Four ways to capture mighty wrestling shots

Capture the opening entrances

Early on there’s a great chance to start getting some good shots in the can. As the competitors enter, they’ll usually be met with smoke, vibrant lights and dry ice. They’ll also be wearing more exciting costumes, so make sure you don’t miss this moment. Just remember to change your settings when you get back to the ringside.

Get close to the action

Being right by the action will give you plenty of opportunity to get up close and personal with the competitors. Shoot with your aperture wide open, to bring focus to the main subject and allow the most light into your camera. Widening the aperture will allow you to drive up your shutter speed and achieve crisplooking and sharp shots.

Allow space for high-flyers

Using a zoom lens will give you the most versatility: you’ll be surprised how wide you need to shoot to get the entire scene in. It’s best to frame up wider than you think, to avoid the times when a wrestler goes out of frame. You’ll want to think about timing your shot, too: an older DSLR won’t allow for the rapid bursts of mirrorless models. Place your viewer in the action No matter what happens, stick with the action. Literally anything can happen when adrenaline is running high. Follow the narrative of the match and imitate a field of view similar to your own eyes: this will give a point-of-view aesthetic to your scene. Just remember that the subjects might not be aware you’re there, so watch out for yourself.