A Guide to taking Motorsports Photography
How to take stunning photographs at motorsport events a Pistonclick Guide including, panning, shooting through wire, locations, equipment, settings, tips and tricks.
How to Get Started in Motorsport Photography
Breaking into motorsport photography can be challenging. Access, accreditation, and experience all take time to build. That’s why PistonClick provides practical guides, track advice, and publishing opportunities to help you grow your portfolio the right way.
Choose Your Motorsport Discipline
Motorsport photography covers a wide range of events and racing series. Our contributors regularly shoot:
- British Superbike Championship
- Isle of Man TT
- British GT Championship
- British Touring Car Championship
- Indianapolis 500
- Italian GT Endurance Championship
You may prefer motorcycle racing, endurance GT racing, Rally photography, or automotive shows. Choosing a niche helps you:
- Build a focused portfolio
- Develop discipline-specific techniques
- Improve your chances of gaining accreditation
- Attract relevant clients and publications
Practice Motorsport Photography as a Spectator
The best way to improve is simple: get trackside and shoot regularly.
As a spectator, you can:
- Practice panning and motion blur techniques
- Learn racecraft to anticipate on-track action
- Test different lenses and camera bodies
- Develop your editing style and visual identity
Important: Images captured from spectator areas generally cannot be sold commercially. However, they can be used for:
- Editorial content
- Social media
- Portfolio development
- Motorsport CV building
PistonClick helps you gain exposure by publishing your work online, giving you a professional platform to showcase your motorsport photography and build credibility within the industry.
Motorsport Photography Track Guides
To help beginners and intermediate photographers, we provide detailed Photographic Track Guides featuring:
- Spectator-friendly shooting locations
- Example images from each vantage point
- Recommended camera gear and lens focal lengths
- Settings advice for capturing sharp motorsport action
- Tips for shooting in different weather conditions
Our guides are designed to help you capture professional-quality images — even before securing media accreditation.
Build Your Motorsport Photography Portfolio
Growing a strong portfolio is essential if you want to:
- Apply for motorsport media accreditation
- Work with racing teams or drivers
- Contribute to automotive publications
- Sell prints (where permitted)
- Establish yourself as a professional motorsport photographer
By publishing through PistonClick, you can strengthen your online presence and demonstrate consistent coverage of recognised motorsport events.
Advanced motorsport photographic guides
Motorsport Camera and Lens reviews
AF-S Nikon 300mm f/4E PF and the AF-S Nikon 500mm f/5.6E PF with a Nikon D850 camera body.
Nikon Z6II and Z 70-200mm f2.8 VR S - Shooting Trackside with a mirrorless camera
Is the Nikon D3X still a viable camera in 2020
Testing the Sigma 100-400mm at Donington and Mallory Park
Back to basics – a day out with the Nikon D3400
Car Shows Captured by Camera Phone
Nikkor 500mm PF prime lens
Nikon Camera Teleconverters review
Sigma 100mm -400mm review
NIKKOR 200–500mm AF-S review at the Mablethorpe Beach Race
So for our second visit to Mablethorpe for the Beach Racing we are looked at the pros and cons of owning a superzoom against a 300mm Prime.
The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f/5.6E ED Vibration Reduction (VR) up against a Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM.
Circuit Guides
We have personally been to all of these locations over time and have built up a knowledge base that we would like to share with you.
We will cover the areas to take photographs and what kit you will need for each event. For most of the venues we will concentrate on the scenario of you being a paying customer, i.e. shooting from behind, through, or over the safety fence.
You can share these reports with your friends on Social Media using these links.
Do you like taking photographs and writing a few words? Get in contact, we need you!