Can I Take Photos With Action Camera Tips and Tricks Revealed

Yes, you can absolutely take high-quality photos with an action camera—modern models like GoPro and DJI offer impressive photo resolution, burst modes, and manual settings perfect for capturing fast-moving or remote scenes. Master settings like shutter speed, ISO, and RAW format to unlock stunning stills in any environment, from mountain trails to underwater adventures.

Key Takeaways

• Yes, you can take photos: Action cameras excel in both video and high-quality stills.
• Use burst mode: Capture fast-moving subjects with rapid sequential shots.
• Adjust resolution settings: Higher megapixels mean better detail for prints or cropping.
• Stabilize your shots: Mount the camera securely to avoid motion blur.
• Experiment with angles: Unique perspectives enhance photo creativity and impact.
• Shoot in RAW format: Retain more detail for advanced photo editing later.
• Optimize lighting: Shoot in natural light or use external LED sources.

Why Action Cameras Are More Than Just Video Machines

You’ve probably seen those jaw-dropping videos from action cameras—surfers riding massive waves, skydivers flipping through the air, or mountain bikers tackling rugged trails. But here’s a question I get all the time: Can I take photos with an action camera? The short answer? Absolutely. The long answer? It’s not just about snapping a pic and calling it a day. Action cameras are often marketed as video powerhouses, but they’re also surprisingly capable still photographers. I’ve spent years testing them in everything from underwater caves to urban rooftops, and I’ve learned that with the right settings and techniques, you can capture stunning photos—even in the most chaotic environments.

Let’s be real: most people buy action cameras for their video capabilities. But if you’re like me, you’ve probably stood on a cliffside, hit record, and then realized you wanted a single, powerful image to remember the moment. That’s where understanding your camera’s photo mode becomes essential. Whether you’re a weekend adventurer or a content creator looking to diversify your portfolio, knowing how to leverage your action camera for stills can open up a whole new world of creativity. And no, you don’t need a DSLR to get pro-looking shots. Sometimes, all you need is a tiny camera strapped to your helmet—or even your dog.

Understanding Action Camera Photo Capabilities

Photo Modes: What Your Action Camera Offers

Action cameras aren’t just “on or off” when it comes to photos. They come with multiple photo modes, and knowing how to use them can make or break your shot. Here’s what you’ll typically find:

• Single Shot: The default mode. Tap the shutter button once, and you get one image. Great for static scenes like landscapes or posed shots.
• Burst Mode: Captures a rapid series of photos (e.g., 10 frames per second). Ideal for fast-moving subjects like birds in flight or kids playing soccer.
• Time-Lapse: Takes a photo every few seconds or minutes, then compiles them into a video or lets you extract frames. Perfect for sunsets, blooming flowers, or traffic patterns.
• Night Mode: Available on higher-end models, this uses longer exposure and noise reduction for low-light scenes.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range): Combines multiple exposures into one image, balancing shadows and highlights. Handy in backlit situations.

I remember trying to capture a waterfall with my GoPro. I started in single shot mode, but the motion was too fast, and the image looked flat. Switching to burst mode helped me freeze the water mid-splash—and then I realized I could extract the best frame later. That’s the power of understanding your modes.

Resolution and Image Quality: What to Expect

Most modern action cameras shoot photos at 12MP, 16MP, or even 20MP. But megapixels aren’t everything. Sensor size, lens quality, and image processing matter just as much. For example, a 12MP GoPro Hero12 Black will outperform a 20MP generic brand because of its larger sensor and better software.

Here’s a quick reality check: action cameras have small sensors compared to DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. This means they struggle in low light and can’t achieve the same depth of field (background blur). But they excel in bright, high-contrast conditions. Think beach days, mountain hikes, or snowy landscapes. In those settings, your photos can rival those from much more expensive gear.

Pro tip: Always shoot in RAW format if your camera supports it. RAW files retain more detail and give you greater flexibility in post-processing. I once shot a sunset in RAW and was able to recover shadow details that were completely lost in the JPEG version. It made the difference between a throwaway and a print-worthy image.

Mastering the Settings for Stunning Photos

Shutter Speed: Freezing Motion or Creating Motion Blur

Shutter speed is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. In photo mode, you can often manually adjust it (especially on models like the Insta360 One X3 or DJI Osmo Action 4). Here’s how to use it:

• Fast shutter (1/1000s or faster): Freezes fast action. Great for sports, wildlife, or splashing water.
• Slow shutter (1/30s or slower): Creates motion blur. Use it for artistic effects—think light trails, flowing water, or crowds moving through a city.

I once used a 1/2000s shutter to capture a skateboarder mid-air. The wheels were frozen, and the background was sharp. Then, I switched to 1/15s for a night shot of a busy street, and the cars became streaks of light. Both were compelling, but totally different vibes.

Warning: Slow shutter requires a tripod or stable mount. Handheld long exposures will almost always come out blurry. I learned this the hard way when I tried to shoot star trails from a moving boat. Lesson learned: stability is key.

White Balance and Exposure: Getting the Colors Right

Action cameras often auto-adjust white balance and exposure, but that can lead to weird color casts or blown-out highlights. Here’s how to take control:

• White Balance: Set it manually based on lighting. Use “Daylight” for sunny days, “Cloudy” for overcast, “Tungsten” for indoor lighting, or “Auto” if you’re unsure. I always set mine to “Daylight” for outdoor adventures because auto tends to overcool the image.
• Exposure Compensation: Adjust this if your scene is too dark or too bright. A +0.7 EV boost can save a shadowy forest shot, while -0.7 EV can prevent a beach photo from being washed out.

One time, I was shooting a cave dive. Auto white balance turned everything blue—like an underwater alien world. I switched to “Tungsten” to counteract the blue tint, and suddenly, the rocks and fish looked natural. It was a game-changer.

Bonus tip: Use the histogram (if your camera has one) to check exposure. Aim for a balanced distribution without clipping on either end. If the graph hits the left wall, you’re losing shadow detail. Right wall? Lost highlights.

Creative Techniques for Action Camera Photography

Using the Wide Angle to Your Advantage

Action cameras have ultra-wide lenses (typically 120–170 degrees). This can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you capture sweeping landscapes, tight spaces, and immersive perspectives. On the other, it can distort faces and make subjects look tiny in the frame.

Here’s how to work with it:

• Get close to your subject. The closer you are, the more it fills the frame and reduces background clutter. I once shot a portrait of a friend in a forest by placing the camera just 18 inches from their face. The background became a beautiful blur of green, and their expression was the focus.
• Use leading lines and symmetry. The wide angle exaggerates lines. Try framing a road, river, or mountain ridge to draw the eye into the image.
• Avoid placing faces near the edges. The lens distorts facial features at the edges. Keep faces centered or slightly off-center.

I love using the wide angle for “hero shots”—like placing the camera on the ground to capture someone standing tall against a sky. It makes them look larger than life, literally.

Time-Lapse and Burst Mode: Beyond the Basics

Time-lapse and burst aren’t just for video. They’re goldmines for still photography too.

• Time-Lapse: Set your camera to take a photo every 2 seconds for an hour, then extract individual frames. You can get a perfect sunset shot, a flower blooming, or even a busy city intersection. I once did this at a train station and found a candid moment of a couple reuniting—captured in a single frame from a 2,000-shot sequence.
• Burst Mode: Great for “decisive moments.” When a dog jumps into a pool, a child blows out birthday candles, or a surfer catches a wave, burst mode ensures you don’t miss the peak action. I use this all the time for pet photos. My dog’s expressions change so fast—burst mode gives me dozens of options.

One trick: In burst mode, look for the “peak” frame—the one where motion is frozen at its most dynamic. For a basketball dunk, it’s the moment the ball is at the rim. For a bird taking flight, it’s when the wings are fully extended.

Mounting and Positioning: Where to Place Your Camera

On-Body Mounts: Hands-Free Creativity

One of the biggest advantages of action cameras is their versatility in mounting. You’re not limited to a tripod. Try these:

• Chest Mount: Great for first-person perspective. I use this for hiking and cycling. It captures the trail ahead and my arms moving, making it feel immersive.
• Helmet Mount: Ideal for sports like skiing, climbing, or motorcycling. It shows the world from your POV. Just make sure it’s secure—I’ve lost a camera to a tree branch before!
• Wrist or Handlebar Mount: Perfect for kayaking, biking, or walking. It’s like having a third eye on your gear.

Pro tip: Use a quick-release system so you can switch mounts fast. I keep a chest mount on one side of my backpack and a helmet mount on the other. When I switch activities, I just swap the camera.

Unconventional Mounts: Think Outside the Box

Why stop at standard mounts? I’ve taped my action camera to:

• A kite string (for aerial shots of the beach)
• A dog’s harness (for a “pup’s eye view” of a walk)
• A surfboard fin (for underwater wave action)
• A tree branch (to capture birds nesting)

The key is stability and safety. Use waterproof tape or secure clips. And always do a test run. I once tried to mount my camera on a drone, but the vibration made the image unusable. Lesson learned: not every idea works, but it’s worth trying.

Post-Processing and Workflow Tips

Editing Action Camera Photos: What’s Possible

Raw files from action cameras can be edited in software like Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, or even free tools like Darktable. Here’s what you can fix:

• White Balance: Adjust it to match the scene. I often tweak it to make sunsets warmer or underwater scenes less blue.
• Contrast and Clarity: Boost these to make landscapes pop. But don’t overdo it—action cameras already have high contrast.
• Distortion Correction: Some software (like GoPro’s Quik) automatically fixes fisheye. Or you can manually crop to a flat perspective.
• Vignetting: Add a subtle darkening around the edges to draw focus to the center.

I once shot a desert sunset that looked flat straight out of camera. After increasing clarity and warming the white balance, it became a vibrant, moody image. Editing isn’t cheating—it’s enhancing what the camera captured.

Organizing and Sharing Your Photos

Action cameras generate tons of files. A 10-minute time-lapse can be 300 photos. Here’s how to stay organized:

• Use folders by date and location. For example: “2023-10-15_Maui_Surfing.”
• Tag your photos. Add keywords like “sunset,” “action,” “underwater,” etc. This makes searching easier later.
• Backup to the cloud or an external drive. I use Google Photos for quick access and a 2TB drive for long-term storage.

For sharing, I use Instagram for quick posts and 500px for higher-quality portfolios. Action camera photos often do well on platforms that value authenticity over polish—think travel blogs, outdoor brands, or social media.

Data Table: Action Camera Photo Specs Comparison

Model	Max Photo Resolution	Photo Modes	RAW Support	Low-Light Performance	Best For
GoPro Hero12 Black	27MP	Single, Burst, Time-Lapse, Night, HDR	Yes	Good (with Night Mode)	All-around, low-light, action
DJI Osmo Action 4	12MP	Single, Burst, Time-Lapse, Night	Yes	Excellent (larger sensor)	Low-light, vlogging
Insta360 One X3	18MP (360°)	Single, Burst, Time-Lapse, HDR	Yes (in 360 mode)	Fair	Creative angles, 360 content
Insta360 Ace Pro	48MP	Single, Burst, Time-Lapse, Night	Yes	Very Good	High-resolution, detail shots
Sony RX0 II	15.3MP	Single, Burst, Time-Lapse	Yes	Excellent (1-inch sensor)	Low-light, professional use

Final Thoughts: Yes, You Absolutely Can

So, can you take photos with an action camera? Yes—and you should. These tiny devices are more than just video recorders. With the right settings, creative techniques, and a bit of practice, they can deliver photos that are sharp, dynamic, and full of life. I’ve used mine to capture everything from a hummingbird in flight to a thunderstorm over the ocean. Each image tells a story, and the action camera was right there in the middle of it.

The key is to embrace its strengths: wide angles, durability, and versatility in mounting. Don’t try to make it a DSLR. Instead, use it for what it does best—capturing real moments in real conditions. Whether you’re on a mountain, in the water, or just chasing your kids around the backyard, your action camera is ready. So go ahead, hit that shutter button, and see what you can create. You might just surprise yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take high-quality photos with an action camera?

Yes, most modern action cameras can capture high-resolution photos (12MP or higher) with excellent dynamic range. While they excel at video, their compact sensors and wide-angle lenses are still great for adventure photography.

What’s the best way to take action camera photos while moving?

Use burst mode or time-lapse settings to freeze fast-moving moments without blur. Pair this with a stabilizing mount (like a chest or helmet rig) to reduce shake in your shots.

Can I use an action camera for low-light photography?

Action cameras struggle in dim lighting, but newer models with night modes or manual ISO settings can improve low-light photos. For best results, use a tripod or external light source.

How do I prevent blurry photos with my action camera?

Ensure the lens is clean and use a fast shutter speed (1/500s or higher) to avoid motion blur. Avoid touching the camera during shots—use voice commands or a remote trigger.

Can I take photos with an action camera underwater?

Absolutely! Most action cameras are waterproof (up to 10m/33ft) or fit in waterproof cases. Use the “Dive Mode” if available to enhance colors and clarity underwater.

Are action camera photos good for social media?

Yes! Their wide-angle perspective and vibrant colors make action camera photos ideal for Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube thumbnails. Edit with free apps like GoPro Quik to enhance brightness and contrast.