Baseball Photography Tip: Home Plate

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Admittedly I am new to sports photography. I’ve only recently purchased a 70-200mm lens and started photographing my son’s baseball games. It started with me solely focusing on him and then other parents asking me to get some of their kids too. I’ve turned into the team photo mom and I enjoy it most of the time. This also helps me avoid team mom duties and running game changer because I’m busy making pictures of everyone’s kid. IYKYK. And you don’t want me doing game changer, if you have any hopes of accurate reporting.

I haven’t done a lot of research on the topic. I’m basically winging it here, but I’m learning quick and I’m happy to share one little tip I discovered recently regarding keeping it in focus at home plate.

Home Plate Shots

Here towards the end of this last tournament I was struggling with shots at home plate. I wanted to get the boys as they came across the plate and scored their run, but my focus was sometimes a little off. Here’s how I fixed it.

As the runner is approaching home plate, focus on the plate and recompose. Now as the runner crosses the plate and into your frame, you just need to click the shutter and they are in focus. Easy peasy!

I’m not saying this is the only way to do it. You can definitely follow a runner in from third and click along the way. I do that too, but sometimes I just want to leave my focus on the plate depending on my angle. Photography is often about experimenting with setting and scenarios and find what works for you. Give this a try and see what you think.

We also just found out last practice that Corbin is probably going to start doing some time in the catcher position. We desperately need some wingspan at home plate and Corbin has that in spades. Next tournament should come with lots picture taking of defensive plays at home plate because he’s my number 1, even if he wears 22.

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Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Products in this post

The Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 Z mount is my go to lens for little league sports photography.

Boys these days and white shoes. They love them, but they’re always dirty.

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National Play Outside Day - Amazon Favorites

April 1st is National Play Outside Day…

I mean it’s also April Fools Day, but I’m not kidding when I tell you these are some of our favorite outdoor products from Amazon.

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for the yard

• At the new house, the kids were scared of getting scorpions in their shoes if they left them in the grass. In comes the trampoline shoe bag. Problem solved. This isn’t the exact one we have (it was out of stock), but it’s the same idea.

• And the saucer tree swing… that one was really for me. It’s been a dream of mine for years to have a yard with a tree big enough to put a swing in. Better late than never.

3 Pouch Design Trampoline Shoes bag Buy on Amazon

Sorbus Saucer Tree Swing- Kids Outdoor Disc Round Swing - 40" Heavy Duty 220lbs Seat- Easy Install Flying Saucer Web Circle Swing- Perfect for Gift,Playground, Birthday, Xmas, IndoorOutdoor Tire Swing Buy on Amazon

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For the pool/beach

• If I’m being honest, I’m not really sure how the quality of these microfiber towels compare to others. They’re my only experience so far with microfiber towels, but I will say that I fully appreciate the ability to pack 4 towels in the same amount of space one regular bulky beach towel took up.

• This RTIC Soft Cooler gets used more than our regular Yeti. It’s just so easy and convenient. The secret to these things is the zipper lube. Use it and use it often. We broke the zipper on our first one due to not properly maintaining the zipper.

Your Choice Microfiber Beach Towels Set, Sand Free Beach Towels Oversized Clearance, Beach Towels for Adults Quick Dry Travel Towel - Set of 4 Pack - Light Blue, Green, Rose Red, Gray - 67x35 Inch Buy on Amazon

RTIC Soft Cooler 20 Can, Insulated Bag Portable Ice Chest Box for Lunch, Beach, Drink, Beverage, Travel, Camping, Picnic, Car, Trips, Floating Cooler Leak-Proof with Zipper, Tan Buy on Amazon

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Sports

• Zebco rod and reels are the perfect next step up from that princess or super hero fishing pole your kid has been using and they’re still super affordable.

• My mom did all the research on a tee for Corbin when he started playing baseball and I didn’t realize it was something we’d be using long after tee ball just to practice our swing. This one has held up.

• We actually have the Walmart version of the practice net, but I think I’d go with the one below if I had to do it again. We really enjoy the GoSports brand of weighted practice balls.

Zebco 33 Spincast Reel and Telescopic Fishing Rod Combo, Extendable 22.5-Inch to 6-Foot E-Glass Fishing Pole, Size 30 Reel, Quickset Anti-Reverse Fishing Reel with Bite Alert, Silver/Black Buy on Amazon

TANNER TEE the Original Batting Tee Premium Pro-Style Baseball/Softball Tee, Adjustable Height: 26 to 43 inches, Patented Hand-Rolled Flextop, Adjustable Height: 26 to 43 inches Buy on Amazon

GoSports 7 ft x 7 ft Baseball & Softball Practice Hitting & Pitching Net with Bow Frame, Carry Bag and Bonus Strike Zone, Great for All Skill Levels Buy on Amazon

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Hiking/Camping

• You can’t go wrong with affordable binoculars for the kids. Our exact ones aren’t available anymore, but these are more or less the same. I’ve even caught myself using them to bird watch on camping trips.

• Smores are always a good idea. They just are and I love that these marshmallow roasting sticks have a bag and that they retract for easy storage.

THINKPEAK Binoculars for Kids - Easter Basket Stuffers - Kids Binoculars - Binoculars for Kids 8-12 - Easter Gifts - Birthday Presents for Kids, Kids Binoculars for 3-12 Years Boys and Girls, Green Buy on Amazon

MalloMe Marshmallow Roasting Sticks - Smores Skewers for Fire Pit Kit - Hot Dog Camping Accessories Campfire Marshmellow 32 Inch Long Fork - 5 Pack Buy on Amazon

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Get outside and play. I think it’s actually supposed to be a lovely day. We’re celebrating with a baseball game and a motorcycle ride. Give me all the vitamin D today.

Feel free to share your outdoor Amazon favorites in the comments.

I Can't, We Have Baseball

I started this week on the struggle bus. I’ve been looking forward to dance and baseball because I love watching my kids do what they love, but this week marked the start of nearly 2 months of straight crazy.

I’m owned by my kids’ activities every single week night between now and the end of October. I definitely need the shirt that says “I can’t, we have baseball (or dance).” And to top it all off, I dropped the ball on night one of children’s activities by showing up at the end of ballet class instead of the beginning. Turns out I saved the time incorrectly in my calendar 2 months ago when we registered. It didn’t go over real well with my little ballerina.

So I’ve been over here this week letting it eat at me. How are we going to get through the next 7 weeks with any level of sanity left to show at the end? No doubt it’ll end in exhaustion for both me and the kids.

But then I remembered something. Yes this is going to be hard for the next 7 weeks and yes it’s okay to acknowledge that and know that it’ll be stressful at times, but these are just small things when all is said and done.

I know that in hindsight I probably won’t even remember the rushing through dinner, homework and showers so we could fit everything in. I won’t remember how I screwed up the first day of dance (unless that one kid never lets me live it down, which is very possible). I won’t remember how I sent my kid to baseball in dirty pants because who has time to wash those things every 2 days. I won’t remember the 3 trips to sporting goods store in 1 week to get all the things I didn’t realize we needed this season and how quickly all those things added up.

Instead I’ll remember that one hit of the season that made my boy feel like a star and put a look of pure joy on his face. I’ll remember the two outs he got in one game that made him want to play short stop forever and ever. I’ll remember leaning forward at my daughter’s recital so nobody saw my tears as I watched my sweet girl dance her heart out and I’ll remember how she watched that recital video over and over again afterwards for weeks.

How absolutely incredible it is that I get to be present for these moments. What a privilege it is to watch them grow.

I kind of feel like the secret to life might just be meeting each struggle with enough gratitude to find and appreciate the beauty hidden in the chaos. Admittedly, that’s sometimes easier said than done, but something I’ve been actively working on for the last 2 years.

See ya in November.