Planning a team photo - now with the result on Post #26

nigpd

nigpd

Suspended / Banned
Messages
5,989
Name
Nigel
Edit My Images
Yes
I am shooting a team photo for a football club. I been doing a bit of reading and looking at team photo Google images to get some ideas to ensure I do the best job I can. They all vary though and now I'm a bit confused as to the layout :bonk:

There are 21 players and 4 officials in the line up. Ideally, I would like to have them in 3 rows, sitting, standing and standing on benches, but I dont think they have benches for the back row.

This means 2 rows, one row sitting on individual chairs and one row standing. Doesnt make for the best composition as there will be lots of space at the bottom and at the top in a 3x2 viewfinder. Will have to crop the final image to suit.

My initial thoughts are tallest in the middle to shortest on the outsides, captain front and centre. What I am unsure of is the placement of the 2 goalkeepers (in their different coloured gear) and the officials (in their different coloured gear). Where do I place these in the photo? In specific positions regardless of height, therefore messing up the balance of the photo? Does colour balance take precedent over the height?

Your thoughts are much appreciated on the above and any watch outs in addition also much appreciated
 
Last edited:
What print ratio are you going to be printing ?
What about three rows, Kneeling Sitting and Standing.
 
The Chairman wanted something like a 3ft x 2ft frame, but I may be able to persuade him otherwise because of the wasted space above and below the team sticking to this ratio.

I had thought, though that I could crop the image to more of a "panorama" and have some white canvas space below to put the names :shrug:

I had thought about the kneeling, but wondered if this would make the team look "less professional" :thinking:
 
Have you had a look at their previous seasons team photo's
 
yes, these are the current images and neither of them are in the ratio to fit nicely on the programme cover without masses of space or distorting the image

8243407367_fed317b9a4_o.jpg


8244530352_b6a6e9b459_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
I like the shape that the team makes, Carol. I also like the symmetry of colour. Good that the goalkeeper is the tallest and fitted well in to the centre of the row.

I only have one flash (580EX II) that will have to sit on my 1Dx, so it'll just be a bit of fill flash for me, I'm afraid (however I do that :bonk:)

PS I dont think the manager will let the guys stand on chairs just before an FA Vase game :bat:

The manager is leaving the who goes where up to me..... hence the indecision
 
Last edited:
Tell the players NO tee shirts under the kit..

Set the player out symetrical a bit like carol has done..you should be able to work all that out before the day if you know how many players,keepers and officials..

You must go THREE ROWS or its going to look a bit amaturish and not very good for print.. even in a program..

with 21 people you only need maybe 6 or 8 chairs.. front row knelt middle row stood and back row stood on chairs..

ideally.. two lots of chairs with front row sat on chairs middle row stood and back row stood on chairs..

try and pick players wiht the same colour boots for front row.. nothing worse than a bright pair of orange or lime green boots on there own..

set plenty of time.. i even make them wait until the sun goes in if its a silly bright day..


do a get it out of your system picture.. get them all to pull a face and do summat daft.. you can take a few test shots and the pic goes down well with the fans haha

also go to left and right and get them to stay pointing forward but turn there heads to the side..

get each row to do same thing with arms.. behind back for proud lok or arms folder or whatever.. just make sure all same..

take plenty of shots.. theres no chance one or two shots will get them all with eyes open.


if your doing the head shoulders shots.. get them on one knee with arms behind back and shoot from slight higher angle.. all players ill have plain grass background making it easier to add players to the set during season..

pick your time for the position your shooting.. lets say you decide in a certain goal area.. if you know 5pm the sun is going to be right above there heads then? pick your time based on location and lighting/sun

cant think of owt else off top of my head :)

PS I have never used flash on a team picture.. mine get printed as posters no problem... i hate using flash..:)
 
Last edited:
Thanks Tony for the really good advice and useful tips. The little things about the boots I would never have thought of or noticed in the heat of battle

Only thing I'm not sure what you mean by "also go to left and right and get them to stay pointing forward but turn there heads to the side.."

will print off your post and take it with me

thanks again. very much appreciated :thumbs:
 
Last edited:
Tony's info is spot on, as there's a lot of variables to sort out.

I found the need to balance the photo, but even when you've taken loads of shots you can still see improvements afterwards. Take your time to organise it, the players need to be placed to best suit the shot envisaged

It's all part of the learning process.

NO5L8167Team4.jpg


Even then you'll see mistakes!!
 
Last edited:
nigpd Quote

"yes, these are the current images and neither of them are in the ratio to fit nicely on the programme cover without masses of space or distorting the image"


Instead of using the team photo on the front cover, use it as a centre page spread to cover both pages as it will then be easier to crop and adjust to suit.
 
Thanks for the advice and tips, Mal

The balance in your team photo looks pretty damn good to me and something I will try to emulate on Saturday

PS I'm going to be using a 24-70 f2.8 on a 1Dx. Do you think that'll do?
 
Last edited:
Diamondsnapper said:
nigpd Quote


Instead of using the team photo on the front cover, use it as a centre page spread to cover both pages as it will then be easier to crop and adjust to suit.
Click to expand...

Don't tell them that - my team know that will happen and no-one wants to be in the middle as they get the fold and the staple down their face! Its quite funny watching them josh about who will stand in that place.
 
nigpd said:
Thanks for the advice and tips, Mal

The balance in your team photo looks pretty damn good to me and something I will try to emulate on Saturday

PS I'm going to be using a 24-70 f2.8 on a 1Dx. Do you think that'll do?
Click to expand...

That shot of mine was taken with a 1D Mk2 & 24 -70 2.8 and remember to stand at 90 degrees to the centre person. Use the lines as guides, but try not to let them intrude in your composition too much. Takes shots with and without flash.

Also, try to get the sponsors logo in view on all the shirts, although in my shot there were no sponsors at that time.

I'm sure you have enough info to muddle over now and just hope its not a bright sunny day.
 
Diamondsnapper said:
That shot of mine was taken with a 1D Mk2 & 24 -70 2.8 and remember to stand at 90 degrees to the centre person. Use the lines as guides, but try not to let them intrude in your composition too much. Takes shots with and without flash.

Also, try to get the sponsors logo in view on all the shirts, although in my shot there were no sponsors at that time.

I'm sure you have enough info to muddle over now and just hope its not a bright sunny day.
Click to expand...

Not at all confident with flash :(, although I have a 580EX II.

Yep, for once, hoping for it to be bright but overcast :bonk:
 
nigpd said:
Not at all confident with flash :(,:
Click to expand...

I ahve been taking perfectly good team pictures for many years and never used flash....your using a 1dx and 24-70 for crying out loud... sell the flash! :)
 
KIPAX said:
I ahve been taking perfectly good team pictures for many years and never used flash....your using a 1dx and 24-70 for crying out loud... sell the flash! :)
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, I wanted to get some catchlights for the individ so used one speedlite off camera (see below - ignore the dodgy mo - that was added later ...) Taken with the 24-70L
 
Last edited:
Photodiva said:
Not necessarily,
Click to expand...

I didnt suggest you get rid of the flash did I?

The OP isnt confident wiht using flash and he isnt up on how best to usee it for a team picture (bit like me) so why advise him to take a flash and possibly make a mess with horrible plastic looking pics?. with a 1dx he has enough iso to tackle just about any condition without degrading the quality..

no point telling poeple who arnt confident wioth flash to go use it just because you can...
 
Personally speaking i would always try to use a little fill flash with a team photo, it cuts out the badger eye effect which can be caused by sunlight and also helps to lift the sometimes difficult to deal with black players skin looking even blacker than it actually is

I dont do many of these but my favoured lighting for it is, bright sunny day with sun coming from one side at about 60 degrees and use fill flash to bring out the shadows on the other side, if you can get the balance between sunlight and fill light right it can look excellent.

Another good option is to shoot at night under floodlights provided the lights produce a nice clean white light, and again the use of different flash can produce different results.
 
KIPAX said:
I didnt suggest you get rid of the flash did I?

The OP isnt confident wiht using flash and he isnt up on how best to usee it for a team picture (bit like me) so why advise him to take a flash and possibly make a mess with horrible plastic looking pics?. with a 1dx he has enough iso to tackle just about any condition without degrading the quality..

no point telling poeple who arnt confident wioth flash to go use it just because you can...
Click to expand...

Oh my. Sit down and count to ten. Why say 'sell the flash'? May be not this time, but the OP can trial his flash in time for next season.
Just illustrating that it is possible to use flash - I'm no expert, just willing to try new approaches.
 
Well here it is, the final result showing the actual print. It has a white border with the names on the bottom border.

On the day of course the sun shone :bonk: which was nice - not. But gave it a go and glad I did. Thanks for all your hints and tips. hope I remembered them all on the day

8268153380_1d6518fb61_b.jpg
 
Nice one, Cyril
 
Well done, I'm sure you're pleased with the outcome as well. You can see when someone has thought about it and planned the shot

Just one little thing, next time, think about adding the club logo to each side of the players names.
 
Thanks for the supportive comments, guys. I can tell you I was really nervous and had a few debates with some players wanting to wear vests under the shirts that were then showing and some having socks above their knees. Soon told them who was boss :D.

Diamondsnapper said:
Just one little thing, next time, think about adding the club logo to each side of the players names.
Click to expand...

Great idea. Will log that one away for future revenue or put it in for repeat print sales :thumbs:
 
Thanks Tug. I had all the TP voices in my head with the hints and tips as I was setting this up :lol:.

I just wish the sun hadnt been so harsh but there was nowhere else to go as I needed to get the stand in the background with the team name.

All good experience though and the Chairman likes it, so job done :thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top