As you know I shoot for our hs football team. Last year I did their portraits and they came out really nice. I had an overcast day and totally lucked out.

Here's what the portraits looked like.
http://JulieSaltvick.smugmug.com/photos/188514121_KeyVd-M-5.jpg


This year I will be doing them again. I was just approached by the youth football league to do their portraits. That's about 300 portraits!

What happened after I did the HS football team is I did a retake for one boy and had so many harsh shadows because of sunlight. It scared me because what am I going to do if I'm fighting shadows for all of the pics? What types of things should I be doing if I have a harsh sunlight?

I'm not sure I should accept the position with the youth football team. They want me bad too.

I'm always my worst critic and not sure what to do. Hopefully some of this made sense.

Go for it! You could buy a large diffuser screen and a couple stands to hold it -- for the harsh bright light days and a large reflector to reduce the shadowing and you'd be good to go. Are you going to do them like the one you posted? If you are -- then you can totally do it!!!

I got slammed this season doing custom backgrounds, borders, team and player names on the 75 or so photos I did this season. Yikes, I think I can only handle another team or two (and still keep my day job and sanity). 300 action player card shots would kill me --but I'd probably do it anyway! ;)


mbb

mbb, thank you for answering.

Thank you for the vote of confidence. I'm so scared that I'm just a PWAC.

The portraits would be done EXACTLY as the one I posted. Probably a different field, but the same pose and no back drops.

Can you point me in the direction of diffuser screens and reflectors I would need?

Thanks so much!

agreed, youll be ok with the right preperation. you are not just a PWAC.

invest in some powerful lights and diffuser screens. The company I shoot for uses White Lightning 1600s and generators, but that'll run you a pretty penny. If you aren't restricted to shooting on the field, try it in the shade of the woods or something. It'll be easier to overpower the ambient light with the flash and knock out the shadows. Plus if you shoot the flash about 2/3 over ambient it gives a nice look that focuses the attention on the players and you'll get a good catchlight in their eyes.

Jeta I can't ad anything to the technical aspect of the shoot, but if you have the time to do it, go for it.
As for my own shots I am my own worst critic.
Jimmy B.

The Lastolite diffusers and reflectors are what I was thinking. I just bought one of their new diffusers with a built-in handle -- it's pretty cool.

http://www.lastolite.com/skylite-kits.php

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=article_082503

I think you could get away with the medium skylight size. Lastolite is a pretty nice and slightly expensive -- but I'm sure you're local camera shop (the one where the local pros go) would have other options and could be very helpful. I've seen some similar systems with stands that aren't very pricey. Once you get the diffuser and a reflector -- you could probably do well with a Gary Phong type globe diffuser on your speedlight to give you that little extra glow in your subjects.
Our spring sports seasons are pretty much done but I'll probably be looking for a good diffuser in the fall for my team photos.

mbb

Thanks for the replies.

mbb, what was your set up for your spring sports shots? Were reflectors used in the posed sport shots on your website. (which looks awesome btw)

Livin, I think my biggest compliment ever now is you saying I'm not a PWAC. Seriously. Thank you. I can afford big expensive lights. If I can get through with a flash and maybe a reflector that would be ideal.

Thanks for the replies.

mbb, what was your set up for your spring sports shots? Were reflectors used in the posed sport shots on your website. (which looks awesome btw)

Livin, I think my biggest compliment ever now is you saying I'm not a PWAC. Seriously. Thank you. I can afford big expensive lights. If I can get through with a flash and maybe a reflector that would be ideal.


I just used my SB600 flash with a light sphere diffuser for the few posed shots I did. Only a couple parents on one team actually requested the posed shots and that particular day we had some nice small trees to diffuse the natural light . Everyone else wanted the action shots this time -- and most of those wanted the fancy border, team and player names on the prints.

I'll do posed shots in the fall (at least for those teams that did the actions shots in the spring). I did buy a nice 30" Lastolite reflector and haven't got to play with it yet.

mbb

Thank you mbb. I'm just going to buy the Gary Fong diffuser and reflector for now.

The president of youth football called and left a message for me today. I'm 95% sure I'll be accepting the job.

mbb, everything you do with the backgrounds and graphics on your photos are top notch. You've got it going on. Seriously.

The president of youth football called and left a message for me today. I'm 95% sure I'll be accepting the job.



Yes for sure go for it Julie. You need to get more confidence in your abilities. We've all seen the quality images you can produce and I'm confident you are up to the challenge.

Thank you mbb. I'm just going to buy the Gary Fong diffuser and reflector for now.

The president of youth football called and left a message for me today. I'm 95% sure I'll be accepting the job.

mbb, everything you do with the backgrounds and graphics on your photos are top notch. You've got it going on. Seriously.


Thanks, I've been doing graphics for many, many years. I'm only getting back into photography -- and learning a ton as I go.

This link shows what I primarily do for a living:
http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_details.asp?job_seeker_id=157396&t=&specialty=7&sort_by=1&&page_no=2&c=1

mbb

Thanks, I've been doing graphics for many, many years. I'm only getting back into photography -- and learning a ton as I go.

This link shows what I primarily do for a living:
http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_details.asp?job_seeker_id=157396&t=&specialty=7&sort_by=1&&page_no=2&c=1

mbb

Oh my! You are an amazing artist! Thanks for posting your website. I'm beyond impressed.

JETA.....

Knowing how well you shoot, I know you can "get'r done". I hope you grab this one by the horns. The parents will be extremely happy that the league picked you....

Good luck..

Phil

whats a PWAC

___with a camera?

Person/Parent

In my case I'm a parent. ;)

This season though my son will be playing college ball and not for the team I shoot all of the time. Two weeks ago my son had Freshman Orientation and the Coach asked me to shoot and if I would like a field pass. Um, YA!

-------MWAC
moron with a camera

-------MWAC
moron with a camera

Now this may be a bit more fitting for me! :D :D

Now this may be a bit more fitting for me! :D :D


No way JETA. More like a Master With A Camera.

No way JETA. More like a Master With A Camera.

Aw, you are so nice OT. Thank you! Coming from you that's the best compliment ever!