Remember the handsome face that took over social media with the buzz “ridiculously photogenic guy” after he managed to take one of the best race photos ever?
It left many of us pondering after years of running…HOW DO YOU GET A GOOD RACE PHOTO?!!!
With Brightroom saying their average purchase rate is around 5% I know I’m not alone in uttering the following after spending a week excitedly waiting to see if maybe they finally snapped a stellar image:
I swear I was running not walking
Surely I don’t look like that while I run
Maybe it’s just a bad angle
Tips to finally get a good race photo you’d be willing to pay for:
1. Improve Form: The best thing you can do to get a good race photo is take a second to check your form! I’ve talked about the STAR rules for a quick form check and they certainly apply when you see that photog:
- Stand up tall
- Speed up to get a better stride, you might even over exaggerate your stride a bit
- Think about picking up your feet to prevent the fast walk look {I get that a lot!}
- Arms pumping forward and back, no hands hanging limply in front of you like T-Rex arms
2. Be Camera Aware: Be on the lookout for photographers on the course, that sounds obvious but truly if you want a great photo you gotta be watching for them and then moving to get in to position.
- Run to the right or left side of the road, as photographers are rarely in the middle except in smaller races. This can ensure you aren’t hidden behind other runners.
- Get visible by slowing down or speeding up to clear other runners
- Look right at the photographer if you want to capture the “yes, I love running!” super grin
- Look straight ahead with a relaxed face or smile for the “I’m focused and enjoying it” – don’t try to actually look focused it comes across as a grimace
- Fake it – Tired, exhausted, ready to collapse…SMILE. Fake it it you make it friends…
or risk looking like Kelly of I am Running This
3. Outfit selection: Celebrities take a photo before the red carpet to ensure with a flash their garments don’t become see through…runners should probably just look in the mirror at least once to ensure the outfit really does go together and you’d want to proudly display a photo wearing it.
- No baggie shorts, they just look bigger in a photo
- Hats can help to tame crazy hair, but also cast a shadow on the face.
- Headbands: Ladies this one tool alone can prevent the crazy hair photo which makes you look more disheveled than excited. As many folks point out, you do your hair for any other good photo…do it here too! A braid, a bun, a clean ponytail.
- Bibs in front: You are not in a rodeo, your bib goes on the front of your shirt. Runners behind you do not care what your number is, but the automated programs searching to place your photo do.
- Makeup: What?! Truth. Many great photos have folks wearing waterproof mascara and a little bit of make up.
- Sunglasses: They hide A LOT from crazy eyes to pain
4. Get Noticed Without Looking Crazy: Have you ever tried the big arm wave only to end up with an odd look on your face and arms in awkward angles? Without knowing exactly when they will snap a few things can work better.
- Bright colors – turns out white and black can wash you out a bit with the surroundings and this makes you stand out
- Outfits: After tons of folks streaming past, they might take a second look and a couple more shots when something interesting catches their eye
- Move towards them and shout: Not obscenities or anything to scare them, just a big “wohoo” or “I love running” is going to break their shutter finger hypnosis
- Give a thumbs up and a smile or stop to do a big jump or be silly…just know the more movement you put in play the more opportunities arise for it to get awkward.
The wave gone wrong from @KristinDetroit and myself.
5. Finish Line Flare: Sure we all want to know our finish time immediately, but assume you took at extra 20 seconds to stop your watch after running all the way through the finish line arms stretched out in victory
- If you start to slow before crossing that very last mat, you’ll get some walking photos
- Pause the watch after you pass the last mat and walk for a few steps
- Bust out the major emotion! Smiles, cheers, jumps, yells, tears…you’ll get a second look from the photographers
Great example from Laduke Photo!
When was your worst race photo??
How often do you buy your photo?
Head over to Facebook and share your good, bad and seriously ugly on my wall. I’ll do a round up post with the best one’s linking back to you on Twitter or your website so leave it in the comments!
Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram: RunToTheFinish
Facebook: RunToTheFinish
Get new posts via BlogLovin
