Happy July, everyone! It’s hard to believe that the year is already half over. Hopefully you’re spending your summer living at a slower speed, enjoying time in the sun surrounded by family and friends. It’s seasons like this one that remind me of a quote by Karl Lagerfeld: “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”

Scrapbooking is all about combining photos, words, and beautiful embellishments to create a lasting chronicle of our lives, so here at the Sweet Shoppe, we’re dedicating some time each month to focus on the first of those three ingredients: our photographs.

This month, we’re talking about multiples – as in multiple photographs – when we shoot a series of images in a short period of time. Burst photography, also known as continuous shooting mode, allows you to capture multiple images with one shutter press and it’s a great way to record motion or change. It’s a shooting mode that’s almost custom-made for the months of summer!

What is Burst Photography?

Burst mode, which may also be called continuous shooting mode or sports mode, is a setting on your camera that allows you to capture several frames in quick succession by either pressing the shutter button once or by holding it down.

You’ll want to check the user manual for your specific camera to determine how to turn on this mode, as well as the different settings you can change. Most importantly, this may include the burst rate or frames per second. Here are a few links to help you get started…

iPhone User Guide: Capture action shots with Burst mode on your iPhone camera

Apple ToolBox: How to Enable and Use Burst Mode on an iPhone

Samsung Galaxy Camera: How Do I use the Continuous Shot feature?

FoxNews Tech: How to snap the perfect photo with your camera’s Burst Mode (covers Android)

Nikon D3500: Continuous Shooting (Burst Mode)

Canon: How do I set my Canon to take bursts of pics?

What is the role of Burst Photography in visual storytelling?

Burst photography is a stellar way of capturing motion or change in your still photography. Some of my favorite subjects for burst photography include:

• organized sports
• children in motion, especially when they’re jumping
• animals that won’t hold still
• surprises, including engagements, weddings, and baby gender reveals

When you shoot a series of photographs in burst mode, you can then narrow it down to 3-5 images that capture motion and emotion and tell a story.

Resources, tips, and tricks for shooting burst photographs

There’s lots of fantastic free resources online to learn more about shooting burst photography. While you’ll want to start with the user guide for your specific camera, here are a few more to check out:

Digital Photography School: Burst Mode – What is it, and how should you use it?

The Lens Lounge: How to use burst mode (3 creative photography techniques)

Red Dot Geek: 3 Parts Burst Mode Guide – What It Is & How to Use

Great Big Photography World: How to Use Burst Mode for Capturing the Perfect Moment

Blinks and Buttons: Mastering Burst Mode: A Deep Dive Into an Essential Camera Feature

A little more inspiration

Here’s a few more images from the cameras of our Sugar Babes to inspire your own burst photography:

Now it’s your turn.

This month, we challenge you to shoot a burst series of photographs that capture movement or change. You’re looking for at least 3 frames shot in quick succession that tell a story of motion or emotion.

When you’ve shot and edited your photographs, share them with us in our new Photo Challenge Gallery – because we can’t wait to see the stories you tell with your photography this month. We may even choose a favorite or two to win a sweet treat!