Taking better fishing photos means using good light, getting low and close on the right angle, keeping the fish wet and healthy, and working fast so you capture a clean, professional-looking shot before the fish needs to go back in the water. I brought in professional photographer Jason Stemple to break it down. In this How 2 Tuesday Jason walks through the light, the angles, and the simple habits that turn a forgettable grip-and-grin into a photo you are proud to share, all while keeping the fish in great shape for release.
Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.
Start with light: shoot in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon and keep the sun behind the photographer. Get low and close so the fish fills the frame, hold the fish toward the camera slightly to show its size naturally, keep it wet so it looks alive and colorful, and work fast. Good light, a strong angle, and speed are the difference between a snapshot and a great fishing photo.
The soft, warm light early and late in the day is the most flattering, and it avoids the harsh shadows and squinting that come with midday sun. Keep the sun at the photographer's back so it lights the angler's face and the fish. If you must shoot in bright sun, watch for hat shadows across the face and angle the subject so the light is working for you.
Support the fish horizontally with wet hands, keep it low over the water, and extend it slightly toward the camera to show its size without exaggerating. Avoid hanging fish vertically by the jaw when it can harm them, and never hold a fish high and away in a way that distorts the shot and stresses the animal. A natural, supported hold looks best and protects the fish.
Keep the fish in the water until the camera is ready, handle it with wet hands, minimize air time, and get the shot fast. Decide your angle and settings before the fish comes out so it is only exposed for a few seconds. A quick, planned photo means a healthy release, which is the whole point of catch and release.
Get low, often near the water's surface, and shoot at or slightly below the level of the fish. A low angle makes the fish and the scene more dramatic than shooting down from standing height. Fill the frame, watch your background, and keep the horizon level. Jason explains how a small change in angle makes a big difference in the episode.
No. The fundamentals, light, angle, keeping the fish wet, and working fast, matter far more than the gear. Modern phones take excellent photos when you control the light and composition. A nice camera helps in tough conditions, but a thoughtful shot on a phone beats a careless shot on an expensive camera every time.
Here is how Jason Stemple gets a great catch photo.
I walk through each of these in detail in the episode. Press play in the player above.
Jason Stemple is a professional photographer who has shot some of the best fishing images out there, so I wanted him to break down how a regular angler can take dramatically better catch photos. As he explains in the episode, it is less about gear and more about light, angle, and a few simple habits. Press play in the player above.
The single biggest upgrade to your fishing photos is shooting in good light, the soft warm light early and late in the day, with the sun behind the photographer. Jason explains how that one change eliminates harsh shadows and squinting and makes both the angler and the fish look their best. He gets into it in the episode.
Getting low, filling the frame, and holding the fish naturally and wet are what separate a professional-looking shot from a forgettable grip-and-grin. And keeping the fish wet does double duty: it looks better and it keeps the fish healthy. Press play in the player above and Jason will walk through how he frames a catch.
The best photographers plan the shot before the fish ever comes out of the water, so the fish is only exposed for a few seconds. That discipline gets you the photo and protects the fish for a strong release. Jason explains his fast workflow in the episode.
You do not need an expensive camera to take great fishing photos. You need good light, a low angle, a natural hold, a wet fish, and speed. Get those right and your catch photos will jump to another level while the fish swim away healthy. Press play in the player above.
Jason Stemple · fishing photography · natural light · composition · camera angles · catch and release · fish handling · grip and grin · Florida Keys · How 2 Tuesday · Saltwater Experience
How 2 Tuesday is my weekly series where I break down one fishing skill at a time, from knots and casting to gear, tactics, and the habits that make you a better angler. Watch and listen to every How 2 Tuesday episode from Tom Rowland.
I'm Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast's How 2 Tuesday series I break down one practical skill or lesson at a time, from fishing technique and gear to the habits that make you a better angler, in short, focused episodes you can put to use right away.
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