Tennis Photography Settings: Indoor & Outdoor Court Guide
Tennis photography presents unique challenges with fast serves reaching 200+ km/h (125+ mph), quick lateral movements, and varying lighting from indoor courts to outdoor tournaments. Here's how to capture every ace, volley, and baseline rally with perfect settings.
Why Tennis Photography Is Challenging
Tennis demands versatility from photographers. You'll deal with high-speed serves, rapid player movement, and unpredictable ball trajectories. The biggest challenge? Lighting varies dramatically:
- Outdoor day matches: Bright sun with harsh shadows
- Outdoor twilight: Rapidly changing light conditions
- Indoor courts: Artificial lighting, often inconsistent
- Stadium night matches: Bright but mixed lighting sources
Essential Camera Settings for Tennis
Outdoor Day Matches (Bright Sun)
☀️ Sunny Outdoor Court Settings
💡 Pro Tip: Watch the Shadows
On sunny days, position yourself so the sun is behind you or to the side. This lights the player's face and avoids harsh shadows. Midday sun creates strong shadows—early morning or late afternoon light is softer and more flattering.
Indoor Court Settings
🏟️ Indoor Court Settings
⚠️ Indoor Court Lighting Warning
Indoor tennis facilities often have flickering fluorescent or LED lights. This can cause banding in your images. Use a shutter speed that's a multiple of the local AC frequency (1/50s, 1/100s, 1/200s for 50Hz; 1/60s, 1/125s, 1/250s for 60Hz) or shoot at very high speeds (1/800s+) to minimize the effect.
Key Moments to Capture
1. The Serve
Professional serves can exceed 200 km/h (125 mph). Use 1/1600s minimum to freeze the ball and racket at contact. Position yourself behind the baseline at an angle to capture the server's face and the power of the motion.
2. Groundstrokes & Returns
Baseline rallies showcase athleticism and technique. 1/1000s is sufficient for most groundstrokes. Focus on the player's face, showing concentration and emotion. The ball should be visible but doesn't need to be frozen perfectly.
3. Volleys at the Net
Net play happens quickly. Use continuous autofocus and high-speed burst mode. Shoot from the side to capture the player reaching for a volley or overhead smash.
4. Reactions & Emotions
Tennis is an emotional sport. Capture fist pumps after winning a point, frustration after errors, and celebration after match wins. These moments tell the story beyond the action.
Lens Choice for Tennis Photography
Your lens choice depends on your shooting position and access:
- 70-200mm f/2.8: The workhorse for tennis. Covers baseline to net from courtside positions. Fast aperture for indoor courts.
- 300mm f/2.8 or f/4: Ideal for shooting from the stands or far corners. Compresses the court and isolates players beautifully.
- 400mm f/2.8: Professional choice for major tournaments when shooting from elevated positions or far back.
- 24-70mm f/2.8: For close-up courtside access, warm-ups, or trophy presentations.
💡 Pro Tip: Court Position Strategy
Best position: Behind the baseline at a 45-degree angle. This gives you both players in frame during rallies and a clear view of facial expressions. Avoid shooting from directly behind the net—you'll get a lot of net in your shots and obscured faces.
Alternate angle: Low angle from the corner captures the court's depth and makes players look more dynamic and powerful.
Dealing with Outdoor Lighting Challenges
Harsh Midday Sun
Strong overhead sun creates harsh shadows under players' eyes and noses. Use spot metering on the player's face to avoid underexposure. Consider slight positive exposure compensation (+0.3 to +0.7 EV) to brighten shadows.
Cloudy Days
Overcast conditions provide even, soft lighting—ideal for tennis photography. You can use slower shutter speeds (1/800s) since light is abundant and shadows are minimal. Set white balance to Cloudy (6000K) to avoid overly cool tones.
Twilight & Dusk Matches
As the sun sets, light changes rapidly. Switch to Auto ISO with a cap of 3200-6400 to maintain exposure. Keep shutter speed at 1/800s minimum. Be ready to adjust settings every few minutes as light fades.
Focus Techniques for Tennis
Tennis players move quickly and unpredictably. Here's how to keep them sharp:
- Zone AF: Use a 9-point or zone AF area that covers the player's torso and head.
- Subject tracking: Modern cameras (Sony, Canon R-series, Nikon Z) have excellent subject detection. Enable "people" or "sports" detection for automatic tracking.
- Back-button focus: Separate focus from the shutter button for more control during rallies.
- Pre-focus on the court: For serves, pre-focus on where you know the player will be and wait for the action.
Common Tennis Photography Mistakes
1. Shutter Speed Too Slow
Even at 1/500s, serves and fast volleys will be blurry. Stick to 1/800s minimum, and use 1/1600s for serves.
2. Shooting Through the Net
Shooting from behind the net obscures players and adds distracting mesh patterns. Move to the baseline or corner for cleaner compositions.
3. Ignoring Background
Cluttered backgrounds (spectators, advertising boards) distract from the subject. Use f/2.8-f/4 to blur backgrounds and isolate the player. Position yourself to avoid busy backgrounds.
4. Missing the Peak Action
Don't wait for the perfect moment—use burst mode and shoot continuously during rallies. You'll capture the split-second expressions and ball contact that tell the story.
Post-Processing Tips
Enhance your tennis shots with these quick adjustments:
- White balance correction: Indoor courts often have orange/yellow casts. Adjust to neutral or slightly cool tones.
- Exposure: Brighten shadows on faces (+10 to +20 shadow slider).
- Contrast: Add punch with +10 to +15 contrast.
- Sharpening: Emphasize details in the ball, racket strings, and player's face.
- Crop for impact: Tight crops on facial expressions or full-body action shots both work—choose what tells the story best.
Pre-Match Checklist
Before you start shooting, make sure you're ready:
- Scout your shooting position (baseline corner is best)
- Set shutter priority mode at 1/1000s minimum
- Enable AI Servo / continuous autofocus
- Set drive mode to high-speed continuous (8+ fps)
- Choose RAW format for maximum editing flexibility
- Bring a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (minimum)
- Pack extra batteries and memory cards
Final Thoughts
Tennis photography rewards those who understand the sport's rhythm and anticipate moments before they happen. Whether you're shooting at Wimbledon or your local club, the fundamentals remain the same: fast shutter speeds, continuous autofocus, and strategic positioning.
Master these settings, and you'll capture the power, grace, and emotion that makes tennis one of the most photogenic sports in the world.