All Activities

Which Sports Star Would You Photograph?

Which Sports Star Would You Photograph?
Green highlight

Choose a sports star to photograph with permission, plan action shots, practice camera angles and lighting, then create a photo poster or story.

Orange shooting star
Start Creating
Background blob
Challenge Image
Skill Badge
Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to photograph a sports star

What you need
Adult supervision required, colouring materials, glue stick, paper, pencil, permission from the sports star, scissors

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!

Complete & Share
Challenge badge placeholder
Challenge badge

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

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

The sports stars descend on #Wimbledon 🤩

3 Videos

Facts about sports photography for kids

⚡ 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.

🖼️ Popular poster sizes kids make are 11×17 inches for small displays and 24×36 inches for big wall posters.

📷 Pro sports photographers often use shutter speeds between 1/500 and 1/2000 second to freeze fast motion.

🔭 Telephoto lenses (like 70–200mm or 400mm) let you capture close-up action from far away—perfect for sideline photos.

How do I run the "Which Sports Star Would You Photograph?" activity?

To run the activity, start by choosing a sports star (real or local team player) and get written permission from their guardians or team. Plan action shots: list poses, timing, and camera angles. Practice framing and lighting with a friend or toy. On shoot day, supervise closely, use safe distances, take many photos, review and pick favorites. Finish by arranging images into a photo poster or illustrated story with captions.

What materials do I need for "Which Sports Star Would You Photograph?"

Gather a camera or smartphone with good shutter speed, a tripod or stabilizer, extra charged batteries or charger, memory card or cloud backup, simple props or a ball, basic lighting or reflectors, notebook and pencil for shot ideas, permission slip or contact info, a computer or tablet plus a free editing app, and poster board, glue, printer paper, markers or a photo-print service to make the final poster or story.

What ages is the "Which Sports Star Would You Photograph?" activity suitable for?

This activity suits ages 6–14 with adjustments. Ages 6–8 need close adult help with planning, lighting, and handling equipment. Ages 9–11 can practice angles and simple edits with supervision. Ages 12–14 gain independence to plan full shoots and create stories, but still need guidance on permissions and safety. Always tailor complexity to the child’s attention span and motor skills, and ensure an adult manages permissions and public interactions.

What are the benefits, safety tips, and variations for photographing a sports star with a child?

Benefits include improved observation, storytelling, planning, teamwork, and basic photography skills. Safety tips: always get written permission from the athlete or team, stay off playing surfaces, use an adult for public interactions, avoid distracting players mid-game, and use safe distances and stable equipment. Variations: stage a controlled portrait session, create a comic-strip sequence, photograph practice drills instead of games, or turn photos into a narrated flipbook or digital slides
DIY Yeti Character
Join Frame
Flying Text Box

One subscription, many ways to play and learn.

Try for free

Only $6.99 after trial. No credit card required

To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!

Discovery Tools

Kids GPT

DIY Wiki

DIY TV

Creativity Tools

How to draw

Teacher Tools

SafeTube

DIY Blog

2025, URSOR LIMITED. All rights reserved. DIY is in no way affiliated with Minecraft™, Mojang, Microsoft, Roblox™ or YouTube. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group which does not sponsor, endorse or authorize this website or event. Made with love in San Francisco.

Which Sports Star Would You Photograph. Activities for Kids.