As a mom, you are understandably proud of your children’s involvement in sports. Learn a few tips to help you capture their special moments so you can look back and appreciation their achievements.
To capture your daughter’s first soccer goal or your son’s amazing 30-yard run in football, you probably take as many photos or videos as you can during the game. In addition to being a great memory, you also like to share these amazing moments in sports with grateful grandparents and on social media. Unfortunately, getting crystal clear shots of fast-moving kiddos can be challenging. To get the best shots possible, check out these tips:
Invest in the proper equipment
Point-and-shoot cameras might be gentle on the budget, but they typically don’t do a great job of capturing focused shots during soccer games or swim meets. But don’t think that you have to run out and buy an expensive camcorder or camera to get the pictures or video that you want. Thanks to advances in cell phone technology, many smartphones do an incredible job of taking high quality photos. For example, the HTC One M9 smartphone from T-Mobile is a terrific option; it includes a 20 MP high-resolution camera that features a Sapphire Glass Lens. Unlike bulky camcorders, the HTC One M9 fits in your pocket or purse and you can use it to upload your videos or photos directly to social media, or email them to grandparents.
Look for specific and interesting shots
Shooting kids’ sports games can be difficult because the fields are large and the players are constantly on the move. In the case of soccer, if you follow the ball with your smartphone camera you will end up feeling nauseated; plus, this is a difficult way to get great shots. Instead, focus on capturing specific shots during the game that are still visually interesting. For instance, snap a few pics when your daughter throws the soccer ball back in or when your son has a free kick. Another shot we like: when your child is resting briefly and talking with his teammates. And If you see that your child has the ball, focus the camera slightly ahead of the action and shoot some video as they run and roll by.
Avoid using the zoom feature
Although it can be tempting to use the zoom lens to get a tight shot of your star basketball or softball player, SmartReview notes that it will only end up narrowing your point of view. In addition, if you are using the video camera in zoom lens mode any movements you make will be more exaggerated, leading to shaky and blurry video. Using the zoom lens also reduces the amount of light that is getting to your camera’s sensor, so if you are shooting video or pictures on a dreary day or indoors, the shots will look extra dark. The best time to use zoom is when action has stopped on the field or in the pool and you can stay focused on your child for several seconds.
Sharing your pictures
Once you have the video or photos of your child’s game, there are several ways you can share them with friends and relatives. Besides the aforementioned social media option, check out this list of the best video sharing sites from SocialCliff.
Identity Magazine is all about empowering women to get all A’s in the game of life — Accept. Appreciate. Achieve.TM Every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the above article. As a team, we hope to inspire and motivate ourselves and inspire you to get all A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? What are you still working on accepting?
I have accepted that I might not always have a home that will qualify for a photo spread in a Martha Stewart magazine–there are toys spread around and plenty of other evidence that a family with pets lives here, but that is okay. I appreciate the fact that I’m a loving and caring mom, wife and “pet parent” who focuses more on my family’s happiness and being there for them, rather than always having a dust-free piano.
2. What have you learn to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? What are you still working on to appreciate?
One of my most rewarding achievements has been working as a freelance writer for the past 16 years; I love the fact that I work from home and can schedule my work around my family.
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? What makes YOU most proud? What goals and dreams do you still have?
I guess like many women I’m hoping to find ways to use my daily 24 hours as productively as possible; I love getting out to walk with my family and at least one dog at a time but too often I run out of time.
4. We all have imperfections, so we think. The truth–we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways? What imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?
Probably my silly sense of humor about a lot of things–my kids roll their eyes when I’m putting away groceries, spot a bunch of bananas and start talking into one of them like it’s a phone. My dependence on caffeine and love of Starbucks is also fairly well-known.
My not-so-perfect way is that I sometimes forget to take care of myself because I’m so busy taking care of others.
5. “I Love My…” is an outlet for you to express and appreciate all the positive traits that make you…well… YOU! Sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (we assure you!) Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
Easy. I love my family. Every day.
