1. Camera Stability. You will be taking long exposures, and any camera motion could impact the quality of the image. Try to utilize a monopod or stabilize the camera on the back of a seat. Do not hold the camera in front of you without support.

2. Flash Off. Most indoor settings that allow photography specifically state “no flash photography.” In many cases, you’ll just ruin the existing lighting, distract the other viewers, and get yourself ejected from the event. Also, from seating distance and angle, many on-camera flashes will be largely ineffective.

3. Lenses Always clean your lenses before taking these pictures

4. Shutter Speed. Integral to the exposure parameters above, you’ll need to set a preferred shutter speed for the activity being photographed. Indoor sports events are often well lit, but you’ll still want to stop motion at 1/120 of a second or faster speed. Indoor dance performances may be much darker, but also require at least 1/60 to 1/100 to stop motion.

5. Exposure parameters. You will generally need to set your camera for high ISO or sensitivity (800 to 1600, some cameras will go to 3200 or more), low shutter speed (depends on your subject), and wide open F-stop (f/2.8 to 4.0).