This whole series of videos from BYU Photo are absolutely incredible. You and your team provide a huge service to all of us working on a much smaller scale and with much smaller resources. Please keep them coming!

Hands down, the best football photography video EVER. Thank you.

"If you pay the price of experience, these are the insights you will gain." Beautifully said!

This video is INCREDIBLE! Anyone who shoots sports totally needs to watch this! Thanks for such an awesome tutorial Jaren!

As an amateur, I appreciated knowing that he gets ref backsides, and out of focus shots that would have been great if the intended subject was in focus. I shoot youth rugby. I'm glad that I'm on the right track and look forward to improving my skills. Thanks for these informative videos!

This is a true masterclass, thank you so much for all the insight and time you put into this video! I’ll be a pro in no time now 🤠

That ketchup is awesome!

You guys at BYU put out the best photography videos I've seen. I've been shooting for the high school where I have taught for the last 20 years. You have both confirmed many of the things I am doing right as well as taught me new ideas on how, when, and where to shoot. Thanks so much for such a thorough presentation.

I was nominated for this video and I have rarely seen anything so good related to sports photography. I have been photographing American football in Brazil since 2014 and I have always spoken to photographers who are references in the field, looking for tips and ways to improve. Even with all this time photographing, it's never too late to learn something new or improve. Thanks for the video.

The Puka catch at 41:09 brings a tear to my eye its so beautiful

wow finally a photgraphy channel that with info that is very helpful to lots of people, thank you for the service you provide here on youtube , I'm now a subscriber.

This 54 minute video basically makes hours and hours of similar content here within KZfaq utterly obsolete! This is really the only video anyone needs to watch to cover football and basically any other field-based sport! Wow! What great video from start to finish, information contained, presentation, and all perfectly delivered by Jaren! I wish this was available 10 years ago. Thank for putting this masterpiece together and look forward to learning more with the other videos!

Every football photographer should watch these two videos starting out. They are awesome. The old saying "I wish I knew then, what I know now" comes to mind when I watched these videos. Well done!

Great video, our University games are in much smaller venues but some good suggestions for the upcoming season in the UK

I am trying to help my grandaughter get into sports photography this is by far the best video I’ve seen. Thank you for sharing

WOW!! Fantastic content. I’ll have sideline access for a HS game next week and this answered so many questions for me. Thanks.

Thanks a million, Jaren! Been shooting high school sports for years and your video gave me two or three ideas and changes that I am going to make going forward. BYU Photo is the best in the business! Go Cougs!

I have watched A LOT of sports photography tutorials and THIS IS THE BEST! So comprehensive with amazing examples, THANK YOU!

Great video!!! Took notes and now have a better understanding of how to cover a game with multi photogs.

Very informative! Your ability to tell how you go through your day from start to finish was inspiring. You shared your secret sauce that works for you, I’ll take away many points to make my own sauce. Too many photographers keep this kind of information too close to the vest. I’m sure you have motivated and inspired many aspiring sports photographers. Looking forward to more. Blessings to you and your staff.

Wonderful video, with valuable information. Thank you.

This is the best video on photographing football I have seen and ever could have asked for. Extraordinarily helpful. Thank you to the BYU Photo team and Jaren for making it!

YOU ARE OUTSTANDING!!! I'm a high school sports photographer but am always look for ongoing learning. Thank you so much for taking the time for these videos!!!

Phenomenal tutorial 💯You're the first sports photog I've met who uses a 500mm f/4 for football ... AWESOME! 🔥Of everyone I've met on the sidelines with big primes, probably 95% use a 400mm f/2.8 while the other 5% use a 600mm f/4. For daytime soccer + daytime football + indoor/outdoor swim meets, I'm running a single-body setup this year: - Body: 1DX Mark II + EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x - The flexibility is amazing; love the lens. For night games, I run a 2-body setup: - Body 1: 1DX Mark II + EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM - Body 2: 1DX Mark II + EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM That said, for the past month or so, I've seriously been giving thought to the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM for next season 👍 I often feel a bit short shooting at 400mm, and since I just upgraded Body 1 to the 1DX Mark III, perhaps I could swing an f/4 for those night games since the Mark III has ~ 1 stop better ISO & dynamic range performance over the Mark II. Could you see yourself upgrading to an RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM if Canon releases it? 😃

This is so valuable, thank you BYU Photo!!!

This is a very comprehensive video that covers many topics, tips, and tricks, all in one viewing. Great job!

Your videos are amazing...Passing on so many good tips and techniques. Thanks so much!

So well-spoken. Nicely done.

I absolutely love your videos! I shoot for Cal and unfortunately we don’t have the resources that you guys have, but you’re videos are truly helpful in helping us set up our program to get it to the level of yours! Much love💙💙

My oldest son plays pop warner, this is his 2nd year. Last season I purchased a 200-500mm for their championship game. I was in love but the game was my first time using the lens. I took some game footage this past weekend and i am happy with the turn out but man I have so much to learn. I am beyond thrilled to find this video! I will be watching it multiple times. I am only 10mm into the video and you have provided so much info. I appreciate the fact that you got straight to it!!!!!!! I am excited for the remaining 43 min 😊

Just watched part 1 and 2, and they were great. I'm starting out and have only shot three HS football games and it's been really exciting. I think I've done alright, but always want to improve and move up to the big leagues (eventually). I will definitely be using a lot of your advice this Friday.

Absolutely phenomenal!! This was a huge gift - thank you so much!!

Great comprehensive tutorial. Thanks Jaren!

So good Jaren. Anybody shooting football should watch this. I think I was shooting that BYU-Houston game you used in this video (if it was the one in October 2000). Just after Covid and still had some cardboard cutouts in the stands. And I had quite a few frames of a young star QB named Zach Wilson- I remember that.

This video is fantastic - really looking forward to the next segment. Thank you!

This was amazing and I will watch a few times.

Perfect advice regarding sideline etiquette!

Fantastic video, Jaren! It's such a relief to know I can just skip "arm day" and just go get myself a monopod. 😄Keep up the great work!

Nicely done! 👏 Welcome to the Big12 and I look forward to welcoming you to Manhattan!

Was this ever fantastic, I learned so much. (Sorry you've been scarred for life.) Thank you, Jaren!

Bravo! Thanks for sharing all your expertise, yours is for certain one of the most professional and thorough videos on Sport Photography. I was very pleased by the short analysis of your teamwork practices; is there any way you can go deeper into that on a dedicated video? Thanks again and great work!

These videos are amazing! A lot of great content. I cannot thank you enough.

Thank you so much! Very interesting and full of practical information. Im in Switzerland where we play in front of 500-1000 spectators, lousy stadiums, but nevertheless trying my best to add a story to my pics!

Thank you!!! Very good instructions

Great vid, lots of the things you said in this can easily swap to other sports. Nice one

Thank you, Jaren and the entire BYU media team, for taking the time to create such a comprehensive tutorial! This was invaluable information for sports photographers regardless of skill level. Easy to understand and so complete. Unfortunately, it appears I need a lot more gear/$$$$ to shoot football effectively!

I love this and your basketball video. Thank y'all for doing these. I gope to see a volleyball one soon. Thanks again!

Great info that's applicable to all field sports.

Thank you for these videos!

Great video, Jaren. A question I have is, do you ever need extra hands during an away game? When BYU travels to WVU Nov. 4th 2023. I am in Morgantown, WV I can shoot photos, grip, run for batteries, or anything else you/crew may need. Would love to learn from y’all!

Can’t wait for part 2. I wish I could have seen this 10 years ago. I almost follow the exact routine and football concepts that you do. Hope to some day for afternoon be an assistant photographer for a local nearby university. The Ohio State University.

So simple focus like DSLR

YES on the monopod comments! NO monopod for the 70-200, and YES monopod for the 300 / 400mm lens!

You guys produce some of the best videos, love them! What would you recommenced for picture profile?

`Amazing video and thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I am a one man band so yes I do miss a fair number of football plays. I shoot using a 400mm f 2.8 an old Nikon boat anchor but so very sharp then a newer Z mount 400mm f4..5 lens, so light I hand hold it, then my second camera has a 24-70 2.8. A problem I deal with so often deal with is where is the ball? If I'm lucky and pick the correct receiver I can get one of those "pre action and peak action shots". No kidding, this was a great video Mr. Wilkey.

Fantastic video! Subscribed and can’t wait to see part 2!

"during one of the 300 commercial breaks that occur during a typical football game..." 😂 so true, unfortunately

Amazing video. I shoot rugby and unfortunately there's no downtime between plays. You're often running to a new spot while some action is taking place. In watching this I do realize I need to capture more non action shots. The warm up, coaches, celebration, and post game stuff. Photos need context and those other shots set context.

50:40 - Hilarious 😂

Thanks for this video! You talk about the importance of using a monopod with a long focal length lens, however, both in the discussion of the Black Rapid set-up and rest of video, you didn't quite share about managing the monopod. Do you keep it attached and collapsed? Could you share a bit more of how you handle with the two cameras and not get tangled :) ? Thanks!

Can you elaborate on the key ring components to connect the strap to the camera instead of the threaded screw they provide? I want to buy something strong enough.

Great info!

Excellent video!! Which Think Tank shoulder bag did you have in the video?

Love the blood and guts on the photog!!

Jaren, thanks so much for sharing your experience. This is so helpful. I really like your key ring solution to the Peak Design option for the Black Rapid straps. What size key ring do you use to make this work?

Great video. I’ve been shooting college sports for a while now and still leaned somethings. I’m wondering about your comment about backlighting. Are you indicating that you prefer the players are backlit? If that’s the case, and I agree that the faces could be better this way, aren’t you getting a lot of flare and other issues with the sun coming directly into the lens? I have my photos on photo by Barnick if you care to take a look to see my experience although your photos are far superior to mine.

Many many thanks for the knowledge share! I just found your channel and your videos are invaluable! Subscribed! I have been asked to help take gameday photos for my son's peewee league football games (played at high school fields). I consider myself and amateur/hobbyist photographer, I shoot on a full frame Sony camera and really only have the budget for 1 additional lens to be used during the game. Games are played both during the day and night. What one lens would you suggest as a best "all-arounder?" Thanks again!

would a 2x extender on a 70-200 suffice? If the pirce range for the 500mm prime is a little out of reach currently? Obviously not ideal. But the 500 is f5.6 and the 70-200 is f4 so you're not really sacrificing any stops of light.

Thanks for a great video. I am looking forward to seeing Part 2. Until then, I have a clarifying question. Around 18:06, you said, don’t put a camera down on the sideline, but around 49:50 you said that you have the second body pre-focused and “standing on the ground next to me” and that switching means that you need to put down the long lens. Does that mean that you will put a camera on the ground if you are at the back of the end zone, but not on the sideline or is there something I am missing? Do you ever shoot with the long lens over your shoulder while you are using the 70-200 so you can move out of the way quickly if needed? I am trying to understand how to juggle a camera on a monopod while using the shorter lens. It’s a lot easier shooting baseball or softball. 😀

07:35 I did it precisely yesterday. I am glad I did that on my own. Half of the field was bright and the other half was full dark. It was a nightmare.

also, how do you apply the positioning techniques you mention to when your team is on defense? do you stay at the same endzone? do you move with the line of scrimmage but instead of staying ahead of it do you stay behind it so you have the defense facing you?

Being we are talking basics...do you use lens filters or not? If so, which ones and why. Thanks!

Not a professional but great video

When you travel, what type of cases do you use to bring your larger lenses? I recently purchased a 500mm and am having trouble on what case to buy.

Do you only shoot the football team? I would love to get a breakdown like this for soccer.

What monopod do you use? Do you screw it directly into the lens foot or do you have a head and quick release plate? I’m concerned the screw in won’t be secure enough.

I know you have the 500 on the r3. Do you have any budget recommendations that kind of cover that further length of capture? I'm taking on a media job for the high school i've been working at for some time and there really isn't a budget and i know that quality glass like that 500 will be pricey. Just trying to be as cost effective as possible.

I shoot high school football. Any suggestions on how to approach photographing when the team is having a losing season with few touchdowns?

Any thoughts on the lighting bars that show as the stadium lights come on and the sun goes down

For high school games, can you just show up or do u need special permission?

I wish I could shoot at 1/1,000 at f/5(!) and ISO at only 8,000! Must be nice to shoot with so much light. #FridayNightLights #HighSchoolFootball #MoreDifficutlThanCollege #NotLitForVideo

Wonderful series, lots of insight..BUT, when the talk is big glass the average person can’t afford the “rocket launchers”…and I disagree with the comment about the 70-200mm getting “cheerleader” pictures..know the sport, know the team, and that 70-200mm, which the amateur photographer can afford will do just fine.

“Cameras are too dumb to expose properly” “I use auto iso” ok

This is a tour deforce

I still don't understand how this is called football and not soccer(which is dominantly played with legs).

The AF is effected by a 50% empty battery? 😂😂😂😂😂 Canon😂😂😂😂😂 No Photoshop is a non destructive software. Don't speak about it if you dont know about it. With modern mirrorless cameras, you don't need backbutton focus. Everything you said I can do with one button. Ok, with Sony, maybe Canon is not good enough

39:51 BULLSH*T you don’t have to be the team photographer to capture that shot. Complete lie! I hate people like that try to and gate keep others from getting opportunities to grow in their photography career. Not everyone is privileged to shoot for BYU

That’s not even football