Which Sports Star Would You Photograph?
Choose a sports star to photograph with permission, plan action shots, practice camera angles and lighting, then create a photo poster or story.
Step-by-step guide to photograph a sports star
Step 1
Choose the sports star you would like to photograph.
Step 2
Ask the sports star or an adult in charge for permission to take photos.
Step 3
Write five action-shot ideas for that sport on a sheet of paper.
Step 4
Pick the two ideas you want to try first.
Step 5
Choose a safe location and a time with good light for your photoshoot.
Step 6
Sketch three camera angles on your paper that match your chosen ideas.
Step 7
Practice those angles and the lighting with a friend or a stuffed toy.
Step 8
Set up any props at the shooting spot so the area is ready.
Step 9
Take lots of photos while the sports star performs the planned actions.
Step 10
Look through your photos to find the ones you like best.
Step 11
Edit the chosen photos to crop and fix brightness if you want.
Step 12
Arrange the edited photos on paper to make a poster or a short photo story.
Step 13
Add a title and a short caption for each photo to tell the story.
Step 14
Decorate the poster with colouring materials and glue to make it pop.
Step 15
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
If we don't have a camera, glue, or special colouring materials listed in the instructions, what can we use instead?
Use a smartphone or tablet for the 'Take lots of photos' step, tape or a stapler instead of glue when assembling the poster, and crayons, markers, or printed stickers for the 'Decorate the poster' step.
What should we do if our photos come out blurry, the sports star can't repeat the action well, or the light is bad?
Stabilize your device on a table or use burst mode to avoid blur, ask the sports star or adult to perform the action more slowly or in shorter bursts as you practice the planned angles, and move to a different time or spot with better light as instructed in 'Choose a safe location and a time with good light for your photoshoot.'
How can I adapt this activity for a 5-year-old compared to a 12-year-old?
For about 5-year-olds, limit to one or two simple action ideas, 'Practice those angles and the lighting with a friend or a stuffed toy,' and have an adult help with 'Take lots of photos' and 'Edit the chosen photos,' while 12-year-olds can sketch three camera angles, try more camera settings, and design the poster and captions independently.
How can we make the finished poster or photo story more creative before sharing on DIY.org?
Arrange the edited photos into a dynamic layout, add a bold title and concise captions as in 'Add a title and a short caption for each photo,' decorate with mixed media from 'Decorate the poster,' and scan or photograph the poster to create a slideshow for uploading to DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to photograph a sports star
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Facts about sports photography for kids
📷 Pro sports photographers often use shutter speeds between 1/500 and 1/2000 second to freeze fast motion.
⚡ Modern mirrorless cameras can shoot continuous bursts of 10–20 frames per second to catch the perfect action moment.
🎯 Placing your subject on a rule-of-thirds intersection makes action shots feel more energetic and balanced.
🔭 Telephoto lenses (like 70–200mm or 400mm) let you capture close-up action from far away—perfect for sideline photos.
🖼️ Popular poster sizes kids make are 11×17 inches for small displays and 24×36 inches for big wall posters.
