Spring Sports Photography: How to Capture Baseball Highlights

Author & Images: Marcie Reif

Spring is one of my favorite seasons because of baseball. We spend most weekends at the field, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’ve loved photographing my son’s baseball journey since he started at age 4. His emotion and passion for the game are what I most want to capture, along with the action. I usually pack either my Tamron 50-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD or my Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD. I’m often toggling between video and stills to create highlight reels. While this is a fun hobby, I’ve learned so much about my camera, lenses, and lighting, which I can apply to other types of photography!

TIP 1: Capture the Love for the Game

Understanding the game and the players is key to capturing genuine moments. There are certain plays that bring out the most joy—like reaching base after a big hit, crossing home plate, or celebrating with teammates. I know when my son gets a hit and makes it to base, a big smile is coming. I always have my camera ready to catch that emotion, taking multiple shots to ensure I get the perfect smile.

TIP 2: Enhancing Your Photos by Shooting in the Golden Hour

We all have our favorite time of day to shoot, and for me, the golden hour is the best. Sometimes, we finish baseball before it arrives, so I try to recreate that golden-hour effect by using the early morning sunlight during early games. I position myself so the light hits just right, often adjusting my height to place the sun near my subject. I remember one game hoping to capture a shot of my son batting in that perfect light, but by the time he was at the plate, the sun had almost set. It’s rare to catch that light during a baseball game, so I’m always thrilled when the opportunity arises.

TIP 3: Capturing Portraits on the Field

One of my favorite spots to take photos is when my son is on deck. He’s completely focused on the game, making it the perfect opportunity for a portrait where I can fill the frame with just him. Some of my favorite shots come from this moment. If it’s early morning or near sunset, you might even catch some sparkle on his helmet or create beautiful bokeh through the fence. I simply hold my camera up to the fence and keep shooting.

TIP 4: Capturing the Dust Clouds from the Field

When my son is playing catcher, I love capturing the cloud of dust that forms as the ball lands in his glove. The golden hour light really enhances this shot. It often takes me several attempts to get it just right, but the effort is always worth it. To capture the perfect shot, I lower myself to his level—usually squatting outside the fence—and keep my lens close to the fence. I shoot at a high shutter speed every time the ball hits his glove.

TIP 5: Adjust your Settings to Perfectly Capture Motion

The most important setting when shooting sports with motion is your shutter speed. A high aperture alone won’t give you a focused image; it’s your shutter speed that makes the difference. Often, I’m shooting in the middle of the day when there’s plenty of light, so achieving a fast shutter speed isn’t difficult. However, during times when the light isn’t as bright, such as in the early morning or evening, I need to ensure my ISO is high enough (around 500 or higher) to allow the camera to let in enough light and maintain a fast shutter speed.

My apertures are typically set a bit higher because of the lenses I use, which usually have an f/6 to f/7 range, especially when I’m zooming in to capture the action on the field. With a higher aperture setting, I rely on balancing my ISO and shutter speed to ensure my shutter speed doesn’t drop too low. If the shutter speed becomes too slow, that’s when motion blur starts to appear.

To see more of Marcie Reif’s work, check out her website and Instagram.