Need advice on taking basketball team/group pics!

Fogcity · October 9, 2009

I've been requested to take some "informal" team pictures of the youth basketball leagues I've been taking action shots for. The group pics would be indoors, in the gym. I normally do not work with flash of any kind, nor do I do portraits, so I'm a little intimidated by the prospect! I'm used to adjusting for gym lighting when taking action shots, but know I would need a flash for a decent team picture.

So, advice please! The equipment I have that I would probably use is:
D300
SB-600 (no remote set up)
50 1.4
85 1.8

So do you think I can get away with my 50 1.4 and the SB-600 on the camera or do I need to get fancier and have flashes set up on 2 sides? The league director is not expecting anything extraordinary, but I'd like for them to be as good as they can. The kids are just going to gather together after a game and take the picture, so actually very informal....

Help!

tjk60 · October 9, 2009

Fogcity wrote:

I've been requested to take some "informal" team pictures of the youth basketball leagues I've been taking action shots for. The group pics would be indoors, in the gym. I normally do not work with flash of any kind, nor do I do portraits, so I'm a little intimidated by the prospect! I'm used to adjusting for gym lighting when taking action shots, but know I would need a flash for a decent team picture.

So, advice please! The equipment I have that I would probably use is:
D300
SB-600 (no remote set up)
50 1.4
85 1.8

So do you think I can get away with my 50 1.4 and the SB-600 on the camera or do I need to get fancier and have flashes set up on 2 sides? The league director is not expecting anything extraordinary, but I'd like for them to be as good as they can. The kids are just going to gather together after a game and take the picture, so actually very informal....

Help!

Well the D300 can act as a commander to get the SB600 off the camera, so do that. Set the on camera flash to --- so it does not contribute.

Set the flash above and to the side abit of the camera (and make sure the IR window can see the camera flash). use the 1.4 (but you'll need to try and get 5.6 if possible to get DOF enough to get two rows of players. Take a few practice shots before you do it for real!

Fogcity · October 9, 2009

tjk60 wrote:

Well the D300 can act as a commander to get the SB600 off the camera, so do that. Set the on camera flash to --- so it does not contribute.

Set the flash above and to the side abit of the camera (and make sure the IR window can see the camera flash). use the 1.4 (but you'll need to try and get 5.6 if possible to get DOF enough to get two rows of players. Take a few practice shots before you do it for real!

Okay, excuse my total ignorance on this subject...do you mean set the flash up on a mount or tripod of some sort? I also have a 35-70 2.8 -- do you think that would be a better choice? With the flash I guess the ap isn't going to matter as much. Definitely need to do some practice shots....

But here's a link to their previous team photos....they didn't set the bar too high

http://www.solanabeachcats.com/teamRoster.php

kini62 · October 9, 2009

Fogcity wrote:

Okay, excuse my total ignorance on this subject...do you mean set the flash up on a mount or tripod of some sort? I also have a 35-70 2.8 -- do you think that would be a better choice? With the flash I guess the ap isn't going to matter as much. Definitely need to do some practice shots....

But here's a link to their previous team photos....they didn't set the bar too high

http://www.solanabeachcats.com/teamRoster.php

You could set on a table or chair or boxes (if you still have the foot) if you don't have an extra stand. Depending on how dark it is you may want to use the on camera flash as well for some additional fill if you place your sb600 to one side or the other.

Use whatever lens works. You'll likely need to stop down to F5.6 or so anyway depending on how many rows there are.

Good luck with it.

Gene

Fogcity · October 26, 2009

Still stressing about doing those team photos..... I wanted to ask for advice since especially the first couple of basketball team pics are going to be very casual, probably right after a game so it's not like I'd be putting together a full professional lighting set up (although I have the gear and could do it, I think I'd look foolish and like I'm over doing it). It's just going to be quick pics after a game, not a full T&I setup yet.

The gym I shoot in, when the light is good I can get good actions shots at 800 iso, 1/800 ss f/1.8, so the lighting is not dungeon like, but unpredictable. Of course I can flash with the team photo, that won't be a problem, but how to do it without looking like a noob. So I want to be casual about it, but get a good shot with the flash off the camera.

My thought is to use the 35-70 2.8 with a SU-800 and an SB-600. But (a) I probably at least should bring a tripod, yes? and (b) should I just hold the flash up and over the camera in my left hand (I have a remote shutter cord) and angle it up over their heads? (the ceilings are too high to bounce a flash off of). How should I angle the flash? I can bring my son with me to hold a second SB-600 on the other side (isn't that funny, he can be my human light stand). Or is this really going to call for a light stand and umbrella--I really don't want to go there, I think they are going to think I'm crazy if I bring all this equipment for this casual group shot (which is not going to be any huge money making shot, I'm doing it as a favor, but for the president of the league).

Okay, I'm over thinking this, right?????? I guess I just want to know how to do this in the most minimalist way possible and still get okay results.....

Thanks for any help!

tjk60 · October 26, 2009

If you have a SU800 and the SB600, use the SU800 in the shoe and have your son hold the SB600 off to the camera left around 45 deg and a bit higher than the eye level of the tallest player. use the 35-70, and try to have enough DOF (5.6? 6.3?) to get everyone in focus front to back.

This is not a hard shoot, relax and have fun....

Fogcity · October 27, 2009

tjk60 wrote:

If you have a SU800 and the SB600, use the SU800 in the shoe and have your son hold the SB600 off to the camera left around 45 deg and a bit higher than the eye level of the tallest player. use the 35-70, and try to have enough DOF (5.6? 6.3?) to get everyone in focus front to back.

This is not a hard shoot, relax and have fun....

Thanks

So you think just use the one flash on one side? I have two but maybe that's not entirely necessary? Do you think the tripod is pretty important? Seriously, the other team's pictures are just taken by some mom with a point and shoot outside by a wall, but I'd like to take it up a notch....

rainbow · October 27, 2009

I am not experienced at lighting, but I am very experienced at youth sports team photos. From your description, it sounds like a local recreational league. If so, I would go for simplicity as the expectations are low to nonexistent. Most photos with the players in focus are likely to be acceptable as the families would welcome them as just that -- a team photo. I would be surprised if the photos were not given at no charge to the players/families.

If so, then a camera mounted flash would be fine. You may be fighting time and space pressures. If on court, the next team on will be impatient to begin warmups. Also, two or three players are likely already late to their next activity. Also, be careful to choose an aperture to give you enough depth of field so all the players are in focus.

For my middle school team photos (I have about one minute to take it), I tell the coach to get them in two lines on the foul line: the front is kneeling and the back is standing. I count to three, take a couple, and done! They usually also become the yearbook photo for the team.

What might help most is to ask to see team photos from last year to get an idea of the quality they have experienced. That may guide your choice of going simple or more complex. Good luck!

Fogcity · October 27, 2009

rainbow wrote:

I am not experienced at lighting, but I am very experienced at youth sports team photos. From your description, it sounds like a local recreational league. If so, I would go for simplicity as the expectations are low to nonexistent. Most photos with the players in focus are likely to be acceptable as the families would welcome them as just that -- a team photo. I would be surprised if the photos were not given at no charge to the players/families.

If so, then a camera mounted flash would be fine. You may be fighting time and space pressures. If on court, the next team on will be impatient to begin warmups. Also, two or three players are likely already late to their next activity. Also, be careful to choose an aperture to give you enough depth of field so all the players are in focus.

For my middle school team photos (I have about one minute to take it), I tell the coach to get them in two lines on the foul line: the front is kneeling and the back is standing. I count to three, take a couple, and done! They usually also become the yearbook photo for the team.

What might help most is to ask to see team photos from last year to get an idea of the quality they have experienced. That may guide your choice of going simple or more complex. Good luck!

Yes! That's it exactly! This is actually a very small division of a larger league. We may not even be able to get onto a court as warmups for the next game generally start right away. We could be by a wall somewhere for that matter. Or if I'm lucky they'll opt for outside

The pictures I've seen from the past are seriously some mom with a point and shoot and it looks like a prison break against the brick wall outside (at least they are smiling!) so expectations are spectacularly low. But it could lead to T&I for a much larger league in the future.

Should I have the boys in front hold a ball? I was thinking of having the coaches one on each side on one knee so they don't tower over the kids in the back (it's a 10U league). What do you think?

So, since the time is so short, should I blow off the tripod or do you use one? If I use an on-camera flash, where should I direct it, up and over their heads with a diffuser? I'm not opposed to holding my remote flash over my head with one hand, but then I'd need the tripod (I'm good, but I'm not that good!

!)

Thanks!

rainbow · October 27, 2009

Fogcity wrote:

Should I have the boys in front hold a ball? I was thinking of having the coaches one on each side on one knee so they don't tower over the kids in the back (it's a 10U league). What do you think?

So, since the time is so short, should I blow off the tripod or do you use one? If I use an on-camera flash, where should I direct it, up and over their heads with a diffuser? I'm not opposed to holding my remote flash over my head with one hand, but then I'd need the tripod (I'm good, but I'm not that good! !)

Thanks!

I would go with one ball, usually held by the front center player or having two with hands on the ball. I would not have the coaches kneel. They could be on the outside of the second row (if two rows), or stand behind the second row, making their own third row (then pay attention to DOF, maybe at least f/8 or f/11). Nice touch is if you can get all the players' numbers to show in the photo (front row kneel, back row staggered between front row; make sure ball is not blocking numbers).

I would blow off the tripod. I use direct camera mounted flash pointed straight ahead, no diffuser or other complications. Then take three or four (so hopefully all eyes are open in one of them). Be sure to "chimp" the first shot to make sure the flash/camera is exposing properly (I shoot RAW to give me more room for error). Zoom is helpful (I use 24 - 105). Any red eyes can be handled in PP if needed.

Being quick is probably more valuable than being precise in your posing. They have finished playing. They are waiting for their snacks or ready to jump in the cars. And being quick will get you relaxed expressions as they do not get impatient with the process. Good luck!

Fogcity · October 27, 2009

rainbow wrote:

I would go with one ball, usually held by the front center player or having two with hands on the ball. I would not have the coaches kneel. They could be on the outside of the second row (if two rows), or stand behind the second row, making their own third row (then pay attention to DOF, maybe at least f/8 or f/11). Nice touch is if you can get all the players' numbers to show in the photo (front row kneel, back row staggered between front row; make sure ball is not blocking numbers).

I would blow off the tripod. I use direct camera mounted flash pointed straight ahead, no diffuser or other complications. Then take three or four (so hopefully all eyes are open in one of them). Be sure to "chimp" the first shot to make sure the flash/camera is exposing properly (I shoot RAW to give me more room for error). Zoom is helpful (I use 24 - 105). Any red eyes can be handled in PP if needed.

Being quick is probably more valuable than being precise in your posing. They have finished playing. They are waiting for their snacks or ready to jump in the cars. And being quick will get you relaxed expressions as they do not get impatient with the process. Good luck!

Thank you! All great advice, I tend to over analyze everything and sometimes that is just not what is called for. Everything you've said describes my situation exactly. I'll worry about the professional lighting when I get the big T&I gig

If it comes out decent, I'll post it, probably in the next week or two...

Laruecherie · January 18, 2011

thanks
This is great information. I have to shoot team portraits so this info was very helpful for me, too.

Need advice on taking basketball team/group pics!

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