8 Tips on How to Shoot Snowboarding

Photo: Chris Moran

Know your camera settings and how to shoot on Manual. If you’re going to be shooting action, crank that shutter speed as high as you can while still maintaining correct exposure. Don’t rely on "high burst" to freeze action. Unless you’re purposely shooting a sequence, shooting in high burst is going to fill your memory card with an unnecessary amount of photos that you will have to sort threw later. Photo: Chris Moran

Practice shooting friends. A mistake I made early on. I was too concerned with only finding pros to shoot with while I could have been spending more time progressing as a photographer taking photos of friends. This is my good friend Matt Mussleman, math professor during the week, shredding the parks at Mammoth every weekend. Pictured: Matt Mussleman; Photo: Chris Moran

Separate your subject from the background. If you’re rider is wearing a Real Tree Camo Jacket and there is a real life tree behind him, you need help! Try opening your aperture and playing with a shallow depth of field, light your subject with an off camera flash or strobe if you have one, and if all else fails change your angle completely and find better framing. There was a lot going on in the background of this photo, the gondola, lift towers, etc. I opened my aperture to f/1.4 to pull the rider into focus and everything else out of focus. Pictured: Danika Duffy; Photo: Chris Moran

Don’t rely on only shooting fisheye. Step back and shoot with a wide-angle zoom, you’ll find better composition and hopefully a unique angle. Also by shooting long you’ll find it a bit easier to freeze action. Imagine shooting an airplane on a runway versus shooting it in the sky from your front yard. Pictured: Tim Humphreys; Photo: Chris Moran

Now you’ve bought the resort’s social media director enough drinks at the bar that they have agreed to run one of your photos on their Instagram. You’ve lined up a pro to shoot with and this is your chance to become internet famous! Be the director of your shoot. Know what stance your rider is, know the tricks, and tell them what trick you think is going to look best as a photo. No one wants to see a butt shot unless you’re shooting Alana Blanchard. Pictured: Jenise Spiteri; Photo: Chris Moran

Read the mags, watch the videos, and be current with tricks. Know what photo editors are looking for. No one wants "the guy in the sky shot." Shoot the entire feature the rider is hitting, try to get good focus on their face and any visible logos. The rider’s sponsors will obviously love that and it will make your images easier to publish. Pictured: Tim Humphreys; Photo: Chris Moran

Experiment with different photography techniques. You’ll find your own style and set yourself apart. For this photo I slowed the shutter speed down to 1/40 for a "panning" effect. Pictured: Matt Mussleman; Photo: Chris Moran

Go out and shoot. A photographer is a person who takes photos. Even if it’s not action. Shoot landscapes, portraits, lifestyles... My favorite photos are of athletes in airports, hotels, at their homes. Tell the story, taking photos strictly of the action will make your style stagnant. Over all else, have FUN. When you’re not taking photos, go out and ski or snowboard for soul. Don’t burn yourself out trying to put a portfolio together and don’t forget why you’ve moved to the mountains in the first place. Photo: Chris Moran