Last weekend CNN ran a series on whether or not cheerleading should be recognized as a full-fledged sport. I was surprised by how many non-cheerleaders had such passionate views on the subject. Clearly, advanced cheerleaders practice just as hard (if not harder) than some other athletes, especially the ones who are tasked with mastering incredibly challenging gymnastics moves.
Given that I was a cheerleader in junior high school, I sit firmly in the cheerleading-is-absolutely-a-sport camp. However, I didn’t realize how far the sport had come until I was asked to snap some photos of my neighbor’s teen daughter cheering during a high school football game last year.
If you are planning to capture a cheerleader during a routine, be prepared to get in a workout yourself. Today’s cheerleaders are hard core. In most cases documenting their moves means executing action photography techniques and putting into play planning, timing and patience.
The biggest mistake I made when attempting to shoot my neighbor’s daughter in action is that I had never seen her squad’s routine. A typical routine lasts about three minutes long, and includes a carefully choreographed sequence of jumps, lifts, flips and somersaults. As a photographer, you need to know which movement is coming up next so you can plan accordingly. Knowing exactly when a back-tuck basket toss is coming will help you prepare your angles and camera settings in advance, so you don’t miss the winning shot.
Another thing I learned the hard way is that today’s cheerleaders move a lot. Gone are the days when they would stand in place for a few minutes to spell out a cheer. When I was shooting my neighbor’s daughter she was running around the entire time. Hence, my tip to keep shooting; the more photos you take, the better your chances of snapping at least one keeper.
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