Martial arts photo lessons
Shoot your kid the way a pro photographer would. Short lessons for every martial arts tournament, each with photo steps and one pro tip.
Three habits that change every photo you take this season.
01Set the phone like a pro photographer
Burst on, grid on, exposure locked, flash off. Two minutes, once, and every event is easier.
02Where to sit: the corner of the ring
At a tournament, sit at the corner of your kid’s ring. At class, ask the instructor where parents may shoot.
03Get low. Then get lower.
Most photos at an event are taken standing up. Get the camera down to their height, and your kid becomes the hero.
One lesson for each kind of photo on your season shot list.
04Action: the kick at full reach
The kick, the form, the board break, the sparring. Every technique stops for a moment at full reach.
05Celebration: the bow and the belt
The bow at the end, the hand raised, the new belt tied on.
06Portrait: a media-day hero in 90 seconds
Team suit or uniform, plain background, chest height. One every season, and the difference between them is the story.
07Details: the belt, the uniform, the certificate
The belt being tied, the patch on the sleeve, sparring gear, the certificate.
08Rituals: the bow-in and the drive
The car ride, the bow-in, the line-up, the treat after.
09Together: coach, team, family
The coach’s word before the start, teammates cheering, family in the stands.
10Tough moments: private by default
The result that hurt, the consoling arm, the walk back. They stay in your private gallery unless you choose to share them.
11The interview: same questions, one season apart
Five short questions on video in week one, and the same five at the end of the season. Two videos, one season apart.