Why Motorsport Photography is About much More Than Just Taking Good Photos

Mar 24

*Our* *24H Dubai Motorsport Photography Workshop* *2025 at the Dubai Autodrome, UAE. Behind-the-scenes isn’t always pretty, as you can see!*
*Photo taken on Google Pixel 8 Pro.*

You might be thinking - “I already know how to take decent motorsport photos, so why would I need a workshop?”

It’s a fair question to be asking yourself, so let’s delve into it and find out.

At Trackside Focus®, our workshops go far beyond just teaching you how to capture great motorsport images. In all honesty, that’s the easy bit! If you’re serious about standing out in the fast-paced world of motorsport photography, then there are crucial elements you need to master and understand - ones that many photographers overlook.

Motorsport photography isn’t just about photographing fast cars - it’s about time management, logistics, understanding team strategy and a whole lot more. To be a top motorsport photographer, you need to know how to execute a well thought out plan. From understanding circuit layouts and dynamics, to managing your kit, understanding race schedules and the logistics around track access, there’s a whole world of planning that goes into capturing the exhilarating world of motorsport photography.

So, you’ve nailed your panning shots and know your way around a camera. But can you confidently answer these key 10 questions?

1. Do you truly understand the track layout and dynamics?

Shooting from the media side of the fence is very different compared to the spectator areas. Knowing the best vantage points, how cars behave in certain sections, and where you can safely position yourself are all crucial and essential skills. If you don’t know the track layout from the media side of the fence, if you can’t figure out how to get to turn 1, then to turn 8 and back again, you are going to find life incredibly hard as an accredited photographer.

Where can I stand? Where are the photographer windows? Are there even any? Is turn 9 a concrete wall or an armco barrier? Is there a gravel trap there?

How do the cars enter and then exit the hairpin at turn 4? Should I position myself on entry or exit? On the inside or outside? How do I even get to the outside? Does the pit lane entry have a good angle for close ups at this circuit?

These are just a small handful of the questions you will need to ask yourself and start planning for, before even taking any photos!

2. Can you anticipate the key moments and best shooting locations?

Certain sections of the track provide incredible opportunities, like glowing brake discs, dramatic overtakes, or low-grip corners that test drivers’ limits. But do you know exactly where those moments happen and how to anticipate them? Is it turn 9 where drivers struggle and often put a wheel into the gravel, making a great photo opportunity? If you are working for a team or a client and they have requested certain images of their cars or drivers, do you know exactly where to go and when in order to make sure you get these all important images?

*Our* *24H Dubai Motorsport Photography Workshop* *2025 at the Dubai Autodrome, UAE.*
*Photo taken on Google Pixel 8 Pro.*

3. Can you follow team strategy to be in the right place at the right time?

Understanding race strategy isn’t just for engineers - it’s for photographers too. Knowing when and where critical moments will unfold can mean the difference between a good shot and the shot. Need to get a set of images of your clients car in the pit lane? Do you know when it’s going to pit? What if you find yourself out at turn 7 which is right out the back of the circuit and then your car stops for a scheduled pit stop? Knowing where to be and when is just as crucial as being able to take good images. There is not much point in being an amazing photographer but one who misses all the important photos!

4. Do you know where the best sunrise and sunset spots are?

Lighting is everything in photography, and motorsport is no different. Do you know where the golden-hour magic happens at each track you visit? And just as importantly, do you understand why certain angles work better at different times of day? This is crucial knowledge and insight you will require to capture those portfolio-worthy images.

5. How long does it take to get from the media centre to turn 1 - or anywhere else around the circuit?

Motorsport moves fast, and so should you. Efficiently navigating the track ensures you never miss a crucial moment because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Where are the tunnels? Or are there bridges? How many and where? Can I walk that way? You want to be on the inside of turn 10 for sunset, but then your client has also asked for images of the car at turn 15 as well? But turn 15 is better photographed on the outside of the circuit. Can I do both? How do I even get from T10-T15? Is there a tunnel to cross over from the inside to the outside? Where is that tunnel? Then how long from T15 back to the media centre? Is there a media shuttle bus available?

If you can’t plan to this level of detail, you will really struggle. You will end up spending all your time trying to navigate the circuit that you come away with hardly any decent images.

6. Do you understand what type of images teams and potential clients are looking for?

It’s not just about taking pretty pictures - teams, sponsors, and publications have specific needs. Do you know what they’re looking for and why? Both cars? One car? How many drivers? Sponsor logos? On track or in the pits? When do they need them delivered by? Immediately or is later that day OK? How do I plan capturing the images the team has requested, navigating the circuit layout, getting back to the media centre, editing and then delivering them on time. And that’s just from the morning session. This afternoon you need to go again! And then again tonight too!

7. Red Zones - what are they, and why do they matter?

If you’re unsure about Red Zones, safety protocols, and media restrictions, you could find yourself in a very dangerous - or even prohibited spot. Knowing these rules is essential for both your safety and also your career.

The pit exit at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. Sunrise or sunset, do you know?
*Photo taken on Google Pixel 8 Pro.*

8. How do you prepare for shooting at the track?

Race management is just as crucial for motorsport photographers as it is for race teams! Endurance racing, for example requires endurance photography. Do you have a strategy for pacing yourself, staying alert, and ensuring you don’t miss the crucial moments in a race that can last an entire day (or more)? Do you have a solid understanding of the race schedule? When is qualifying? How many practice sessions are there?

You need to capture a certain set of images for a team. You need to shoot the cars out on track, get back to the media centre and deliver them within 30 minutes. How on earth do you plan that? You get back to the media centre and one of your client’s cars was in the pits briefly but now it’s back out again. Do I need to go back out quickly and if so, where on track? Or can I edit and then go back out? When will the car(s) be in the pits next? Should I wait for the next pit stop or go back out? Turn 6 would be ideal, but it’s a 25-minute walk away, so maybe turn 4 instead, which is 10 minutes away but not so good for photos.

Where is my team’s garage in the pits? Near the media centre or the other end of the pit lane? That’s another 10 minute walk to add into the mix.

Outside circuit or on the inside? Inside is easier to get too, but the outside is better for photography at this time of day. Can I get to the outside of the circuit and back in time?

What kit should I take? Turn 6 I need my 300mm, but then turn 4 is great with just a 70-200mm. Take both? It’s a long walk with heavy equipment! Should I shoot on the 300mm now and then go back later with the 70-200mm? Do I have time for that? Is the media shuttle running as that would really help with the carrying?

This sort of expertise when it comes to planning a race weekend as a photographer is ultimately what separates the pro’s from the rest. Taking amazing photos is completely irrelevant if you haven’t got the skills and knowledge to plan your photography and, more importantly, to effectively execute that plan.

9. What lenses should you use in the pit lane - and why?

The pit lane is a high-intensity, fast-moving environment. The wrong lens choice could mean missing the action or being unable to tell the story effectively. A 50mm prime for beautiful sharp images? A 24-70mm for flexibility?

How to operate as a photographer in the pit lane is a massively crucial skillset to learn. It can be hot, fast, scary and loud! Understanding how to navigate working in the pit lane is absolutely essential.

10) Is a concrete wall or an Armco barrier safer to stand behind?

Track safety is paramount. Understanding the safest places to shoot from ensures you get the shot without putting yourself at risk. Armco barrier or concrete wall? Or is there catch-fencing with photographer windows inbuilt? Which do you think is the safer choice? Do you even have a choice, if so, do you know how to shoot safety at both?

Why a Trackside Focus® Workshop is Worth It

These are just a handful of the questions and scenarios that separate casual motorsport photographers from true professionals. If you struggled to answer even a few of them, or they felt a little scary or overwhelming, then a Trackside Focus® workshop could be the key to unlocking the next level of your motorsport photography journey.

Taking good photos is just the beginning. It doesn’t mean you can suddenly become an accredited photographer. It’s a whole different world. To truly succeed, you need to understand the sport, the strategy, the logistics, and the business of motorsport photography.

That’s exactly where Trackside Focus® comes in. Trying to navigate this world on your own is extremely challenging and overwhelming. Get it wrong once, your career or worse could be over. Your dream of becoming a media accredited motorsport photographer finished before it even started. By training and learning with Trackside Focus®, you can significantly reduce the risk of this happening to you!

Join a Trackside Focus® workshop where you will learn from leading industry pro’s who will train, guide and coach you in all the above and much, much more!

Greg Childs