Have you ever tried to take a photo of a moving kid and ended up with a wonderful photo of the back of their head?
Or pressed the shutter at exactly the wrong moment and captured the kick just after the soccer ball left the frame?
Photographing kids in action can be challenging. They’re fast, unpredictable, and definitely not interested in waiting while you figure out your camera!
But whether you’re photographing a soccer game, a trip to the playground, or your children (or dog!) running around the backyard, a few simple changes can make a big difference.
Here are three things to try.
1. Anticipate the Action Instead of Chasing It
One of the biggest mistakes we make when photographing action is trying to follow everything that’s happening. That can be especially true at sporting events!
Here’s a better approach. Look at what’s going on and ask yourself: Where is the action likely to happen next?
Then choose your position, frame your shot, and wait to capture photos of moving kids.
At a soccer game, that might mean positioning yourself where you expect the players will come toward you. My grandson is a soccer goalie, so I stood near the goal line and waited for a moment when he would be kicking the ball. I shot this image in Continuous Shooting Mode with my Canon DSLR (5D Mark IV) in Shutter Mode, with a shutter speed of 1/2500 second.
At the playground, it might mean framing the bottom of the slide and waiting for your child to appear.
You don’t have to chase the action with your camera. Sometimes the best thing you can do is let the action come to you. This allows you to plan!
And remember: your subjects will look better when they’re close to you, not across the field. You may even have to move to the other side if the light is wrong. Now you’re thinking like a photographer!
2. For Better Photos of Kids in Action, Take Lots of Photos
This is not the time to take one carefully timed photograph! The advantage of digital photography is you don’t have to pay someone to print what you take! Celebrate that freedom!
When you’re taking photos of moving kids or adults acting like kids, everything changes in a fraction of a second—their expression, their arms and legs, the position of the ball, and even whether their eyes are open. So do yourself a favor and take lots of photos. That was the case with this silly photo of my friend Louis hamming it up in Hawaii. I shot it in Lahaina, way back in 2011, with my DSLR (Canon 5D Mark II) in Aperture Mode with a shutter speed of 1/800 second.
On your iPhone, Burst Mode can be especially helpful when the action is moving quickly. With a DSLR or mirrorless camera, continuous shooting can give you a series of images to choose from.
Later, you can go through them and look for the one where everything came together. And don’t feel guilty about deleting the rest. That’s part of photographing action!
3. Use a Faster Shutter Speed to Freeze the Action
If your photos of moving kids are blurry, the problem may not be your focusing. Instead, it may be your shutter speed.
Your shutter speed determines how long your camera lets in light. A slow shutter speed can record the movement that happens while the photo is being taken. A faster shutter speed can freeze that movement.
Your iPhone handles much of this automatically, and in good light it can do a surprisingly good job of freezing action. But this is also one of those situations where a DSLR or mirrorless camera gives you more control. (The new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max also let you control your shutter speed! But your mirrorless or DSLR wins this race, hands down!)
For the photo of my granddaughter, I used my iPhone 14 Pro Max, and it set a shutter speed of 1/724 second. That was fast enough to freeze her jog.
If your camera has Shutter Priority Mode — usually marked S or Tv — you can choose a fast shutter speed and let your camera figure out the other settings. Try starting around 1/500 second for active kids. For really fast action, you may want to go even faster. (And if your photos look too dark, increase the ISO or do what I do in a case like this… Use Auto ISO.)
This is one of my favorite examples of why it’s worth learning what those camera modes actually do. You don’t need to understand every setting on your camera. You just need to know which one will help you get the photo you want.
Don’t Wait for the Perfect Moment to Capture Photos of Moving Kids
Photographing kids or fast-moving pets in action isn’t about getting every shot perfectly sharp. Instead, it’s about capturing the moments you’ll want to remember — the determined expression, the flying ponytail, the muddy uniform, the celebration after the goal, or the sheer joy of running as fast as possible.
This image is a family favorite. It captured Kenzie’s determination perfectly. I took it in Continuous Shooting Mode with my DSLR (Canon 5D Mark IV) in Manual Mode at a shutter speed of 1/2500 second. And then I fell to the right to avoid a collision! That ball was coming right at me!
So choose your spot. Take lots of photos. And when you want to freeze the action, remember that a faster shutter speed can be your best friend.
Because sometimes the photos that are hardest to take become the ones we’re happiest we have.
Now It’s Your Turn!
You don’t need a soccer game — or even a child — to practice photographing action!
Maybe it’s your grandchild racing across the backyard. Maybe it’s your dog chasing a ball, your cat leaping for a toy, or even a bird swooping down to your feeder. Anything that moves can be your practice subject.
Instead of just pulling out your camera and starting to shoot, take a moment first.
Choose your spot. Think about where the action is going. Check the light. Then get ready and let the action come to you.
And take lots of photos! If you’re using your DSLR or mirrorless camera, try Shutter Priority Mode and start with a shutter speed of 1/500 second and see what happens.
Then look through your photos afterward. Which ones made you smile? Which ones really captured the action — or a moment you might otherwise have missed? Check the settings you used for those photos, so you can use them again!
That’s how you learn. You try something, look at the results, and try again. And before you know it, you’re not just taking pictures from the sidelines.
You’re thinking like a photographer.
If you’re ordering a new iPhone to capture great shots of your moving kids, grandkids, pets or funny friends, I highly recommend Moment iPhone cases. You can learn about them here. (I’m a happy affiliate! I’ve used their products for years. That means I may earn a small commission if you click and buy.)
If the thought of shooting in anything but auto mode makes you want to hide, definitely check out my class, Camera Mechanics. You’ll be happily shooting with your DSLR or mirrorless camera in all four pro modes and wondering why you avoided it for so long! It even comes with a money-back guarantee!
And why not add on my iPhone Photography Made Easy? You’ll finally know what all those camera features are and be teaching your friends!
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