The Moment That Taught Me How to Shoot Squash
The ball smashes into the front wall, rockets off the side wall, and the player lunges, sweat flying, as you press the shutter. You hear the thud, see the blur of the racquet, and for a split second the whole rally is frozen in your viewfinder. That split second is what you chase.
The Problem
Squash is tough to shoot because the court is small, the action is fast, and the light changes constantly. You are usually stuck behind the glass wall, so you are far from the players. The ball can travel over 150 mph, leaving little time to react. Indoor courts have mixed lighting – bright spots from ceiling lights and darker corners – which makes exposure tricky. If you shoot from the side, you often get reflections on the glass.
The Fix
Start with shutter speed. You need at least 1/2000s to stop the ball and the player’s limbs. If the light is low, push ISO up to 3200 or higher; modern cameras handle grain well at those levels. Aperture should be wide enough to let light in but still give you some depth – f/2.8 to f/4 works well. Use continuous autofocus (AF‑C) and set the focus point on the player’s torso or eyes; the camera will track them as they move.
Position matters. Stand at the back wall, slightly to the side of the service box, so you can see both players without the glass reflecting directly into your lens. If you can, shoot through the glass at a 45‑degree angle; that cuts reflections. Keep your elbows tucked, use a monopod or lean on the wall for steadiness.
Timing is about anticipation. Watch the player’s racquet preparation; the moment they start their swing, be ready to shoot. Fire a short burst – 3 to 5 frames – as they hit the ball. You’ll get one frame where the ball is just leaving the racquet and the player’s face shows effort.
The Mistake
The most common mistake is using a shutter speed that is too slow, hoping to get a clean image with low ISO. The result is a blurred ball and a smudgy player, even if the exposure looks right. Another related mistake is focusing on the wall or the floor instead of the player, which makes the subject soft.
To fix it, treat shutter speed as non‑negotiable: set it to 1/2000s or faster first, then adjust ISO and aperture to get a proper exposure. Use single‑point AF and lock it on the player’s chest; recompose if needed but keep the focus point on the moving subject.
The Payoff
When you nail the settings, position, and timing, the shots look crisp. You can see the sweat, the strain in the player’s face, the texture of the ball, and the exact moment of impact. Those details make the image feel alive and give editors or clubs something they can use for promotion, social media, or athlete portfolios.
You’ll also waste less time deleting blurry shots. Your hit‑rate goes up, which means you spend more time enjoying the game and less time fixing mistakes in post.
Turning It Into Paid Work
Local squash clubs often need fresh images for their websites, newsletters, and tournament programs. League organizers look for photographers who can cover matches and deliver a set of edited shots within a day or two. Individual athletes, especially those chasing sponsorships, want portrait‑style action shots they can post on social media or send to agents.
You can sell prints of striking rallies or license the images through stock platforms. And because you already have the shots, uploading them to Surf Snaps is a quick way to reach buyers who search for squash photography. The platform handles the licensing and payment, so you just focus on shooting.
One Small Step
At your next court session, set your camera to 1/2000s shutter speed, ISO 1600, aperture f/2.8, and switch to AF‑C with a single focus point on the player’s chest. Take a short burst as they serve and see if the ball is sharp. Adjust one variable at a time if the exposure is off, but keep the shutter speed fixed.
