Guides and resources
Straight answers on race photos.
Finding your photos, getting photos to runners, and what race photography costs. Written for athletes, race organizers and photographers.
Why can’t I find my race photos? 7 common reasons, and how to fix each
Searched for your race photos and come up empty? Here are the seven most common reasons runners cannot find their photos, from timing to hidden bibs to giant galleries, and the fix for each.
PodiumBase Editorial · · 5 min read
How race photo search works, and is it private?
A plain-language explanation of how selfie-based race photo search works, how it differs from bib search, how accurate it is, and exactly what happens to your selfie and face data afterwards.
· 6 min read
Trail and ultra race photography: aid stations, forest light, and races that outlast the daylight
Trail and ultra races are shot at whatever points a photographer can physically reach, in dappled forest light, sometimes from daylight into the dark. Here is how it works and how to find your photos across sparse coverage.
· 6 min read
Marathon race photography: how 26.2 miles gets shot, and how to find your photos
A marathon is photographed at a dozen points across 26.2 miles, and the galleries run to tens of thousands of frames. Here is how marathon photography works and how to find eligible matches with a consented selfie.
· 6 min read
HYROX & functional fitness race photography: shooting heats, stations, and the run
Indoor functional-fitness races are hard to photograph: low light, rolling heats, and athletes buried behind stations. Here is why, and how eligible selfie matches can help across covered stations and run splits.
· 7 min read
Triathlon race photography: why it’s hard, and how athletes find their photos
Triathlon is the hardest endurance event to photograph: three disciplines, multiple locations, and a swim leg where no bib is readable. Here is why, and how athletes find eligible published matches across all three legs.
· 7 min read
How to give runners their race photos (without the chaos)
A practical guide for race directors: four ways to publish and deliver eligible race photos, what each costs in time and money, and how publication timing varies by event.
· 6 min read
How to choose a race photography company: a race director’s checklist
The questions every race director should ask before signing a photo partner: pricing model, turnaround, how runners find themselves, photographer pay, and your data.
· 6 min read
When will my race photos be ready?
How long race photos can take to appear, what causes delays, and how to request a supported photo update instead of refreshing a gallery for days.
· 3 min read
How to look good in your race photos
Practical, photographer-tested tips for better race photos: where to look, what to do with your arms, how to spot the camera, and how to find the shots afterward.
· 5 min read
Race photography pricing: what photos really cost in 2026
What do race photos cost? A benchmark of typical race-photography pricing (per-photo, bundles, and digital downloads) and what drives the price for runners, photographers, and race directors.
· 5 min read
How to find your race photos without a bib number
Lost your bib, or it got covered in the photos? Here are ways to look for race photos without a bib number, including selfie search that may return likely matches where event, account, consent, age, and jurisdiction gates allow it.
· 4 min readLooking for your photos
Find your race in the PodiumBase catalog and use the search options offered on its photo page.