Shot my first football team

[mattbikeboy]

After doing girls youth soccer and mountain biking for a while now, I did my first football team shoot. The coach saw my player card type prints and wanted action shots for each boy on the team.

We did two set-ups for each boy -- running with the ball and catching a pass (didn't do the pass play if the boy said he only likes to play defensive line).

I have several observations:
1) Boys don't listen
2) Having a helper that can throw the ball in the same place every time is crucial.
3) It was a lot of fun!!!

Now I have to create a custom logo for the team and make up the backgrounds. I'll get that together in the next day or two and post a finished product here.

mbb

[mattbikeboy]

Shot the Flag Footballers this afternoon. The little guys are a lot more fun than the big-uns.

mbb

[BFiredup]

Oh my....nice shots....great for the "Mommy Factor"....

[JETA]

These photos are fantastic! I just love the first flag football shot of the boy missing his front teeth!

Would you please post the final product. I'd love to see them and hear about your production if you don't mind.

Thanks!

[retroactiv]

Great shots, and a good job on your first attempt on shooting footballer's. I would also like to see your final design once you get it finished up.

[mattbikeboy]

Okay, here is the final version (I think).

The way I did the work.
1. Shot the images, sorted in Adobe Lightroom, corrected and took out unsightly light poles and things in Photoshop.

2. Created the Team Logo in:
a. CorelDraw X4 -- font outlines and envelope into shape then export to Photoshop
b. Photoshop CS3 -- used EyeCandy filters in layers for top and bottom effects (Chrome, glass and fire)

3. Created new documents in Photoshop in 5x7 and 8x10 portrait and landscape.
a. Used stock checkerboard image in CorelDraw's Clipart collection and sized and cut the center out (still in Photoshop).
b. Cut out a football from an image I took at the same time as the team shots.

4. In Photoshop (using layers) brought all the components together and exported as a jpg for final print image. I did leave the name off for this sample.

5. Once a Master was created it only takes a couple of minutes to place the players image and type his name. Since I did two teams with the same name, coach and sponsors I'll use the same master for the big kids and the little kids.

I might still feather the edges of the frame overlay and print with a white border -- but mostly I'm finished.

mbb

[mattbikeboy]

The Team Shot

[livin4lax09]

backgrounds backgrounds backgrounds...especially on these kind of shots. the truck in the second photo completely ruins it, as well as the softball players, fences, etc. If you have an external flash, hit the kids with it at a stop above ambient (no, don't literally hit them with it) and put them in front of a bg that is either a) uncluttered or b) far away, and shoot with an open aperture so that it blurs it out and lights the players up well. Whenever I've shot T&I shots it's basically the standard. With posed shots there's really no excuse to not have everything to your liking. Nice borders though, the kids probably love them.

[mattbikeboy]

backgrounds backgrounds backgrounds...especially on these kind of shots. the truck in the second photo completely ruins it, as well as the softball players, fences, etc. If you have an external flash, hit the kids with it at a stop above ambient (no, don't literally hit them with it) and put them in front of a bg that is either a) uncluttered or b) far away, and shoot with an open aperture so that it blurs it out and lights the players up well. Whenever I've shot T&I shots it's basically the standard. With posed shots there's really no excuse to not have everything to your liking. Nice borders though, the kids probably love them.

I've debating whether or not to do something more drastic to the backgrounds. The little kids at least practice at a park that has trees to hide the parking areas. The big kids however practice at a school field that has nothing around it -- except parking and a shopping center. The coach wants action shots without disrupting the practice -- and that is his truck in the second photo (not in a parking space by the way).

On most of the shots I've taken the softballers, power poles and light poles out and I guess I'll go ahead and pull them out of the last three (including the one shown here). There are no cars in any of them. :thumbsup:

mbb

[mattbikeboy]

Alrighty then, here is a variation with a more graphic style. I like this one, but is it too card like?

Which is better?