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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Basketball Pictures and Team
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01/06/2007 09:55:15 PM · #1
Let me preface this by saying I have done school pictures and dance studio pictures but this week I going to shoot basketball pictures. Has anyone done this and if so, how do you pose the players for the individuals? Do you do waist up head-type shots or full body? If you do full body, do you pose them with a basketball? Do you use a backdrop? If so what kind? I plan to use the gym floor with the school logo for the group shots but am not sure about the individuals.

Thanks in advance.
01/06/2007 11:33:51 PM · #2
Hi Teresa,
I have never done this kind of photography but here's some ideas for you: (I'm assuming this is for a yearbook)

I'd take a look at some college and pros' team yearbooks, if you can get your hands on them, so that you can get some ideas of what looks professionally photographed. You may even be able to see them on the internet (just Google a BB team you're familiar with). You may also be able to garner some ideas and responses from the people who frequent SportsShooter.com.

Are you going to be using flash? If so, then I wouldn't worry about a backdrop. Just use a fast enough shutter speed to darken the bg some.
Try to pick a bg that has little detail and put some distance between your subject and the bg. This way you can blur the bg easily. You can also use a fast f-stop which will help to blur the bg and which will also mean that you'll have to get some distance between you and your subject (lest you blow out the highlights with your flash) so that you wind up using a short tele lens which will blur the bg even more. Your 50mm/1.8 may be the perfect lens for this.

I think I would do waist up shots of the individual players to get more detail of their facial features. Just make sure that the team logo on their shirts is visible.

That's my take on it. Hope it was helpful.
01/07/2007 12:11:14 AM · #3
how you shoot depends on what you're shooting for. if you're shooting portraits, you might want props; if you're shooting for a media guide, you won't. when you shoot the group shot, try to shoot as tight as possible, even if it means sacrificing part of the logo on the floor (although sometimes, you have no control over this). and, even though it's not always possible, try to get everyone to line up so that you can see their jersey numbers. if you're shooting media guide photos, you'll definitely want their jersey number in the shot. lastly, regardless of how you frame up your shot, try to leave enough room for the shot to be cropped as an 8x12, an 8x10, and a 5x7.

here's some media guide stuff i shot recently:
men
women

good luck!
01/07/2007 08:27:07 AM · #4
Thank you both. This is what I was hoping. I had ideas in my head but couldn't find any examples online to look at which illustrated what I had in my head. I do have off camera flash as well as studio strobes. I would love to not have to drag my studio stuff with me but the gym is limited on what it has to offer. I could definitely use my 50mm for this to make sure I blur the background. I will bring it and try that. It is for a elementary yearbook so I really want to make sure this done correctly.

Thanks again for replying.
01/07/2007 11:50:15 PM · #5
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