Soccer and Lacrosse Photography
Two of the fastest, most unpredictable sports I shoot. Here is how I get the shots that parents actually want to print and frame.
Why I Love Shooting These Sports
Soccer and lacrosse are similar in one important way: the ball (or the player) can change direction in an instant, and the emotion that follows is completely genuine. A kid who just scored their first goal does not need to be told to smile. A goalkeeper who just made a diving save does not need to be told to look intense. My job is to be in the right spot when those moments happen.
I have been shooting youth soccer and lacrosse around Boulder for years. My own kids play, so I know what it feels like to be on the parent side of the fence, wishing you could freeze that exact second when your kid did something they did not think they could do. That is why I do this.
Positioning on the Sidelines
Field positioning is everything. I am not standing in one spot for the entire game. Here is my general approach:
- First half: I set up near the goal your team is attacking. Goals, corner kicks, and offensive pressure happen here. I want to be within 20 to 30 feet of the action when it matters.
- Halftime switch: I move to the other end. Same logic, different goal.
- Midfield roaming: When play is in the middle, I shift along the sideline to catch tackles, headers, ball control, and those moments when two players are fighting for possession.
- For lacrosse: I pay special attention to face-offs, crease dives, and behind-the-goal action. Lacrosse has a vertical element that soccer does not, so I angle my shots to catch stick work in the air.
At fields like Stazio Ball Fields and Pleasant View in Boulder, or the Broomfield Sports Complex, I know the sight lines well. I know where the sun sits at different times of day and which sideline gives me the cleanest background.
Timing and Anticipation
The hardest part of shooting soccer and lacrosse is not the camera settings. It is anticipating where the ball is going next. By the time you see a goal, it is already too late to press the shutter. I am watching the buildup, the pass, the run. When I see a through ball played into space, I am already tracking the attacker.
For lacrosse, the release is even faster. A shot on goal takes a fraction of a second. I watch the shooter's body language: the wind-up, the plant foot, the hip rotation. That is my trigger.
I shoot in continuous burst mode at 12 to 20 frames per second, depending on the camera body. But bursts are useless if you start them too late. The skill is knowing when to start.
Gear That Makes a Difference
These sports require long, fast lenses. I typically shoot with a 70-200mm f/2.8 and sometimes a 100-400mm for larger fields. The wide aperture (f/2.8) does two things: it lets in enough light for sharp photos on overcast days or under evening clouds, and it blurs the background so your kid pops out of the frame instead of blending into a mess of parents and folding chairs.
Autofocus speed matters here more than almost any other sport. Modern mirrorless bodies with subject-tracking AI can lock onto a running player and hold focus through direction changes. That technology has made a massive difference in hit rate for fast field sports.
The Moments Between Plays
The action shots are what parents ask for, but the in-between moments are what they end up loving most. I am always watching for:
- The pregame huddle where your kid is listening to the coach with their game face on
- The nervous bouncing before a penalty kick
- A teammate helping someone up after a slide tackle
- The post-goal celebration (the real one, not the posed one)
- The water break conversation, the high-five, the exhausted walk off the field after a hard game
These in-between shots give the action context. A photo of a goal is great. A series that shows the nervous anticipation, the strike, and the celebration afterward tells a story.
What Parents Should Know
If you are hiring me to shoot your kid's soccer or lacrosse game, here are a few things that will help:
- Tell me their jersey number. On a field with 22 players, I need to know who to prioritize. I will shoot the whole game, but I want to make sure your kid gets extra attention.
- Send me the schedule early. I can plan around sunlight, field orientation, and my own kids' game schedule if I know dates in advance.
- Do not worry about the weather. Some of the best game photos happen in imperfect conditions. Rain, wind, cold: it all adds drama.
- Expect variety. You will get action shots, yes. But you will also get candid sideline moments that capture who your kid is as an athlete. Those are the ones that hit different when you look at them years from now.
Local Fields I Shoot At
I shoot soccer and lacrosse at fields all over Boulder County. Some of my regular spots:
- Stazio Ball Fields and Pleasant View in Boulder
- Harlow Platts Park in south Boulder
- Broomfield Sports Complex for club tournaments
- Longmont's Sandstone Ranch and Sunset Park
- Louisville's Memory Square and Coal Creek fields
If your team plays somewhere I have not been, that is fine. I scout new locations and figure out angles quickly. The sport is the same everywhere. The light and the background just change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you position yourself during soccer and lacrosse games?
I move around the field throughout the game. I start near one goal for the first half and switch sides at halftime. For key moments like corner kicks and face-offs, I position myself where the action converges. I stay outside the field boundaries and work with refs and coaches so I never interfere with play.
How many photos will I get from a single game?
For a full soccer or lacrosse game, you can expect 75 to 150 edited images depending on how much your kid is involved in the action. I shoot thousands of frames and select the best moments: goals, saves, tackles, celebrations, and the quieter in-between stuff that tells the real story.
Can you shoot in rain or on muddy fields?
Absolutely. Some of my favorite sports photos have come from rainy, muddy games. My gear is weather-sealed, and honestly, mud-covered kids sliding into a tackle make for incredible images. I will be there rain or shine unless there is lightning or the game gets called.
Do you photograph both rec league and club/travel teams?
Yes. I shoot everything from BVSD rec league games at Stazio and Harlow Platts to competitive club matches at the Broomfield Sports Complex. The level of play does not matter to me. The emotions are just as real in a rec game as they are at a state tournament.
Photography Services
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Have a question about your session?
I am happy to help. Send me a message and let's figure out the details.