We’ve been taking sports photos for a number of years so here is our guide on how to take and upload the best Action Shots possible…

Follow these simple steps to get a better understanding of how to take and upload a high quality image for your poster.

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is thinking they have to take their photos while their child is playing a match.  Unless you are a professional photographer, this can be difficult. To make an awesome sports poster there is a cheats way.  Take your shots outside of an actual match or competition, where you have complete control of the poses you want to capture.  Even better, if you don’t nail it, you can always try again.

We use the exact photo you send to create our artwork so using the right image is crucial for achieving the best results. Your image should be taken with a high quality camera or smartphone.  The best quality images will always be from a good DSLR camera, however if you don’t have access to one of these, a photo taken with an IPhone or Android will still work.  Just make sure you read our tips above on getting your phone camera settings right.  This will ensure the image is at least 1MB in size.  Generally the larger the file size, the better the image.

Light is crucial to a great photograph.  If you can, it is always better to take your photos outside, as natural light will look best.  Avoid mottled light, that is light that comes through gaps in trees which creates some highlights and shadows. If you are using a phone camera, shoot in full sun, with the subject facing the light.

Avoid photographing your action hero inside the house. The light is very poor and will produce poor results. Under a porch or verandah is fine. Just remember the background needs to be clear of clutter or excessive colour patterns.

If outside, a plain background like a garage door or on an oval is perfect.  If inside, a plain white wall is preferred.  This gives us a nice clear contrast to cut the image from the background.

An action shot is not always required.  You can get your child to pose with their equipment ie. Holding a basketball or cricket bat.  We’ve got a few examples below of simple poses you can get your child to do.  If you would like them to show an action like a kick, give them a bit of space to perform, and get them to go through the process just like they would in a match.  Stand in front of them and set your camera or phone up to take rapid shots.  This allows you to choose the best one.

Dress them in club uniform/gear and make sure their hair is tidy and out of their face. For full length shots the photo should show their entire head, shoulders torso down to their feet. For mid shots you should show their head, shoulders and torso.  We cannot add body parts in that aren’t shown in the photo.

Be prepared to take a lot of shots.  The more shots you take, the more likely you will get one that is amazing.  Most cameras have the ability to take rapid shots.  If using a phone you can also download external apps which will give you this functionality.  Using Live mode is also a great option as it allows you to go back and choose the best still frame.

Make sure the photo you choose is sharp and not blurry.  Blurry images can’t be used as they do not contain the detail needed for a good print.

Please make sure the photo is not from a distance or cropped, your child should come close to filling the whole frame.

Most of all make it fun, get your child to perform their sport and not look at the camera, just do what they do naturally.

From your phone to our posters, here are some examples of the original photos our customers took, turned into amazing Action Sports Posters!