no time! With practice and dedication, soon enough you'll be able to capture stunning images like a pro!

Don’t forget to use Pixme

Pixme uses facial recognition to match your photos to the participants. This means runners will get a notification when you upload photos of them, and they’ll be able to see just their photos. This simple process increases the chance that they’ll buy photos. Use Pixme to set a price for your photos, or choose to give them away free. You’ll need to make sure the runners are on Pixme. If you have access to email addresses of participants, great! You can email them a link to Pixme. If not, get the runners to scan the QR code in the Pixme app before or after the race. They’ll then be notified when you upload the photos. Then leave it to us, we’ll do whatever we can to increase the number of photos you sell!