Golf Photography Tips & Tricks from A Pro
October 11, 2020
Image credit: Kurt Thomson | Shot using the Sony a9 + FE 135mm f1.8 GM Lens @ f1.8, 1/3200 sec, ISO 100
From picturesque settings to sporting flair and raw emotion, golf is full of fantastic photo opportunities. But much like the sport itself, photographing golf takes considerable focus, timing and technique.
We recently got to join pro photographer and videographer Kurt Thomson for a day on the green. An experienced golfer himself, Kurt has shot major tournaments including the US Open, Australian PGA Championships and ALPG Tour, and frequently works in America capturing athletes, product releases and events for sports brands.
Here’s a few of Kurt’s tips and tricks to help you lift your golf photography game.
Image credit: Kurt Thomson | Shot using the Sony a9 + FE 70-200mm f4 G OSS Lens @ f4, 1/8000 sec, ISO 400
Kurt’s Camera of Choice
Throughout his career shooting fashion, wedding and sports, Kurt has used multiple cameras from various brands – both DSLR and mirrorless. But the game-changer was the Sony a9.
According to Kurt, here’s what makes the Sony a9 the ideal sports photography camera:
AF Performance
Whether shooting stills or video the Sony a9’s AF is “just so damn good”, according to Kurt. Face/Eye AF means “I can shoot at f1.8 and trust [the camera] will focus on the player’s eyes and not their shoelaces. The accuracy is insane”.
Focus Mode/Drive Mode Dial
With the dedicated Focus Mode/Drive Mode dial on the Sony a9, selecting the right focus or drive mode is instant and instinctive. “You never walk away feeling like you haven’t got the shot.”
Super-fast Burst Rate with No Blackout
For sports photographers who can’t afford to miss a shot, the ability to shoot RAW photos at 20 frames per second makes a huge difference. It lets you catch the moments in between, almost guaranteeing that you’ll nail the photo. And with no blackout between shots “it’s like looking through an optical viewfinder,” Kurt says.
No Rolling Shutter
The Sony a9’s stacked sensor enables hyper-fast readout speeds, which provide many advantages including no rolling shutter. This prevents unnatural distortions common in golf photography, i.e. ‘club bend’.
Video
While not as specifically video-oriented as the Sony a7S series, Kurt says the Sony a9’s recording capabilities are excellent. They allow him to fulfil ever-increasing client demand for video, without needing to carry extra hardware. “I use my a9 for so much video it’s crazy.”
Portability, Silent Shutter, Battery Life
Kurt cites the Sony a9’s lighter weight, silent shutter and long battery life as huge advantages – not only for shooting golf tournaments but also other sports, events and commercial work. “For a working pro, small things [like that] make a big difference.”
Sony a9 vs Sony a9 II
Trying to decide between the Sony a9 Mark I and II?
Offering 20x faster read speeds than the Sony a7 series, both are outstanding choices for sports photography. However, for those more critical shots that you can’t afford to miss, the Sony Mark a9 II has the definite edge. It offers superior processing, AF performance and Wi-Fi, along with a Voice Memo function for recording useful audio notes alongside images.
For more advice on choosing a sports photography camera, check out Gearing Up for Sports Photography.
Image credit: Kurt Thomson | Shot using the Sony a9 II + FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @ f8, 1/200 sec, ISO 200
Recommended Lenses for Golf Photography
Tee Box, Fairway
For shots at the tee and fairway, Kurt recommends a wider lens (up to 135mm equivalent). His go-to is the Sony FE 135mm f1.8 GM prime lens, which allows “depth of field and full body shots”.
“135mm lets you get anything within about a 10m range,” Kurt says. “It’s the perfect distance to be away from subject but out of the way of the crowd.”
Putting Green
For shots on the green, Kurt recommends a longer lens; he uses the Sony 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G OSS. “I’ve always been a fan of prime lenses but it’s the zoom lenses that get you the shots.”
Kurt’s Kit
“My setup includes a combination of camera bodies for performance and large print. I run the Sony a9 when I know the imagery will only be used for socials and web, then I use the Sony a7R IV when I know the images will be needed for larger format prints or billboard.
Apart from the Sony 135mm and 200-600mm, I have a few zooms: the Sony FE 24-105mm f4 G OSS and the Sony FE 70-200mm f4 G OSS. Most of my lenses are primes though; I really enjoy shooting with these and moving my feet to change angles and compositions. The Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8, Zeiss Batis 25mm f2 and Zeiss Batis 85mm f1.8 lenses are my go-to.”
Image credit: Kurt Thomson | Shot using the Sony a7R IV + FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @ f6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 640
Camera Settings for Golf Photography
Silent Shutter
An important note on golf photography etiquette: distracting players is a massive no-no. “You don’t want to be the reason that a player loses a million-dollar tournament,” Kurt says.
Whether you’re photographing as a spectator or on official assignment, minimising movement and noise is vital. This traditionally means no photos until after the ball has been hit. However, if you can set your camera’s shutter to silent you’ll be able to shoot at any time, provided you stay still.
Shutter Speed
Freezing fast action calls for shutter speeds of at least 1/1000 sec. Start there and adjust your shutter speed (and corresponding exposure settings) as necessary.
Aperture
Shooting with long lenses can make getting sharp focus tricky due to shallow depth of field. It’s easier if the player and ball are on same plane, and almost foolproof with Face/Eye AF in a camera like the Sony a9 (see ‘Focusing’ below).
If the player and ball are on different planes of focus, try using a narrower aperture (higher f number) and increasing your ISO accordingly.
Focusing
Continuous focus mode is recommended for shooting any moving subject.
For best results with recent Sony cameras like the a9, Kurt recommends using Face/Eye AF in combination with Flexible Spot AF (L) focus mode. This lets you quickly adjust the focus area as needed, depending on whether you want to focus on the player’s face, the ball, or other elements.
Shortcuts
“A game changer for me was assigning two of my function buttons to APS-C/Super 35mm ‘Crop’ mode off and on and Face/Eye AF off and on,” Kurt says.
In selected Sony cameras, APS-C/Super 35mm mode changes the active sensor size from full frame to APS-C (stills) or Super 35mm (video). This effectively gives you 50% more zoom without a longer lens or obvious movement that could distract the players.
“With one press of a button, this allows me to zoom or crop and either focus on a player’s face or another element like the club or player branding.”
Image credit: Kurt Thomson | Shot using the Sony a7R IV + FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @ f5.6, 1/2500 sec, ISO 800
Must-Know Golf Photography Tips
Plan Your Position
Because onlookers can’t move during play it’s important to get in position quickly. Golf photographers are usually running between holes to secure the best vantage point. If you can, scope out the course well in advance. Some tournaments even have apps to tell you where each player is at any point in time.
Compose First
You can’t move while golfers are putting, especially if you’re in their line of sight or peripheral vision (e.g. opposite to the direction in which they’re hitting). So compose first and stick to your composition.
Keep Shooting After the Stroke
Keep shooting after the stroke. That’s often when you’ll see a player react, whether with disappointment or jubilation. If you review your shots or put away your camera too early, you’re bound to miss some of the best moments.
Image credit: Kurt Thomson | Shot using the Sony a9 + FE 70-200mm f4 G OSS Lens @ f5.6, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400
Advice on Turning Pro
If you’ve got ambitions to shoot sports professionally, here’s some final advice from Kurt:
Know the Sport
“Each sport is different and it really helps knowing or understanding the sport before shooting. You still learn new things every shoot. Either positions or timings or players/plays.”
Experiment Before You Upgrade
“Longer lenses don’t always work so try shooting with what you have at first to understand where you need to be during the game. Then decide if you need to upgrade or rent something more suitable.”
Getting Your Foot in the Door
“Try get down to your local sporting events, talk to whoever is in charge and offer your services to gain experience and provide them with some imagery.”
Nailing the Brief
“Confidence in your own ability is a big thing; you have to always be pushing yourself. If you’re happy with the outcome, then 99% of the time the client will love it.
“It’s great to discuss the brief thoroughly before and even during the shoot. Normally clients are looking for that hero image capturing a moment that evokes emotion.”