Tips for Sequence Photography

10 tips for creating a sequence photo of a person or animal in motion

Do you want to capture a person or animal in motion? Try shooting a sequence photo! We’re sharing 10 useful tips — plus a bonus tip from Luc Buthker — to help you head out well-prepared.

Do these tips sound familiar? They might! We collected them for the fourth at-home challenge of Het Perfecte Plaatje 2022: Are you ready to take on the challenge again?

Tip 1: Discover what you can do with a sequence photo

A sequence photo is an image that shows a subject in motion in successive stages. For example, you might see a person jumping — from take-off to landing. This allows you to clearly show the subject’s dynamics and control, including the intermediate steps of the movement that would normally be omitted.

Tip 2: Decide what you want to show

What do you want to emphasise in your photo? Is it the movement of your subject — the action itself? Or does the background also play an important role? Which movement are you showcasing — is it obvious, or rather surprising? Is there a single frame in the sequence that stands out, or is the strength of the photo found in the sum of all individual shots? Ask yourself the right questions before you start shooting so you know exactly what you want to show.

Tip 3: Check how you want to capture the movement

Although creativity knows no limits, most sequence photos feature a frozen subject — without motion blur. This requires a suitable shutter speed that captures your subject sharply. Depending on the speed of the movement and the available light, you can experiment with the right combination: which shutter speed freezes the action, and does it match your desired aperture and lighting conditions? If that’s not possible — for example because it’s too dark — choose another time of day, better (brighter) weather or use lights.

Tip 4: Shoot using burst mode

In addition to your aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings, it’s best to use the fastest burst mode your camera can handle. This allows you to capture as many frames per second as possible, creating a smooth and consistent sequence. If your camera isn’t very fast, you could consider shooting in JPEG instead of RAW. On most cameras, this increases the number of frames per second you can shoot.

Tip 5: Make sure your camera can’t move

Because you’ll need to merge multiple images into one during editing, it’s important that only your subject moves within the frame. This makes editing much easier and faster. To keep your camera steady, it’s wise to use a tripod. This allows you to choose your composition precisely and then shoot without the camera shifting.

Tip 6: Wait for the right weather

When capturing movement, you’ll likely be shooting outdoors where you have more space. This means you’ll be dependent on the weather — and on the natural light available. Think in advance about which conditions match the image you want to create. A sunny day can be perfect because you’ll have plenty of light for a fast shutter speed. This is essential, because action is generally fast and you’ll want to capture everything. If you’re shooting in the evening or on a dark day, you can use flash. Make sure you use powerful flashes that can freeze the movement by firing quickly in succession.

Tip 7: Pre-set your focus

For this assignment, your subject will move through the frame. That’s why it’s helpful to pre-focus on the spot where your subject will move. Using pre-focus ensures your subject will be sharp. Choose an aperture that keeps the subject sharp even if they move slightly forward or backward. If the background also needs to be sharp, choose a higher aperture. As an experiment, you can start at f/16 and gradually move to a wider aperture until you achieve the result you want.

Tip 8: Agree on how your subject will move

Composition plays an important role in sequence photography. How will the person or animal move through the frame? And what will you show the viewer? Your subject can strengthen the sense of movement significantly — for example when they are focused on the point they are heading toward. As the photographer, you can guide this. Make sure the image doesn’t become flat, and discuss with your subject, if possible, how you want to create a dynamic shot.

Tip 9: Experiment and don’t give up

Let’s be honest: capturing motion is difficult and requires a lot of practice. Your subject may not execute the movement perfectly on the first try, or focusing may be harder than expected. Start with a small movement in a simple setting to master the steps, and don’t give up.

Tip 10: Edit your photos

When creating a sequence photo, you can’t avoid post-processing — you’ll need to combine the shots into a single image. In post-processing, “less is more.” Try not to include every single frame of the motion. Choose only the key moments and the best shots. Each photo should be strong enough to stand on its own. Build your sequence around that. If the composition becomes too busy and the action becomes unclear, it’s better to leave out part of the movement.

Bonus tip from guest judge Luc Buthker: “Get to know your model”

“Talk to the athlete or person you want to capture and understand what they’re going to do. If you know what the person will do and how the action will look, you can anticipate it perfectly as a photographer. Also pay attention to what the person can — and especially cannot — do. The action doesn’t always need to be spectacular to create a great photo.”

Website: lucbuthker.com
Instagram: @lucbuthker

Share your result

Did your sequence photo turn out well? Share your image with us on Instagram! Use the hashtag #KameraExpress or tag Kamera Express in your post. And don’t forget to follow us for plenty of inspiration.