Soccer / Football Photo Day: Team & Action Shot Tips

Soccer photo days usually cover a full-team lineup plus individual and small-group action on the pitch.

Team photos - Full kit including correct socks pulled up and shin pads on — rolled-down socks are one of the most common retakes we ask for. - Standard team lineup: goalkeeper (in a different-coloured kit) usually seated centre-front holding the ball, outfield players arranged by height around them. - Boots clean where possible — it's a small detail, but it shows up in a sharp team photo. - Captain's armband visible and unrolled if your team uses one.

Action shots - Mid-dribble with the ball close to the foot, or the follow-through of a kick, both photograph better than the split-second of contact itself. - Goalkeepers: a diving save or a confident high catch makes for the strongest individual shot — let us know if you'd like a couple of practice dives set up for a clean action photo. - Keep your eyes on the ball, not the camera, for anything mid-play — it's what makes an action shot look real rather than staged. - Heading and passing sequences work well as a small-group action shot if you've got a teammate free to help set it up.