As MLS Playoffs kick off – here's how to photograph soccer like a pro

Two soccer players challenging to header the ball, inset image of man photographing the sport from the sidelines

A fast shutter speed and the right AF mode will enhance your chances of freezing a moment of action like this (Image credit: Future / Mike Harris)

The lightning-fast pace of a soccer game isn't just a challenge for photographers: it's a challenge for the best cameras for sports photography, too. Even the latest and greatest DSLR and mirrorless cameras are pushed to their very limits by sports photographers intent on capturing every major moment in a game. So, as LA Galaxy, Inter Miami and co gear up for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, it's the perfect time to catch the soccer photography bug.

The key to photographing soccer is using a fast shutter speed to freeze the action, and the right AF mode to pick out the player with the ball – and not the 21 other players on the field… High ISOs are unavoidable – especially under floodlights – and reading the game is essential if you don't want to miss the big moments.

A huge thank you to EFL League One team Bristol Rovers, who invited me to the Memorial Stadium to capture their league match against Cambridge United last season. I certainly wasn't robbed of the action, with a first-half penalty saved by the opposition before Chris Martin slipped the ball past the keeper in the 87th minute, sealing a 1-0 victory for 'The Gas'!

But it doesn't matter whether you're shooting an EFL, MLS or junior soccer game – the same tips and tricks apply. Here are my top tips for photographing soccer...

Bristol Rovers soccer player takes throw-in, while two players jostle to head the ball — Photographing any sport is about telling a story. Close-ups are just as important as moments of action (Image credit: Future / Mike Harris)

1. Use a long lens

Man uses Nikon Z 6II and Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens from soccer pitch sidelines — Think you can handhold even a moderately sized zoom lens for 90 minutes? Think again. A monopod is a sideline essential (Image credit: Future)

It doesn't matter whether you're photographing a grassroots game or an EFL or MLS game: the best lens for sports photography is a long lens that will cover the distance of the field. A reach of 400mm (full-frame equivalent) is ideal. I like the versatility of a zoom. You could use a faster prime, but you'd need two bodies loaded with two different prime lenses to react quickly enough during the game. A monopod is essential, too: it gives you freedom of movement, but will take the weight of your heavy super-telephoto lens, since you'll be shooting for over 90 minutes.

2. Camera settings

Nikon Z-Series exposure settings screen, showing Manual mode 1/1250 sec, f/4, Auto ISO 25600 — High ISOs are a necessity, especially in challenging floodlit conditions. Freezing the action is always preferable to a blurry image with less noise (Image credit: Future)

Because football is such a fast-paced sport, using some automatic settings is recommended. I paired Manual mode with Auto ISO; since I was shooting wide-open constantly, this meant I only had to worry about the shutter speed. Ideally, you don't want to dip below 1/1000 sec. If you're shooting under floodlights, you're going to reach some high ISOs, but this is unavoidable. At the end of the day, sharp shots trump noise. Thankfully, the latest Nikon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras perform really well in low light.

3. Football focus

Try to focus on the face of the player who's in possession (Image credit: Future)

With multiple players on the field, a reliable AF mode is essential. Although the latest Z cameras boast incredible subject-detection capabilities, there's simply too much going on for even these advanced AI algorithms to handle. Whether you’re shooting on a DSLR or mirrorless, I recommend using single-point AF or dynamic-area AF. Aim for the ball carrier's head. If you find AF switches too quickly when another player passes in front of your subject, increase the 'Blocked shot AF response' slider in the Custom Setting Menu (a3).

4. Capture the moment

Bristol Rovers soccer player is challenged for the ball which results in a penalty — Capturing big moments is essential when telling the narrative of the game. Here, Scott Sinclair is being fouled, resulting in a penalty (Image credit: Future / Mike Harris)

You can't expect to capture every moment – but you can certainly try. The first step is to find a good vantage point. Somewhere along the goal line, towards either corner is a good place to start. Try to shoot from the end where you anticipate the most action, too. Auto ISO and burst mode will aid your reactions and timing respectively. Pay close attention to spectators: if they start to get excited, there's a good chance something is on. Finally, read the game: if a team favors getting the ball to a particular player, make a mental note.

5. Tell a story

Montage of four images tells story of soccer match, from penalty to goal, to managers shaking hands — These four images convey the key points of the game: A penalty foul, the penalty saved, a goal for Bristol Rovers and a triumphant manager, Matt Taylor, shaking hands (Image credit: Future / Mike Harris)

It's tempting to focus all of your efforts on capturing one outstanding moment. But if all you manage to capture is that one bicycle kick, you'll have a great image and no story. Shooting a football game is about capturing a narrative; that means the big (and little) moments that make every game of football unique. Look out for on-field battles, interactions with the ref, animated fans, celebration highs and frustration lows, mid-air battles and more. If you can look back on your images in a year's time and remember the game, you've nailed it.

6. Noise reduction

Adobe Lightroom's Denoise feature used to remove noise from image of Bristol Rovers soccer player — Adobe Lightroom's Denoise function is incredibly effective at reducing even heavy noise (Image credit: Future / Adobe)

If you're shooting an evening game, noise reduction during editing is a necessity. Thankfully, Adobe Lightroom CC's new AI-powered Denoise feature is a dab hand at removing unsightly noise. You'll find it in the Detail panel. Simply click the lozenge and wait for the preview in the Enhance Preview window to load. Too much noise reduction can remove important details and make human subjects look a little like plastic dolls, so make sure you reduce the Amount slider accordingly to prevent this from happening.

7. Take some portraits

Portrait of Bristol Rovers soccer player — Be it players, officials, coaching staff or fans, it's always worth capturing a few portraits (Image credit: Future / Mike Harris)

A 70-200mm f/2.8 is an ideal accompaniment to the super-telephoto lens you'll use for most of the game. This shorter, but much faster, optic is ideal for capturing intimate player portraits as they come on or off the field, or go to greet fans following a substitution. If you own two Nikons, bring both to the game, and load one with your super-tele and one with your fast zoom, so you can switch at will.

Bristol Rovers player is challenged for the ball, assistant referee flags to stop play as Bristol Rovers player walks away — A moment of action and a moment of calm, both help to build a narrative (Image credit: Future / Mike Harris)

If you're interested in soccer photography, you might also be interested in the best monopod and the best budget telephoto lenses.

Mike is Digital Camera World's How To Editor. He has over a decade of experience, writing for some of the biggest specialist publications including Digital Camera, Digital Photographer and PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine. Prior to DCW, Mike was Deputy Editor of N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine and Production Editor at Wex Photo Video, where he sharpened his skills in both the stills and videography spheres. While he's an avid motorsport photographer, his skills extend to every genre of photography – making him one of Digital Camera World's top tutors for techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters and other imaging equipment – as well as sharing his expertise on shooting everything from portraits and landscapes to abstracts and architecture to wildlife and, yes, fast things going around race tracks...