10 Tips for Photographing Action and Motion in Portraits

At Kelly Tareski Photography, we believe that capturing motion in portraits adds a dynamic and captivating element to your images. Action shots can tell powerful stories and convey emotions in ways that static portraits simply can’t match.

In this guide, we’ll share our top 10 tips for photographing action and motion in portraits, helping you elevate your photography education and skills. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these techniques will empower you to create stunning, movement-filled portraits that truly stand out.

1. Freeze Action with Lightning-Fast Shutter Speeds

Fast shutter speeds are essential for capturing crisp, frozen-in-time action shots. A shutter speed of 1/50 to 1/200 is a good range for most action portraits. To shoot faster, you need to lower your aperture f-number, increase your ISO number, or adjust both settings. This in turn will allow for a faster shutter speed.

Experiment with different settings to find what works best for your specific subject and lighting situation. A faster shutter speed might perfectly freeze a sprinter mid-stride, while an even higher speed could capture the detail of water droplets in a splash. Keep an eye on your histogram to ensure proper exposure, as these fast shutter speeds can sometimes lead to underexposure. Practice and persistence will help you freeze action like a pro, creating stunning portraits that capture split-second moments in tack-sharp detail.

Now that you’ve mastered freezing action, let’s explore how to embrace motion blur for dynamic effects in your portraits.

2. Embrace Motion Blur for Artistic Portraits

Motion blur transforms ordinary portraits into captivating art. Slow shutter speeds introduce intentional blur, perfect for dance portraits or sports action shots. This technique adds a sense of movement and energy to your images. Panning is another powerful method where you move the camera in sync with the subject. It keeps the main focus sharp while blurring the background, creating a strong sense of speed and direction.

Creative applications combine motion blur with flash. Use rear-curtain sync to freeze your subject at the end of the exposure, leaving a trail of movement behind them (this works particularly well for portraits of musicians or performers). Experiment with different shutter speeds and subject movements to find the perfect balance of blur and clarity. Motion blur is subjective – what looks too blurry for one portrait might be perfect for another. The key is to practice and develop your own style that complements your subject’s energy and personality.

Now that you’ve mastered the art of motion blur, let’s explore how to keep your moving subjects in sharp focus with continuous autofocus techniques.

3. Continuous Autofocus Mastery for Action Portraits

Continuous autofocus revolutionizes action portraits. Modern cameras offer AI Servo (Canon) or AF-C (Nikon) modes, which adjust focus as subjects move. This feature excels in sports, dance, or fast-paced shoots. Select a focus point that corresponds to your subject’s eyes or most prominent feature. Many photographers prefer back-button focus, which separates focus from the shutter release for enhanced control.

Tracking moving subjects demands practice and anticipation. Start with slower subjects and progress to faster ones. Adjust your camera’s tracking sensitivity to match subject speed and movement patterns. For erratic subjects, lower sensitivity prevents the camera from jumping to background elements. Some advanced cameras offer customizable autofocus cases for different scenarios (like accelerating subjects or obstacles entering the frame). Experiment with these settings to optimize your shooting style and subjects. Even the best autofocus systems can falter in low light or with low-contrast subjects, so prepare to switch to manual focus when needed.

To further enhance your action portraits, let’s explore how burst mode can help you capture the perfect moment in the next section.

4. Burst Mode Magic for Action Portraits

Burst mode transforms action portrait photography. Modern cameras offer continuous shooting speeds of 5-20 frames per second, which increases the chances of capturing the perfect moment. For fast-moving subjects like athletes or dancers, the highest burst rate available is recommended. Slower movements or subtle expressions often only require 5-10 fps. It’s important to adjust the camera’s buffer and memory card speed to handle the influx of images.

Managing the flood of photos from burst mode requires a strategic approach. Photographers should review shots during natural breaks in the action and delete obvious misses to free up space. Post-shoot, software like Adobe Lightroom can efficiently cull and select the best images. Key elements to look for include:

• Peak action moments
• Ideal expressions
• Perfect composition

Some cameras now offer AI-assisted selection tools to streamline this process. With consistent practice, photographers develop an eye for those split-second moments that truly stand out, taking action portraits to new heights.

Anticipating the action is the next crucial skill to master in action photography. Let’s explore how to predict and pre-focus for those perfect shots.

5. Predict and Pre-focus for Perfect Action Shots

Action portrait photography requires anticipation. Study your subject’s movements and patterns. For athletes, learn their routines and key moments. With dancers, familiarize yourself with their choreography. This knowledge allows strategic positioning and pre-focusing on spots where peak action will occur. Use single-point autofocus and place that point where you expect the critical moment to happen (e.g., the finish line for a race or the net for a volleyball spike).

Dedicated practice improves anticipation skills. Observe and photograph fast-moving subjects like birds in flight or children at play. This trains your eye to predict movement and your reflexes to react quickly. Experiment with different focus modes and practice switching between them seamlessly. Some photographers find back-button focus helpful for maintaining focus on a specific point while recomposing. Great action portraits often come from being one step ahead of the action, not just reacting to it.

Mastering anticipation and pre-focusing sets the stage for our next technique: using slow sync flash to create stunning motion effects in your portraits.

6. Slow Sync Flash for Dramatic Action Portraits

Slow sync flash transforms action portraits. This technique combines a slow shutter speed with flash, creating a unique blend of sharp subjects and motion-filled backgrounds. Set your camera to rear curtain sync, which fires the flash at the end of the exposure. This timing creates a more natural-looking motion trail behind your subject. Try shutter speeds between 1/15 and 1/2 second, depending on the amount of ambient light and desired blur effect.

Balancing flash and ambient light is essential for the right look. Use manual flash mode to control the power output, typically starting at 1/4 power and adjusting as needed. To avoid common issues, watch your subject’s movement during the exposure. Too much motion can lead to ghosting or unwanted blur. Practice with stationary subjects first, then progress to slower movements before tackling fast-paced action. Communicate clearly with your subject, guiding them on the timing of their movements in relation to the flash. (Patience and practice will add a dynamic and professional touch to your action portraits.)

The right lens choice can significantly impact your action portraits. Let’s explore how to select the perfect lens for capturing motion in the next section.

7. Lens Selection for Dynamic Action Portraits

The right lens choice can significantly impact your action portraits. For fast-moving subjects, a 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens offers versatility and speed. This focal range allows you to capture both wide shots and close-ups without changing lenses, which proves invaluable when action is unpredictable. Prime lenses, like an 85mm f/1.4, excel in low-light situations and create beautiful bokeh, perfect for isolating your subject against a blurred background. Their fixed focal length, however, requires more physical movement on your part.

Invest in lenses with wide apertures (f/2.8 or wider) for better low-light performance and faster shutter speeds. Image stabilization helps reduce blur caused by camera movement. It’s essential for handheld photography and smooth video footage, especially with longer focal lengths. A combination of a fast zoom and a prime lens in your kit will cover most action portrait scenarios. (The best lens often helps you get the shot without interfering with the action.)

Your lens choice sets the stage for composition. Let’s explore how to frame your shots to enhance the sense of movement and action in your portraits.

8. Frame Your Shot for Maximum Motion Impact

Composing action portraits requires a keen eye for movement and space. Leave room in front of a moving subject to create a sense of direction and purpose. This technique, known as lead room, should come as a result of feeling the composition naturally, similar to the rule of thirds. Diagonal lines in your composition can enhance the feeling of motion, drawing the eye through the frame. A runner on a track creates a natural diagonal, amplifying the sense of speed and direction.

Negative space plays a vital role in action portraits, providing context and emphasizing the subject’s movement. When used thoughtfully, it brings purpose to every inch of empty space in the composition. A lone surfer against a vast ocean or a dancer leaping across an empty stage becomes more impactful with strategic use of empty space. Balance is key when incorporating background elements. While a busy background can add energy to your shot, it shouldn’t overpower your subject. (In sports photography, including just enough of the crowd or stadium can set the scene without distracting from the athlete’s performance.)

Try these framing techniques to capture the essence of motion in your portraits:

• Use lead room to show direction
• Incorporate diagonal lines for dynamic compositions
• Leverage negative space to emphasize movement
• Balance background elements with the subject

Your framing choices set the stage for the overall impact of your action portraits. The next step is to explore unique perspectives and angles that can further enhance the sense of motion in your images.

9. Unique Angles for Dynamic Action Portraits

Unconventional angles transform action portraits from ordinary to extraordinary. Photographers who get low to the ground create a dramatic perspective that makes subjects appear larger than life. This technique works wonders for athletes, creating a sense of power and dominance. Shooting from above captures the full scope of the action, perfect for dance performances or team sports. Varying shooting height adds depth and dimension to images, drawing viewers into the scene.

Unusual viewpoints emphasize motion in action portraits. Shooting through objects in the foreground creates a sense of peeking into the action. This technique adds layers to the composition and enhances the feeling of speed or movement. For water sports, partially submerging the camera (in a waterproof housing) captures split-level shots that show both above and below the surface. These unique perspectives not only showcase the action but also provide context and environment, telling a more complete story in a single frame. Photographers who master these techniques often find their work stands out in a crowded field.

The next step in creating stunning action portraits involves post-processing techniques that enhance motion and bring your images to life.

10. Elevate Action Shots in Post-Processing

Post-processing transforms action portraits. Adobe Lightroom’s Radial Filter tool creates a vignette effect, which draws attention to the subject’s motion. Adjustments to clarity and texture sliders enhance details in key areas like an athlete’s muscles or a dancer’s costume. The masking tool allows selective sharpening of eyes and other focal points without increasing noise in softer areas. The dehaze slider adds punch to outdoor action shots, especially those captured in challenging lighting conditions.

Photoshop offers advanced techniques for showcasing movement. The Motion Blur filter, when applied selectively, emphasizes speed in backgrounds or on moving objects like spinning wheels. The Path Blur tool creates custom motion trails that follow your subject’s trajectory. To create the appearance of movement on specific parts of the model, choose Filter > Blur Gallery > Path Blur. Dramatic composites combine multiple exposures of the same action sequence. This technique works well for showcasing a gymnast’s full routine or a skateboarder’s trick progression in a single frame. (Matching lighting and perspective across all elements maintains a natural look in your composite.)

Post-processing techniques enhance the impact of your action portraits. The next step involves exploring how to effectively present and share your dynamic images with clients and audiences.

Final Thoughts

Action portrait photography opens up a world of creative possibilities. These techniques will elevate your photography education and skills to new heights. Each method adds depth and dynamism to your images through practice, experimentation, and developing your unique style.

Great action portraits come from anticipation and preparation. Staying one step ahead of the action is essential, whether you track moving subjects or capture the perfect moment. Don’t hesitate to push boundaries with techniques like slow sync flash or unconventional angles (these elements will make your work stand out).

Kelly Tareski Photography offers personalized sessions and workshops to develop your action photography skills. With extensive experience capturing genuine moments in a timeless style, Kelly’s expertise can help you improve your action portraits. Each shot presents an opportunity to tell a unique story, so embrace the challenge and keep learning.