Please help with football team portrait lighting!

[clark220grit]

In about three weeks I will be shooting (starting at about 3:00 pm) a junior high American football and soccer team... and, the cheerleaders. (Football) - 35 players and coaches. (Soccer) - 15 players and coaches. 12 cheerleaders. Each group photographed separately and individual shots for those who want one.

Members of this forum have been kind enough to offer suggestions for gear that I will need. The equipment that I own is listed in my signature and (with your help) I have decided to get the EF 17-40mm and the wireless E-TTL Multi kit with two 580 EX flashes and transmitter ST-E2.

I guess my reason for this post is to take one last shot at seeing if any of you have an opinion about my choices before I cough up about 1700 bucks. I have never used a flash system and will also need some advice (sooner or later) on how to get set up.

I realize I've been pounding you all with questions the last couple of days but I really want to do a great job on this project. I want the pictures to pop!

I appreciate your help,
Clark

[MJPhotos24]

I still can't get onto my FTP so put some of the team pics I promised here...

Football, Soccer, Cheerleading don't have the photographers arch nemesis, HATS! So you won't have to worry about cap shadow. Best bet is to put the sun to the side like in the samples below (ok it's above/to the side). Don't shoot directly into the sun and don't shoot where the team is looking into the sun. Pick the background and figure out what you want (angle). I shot the below team photos with shutter priority (cuz I didnt want the background blurred out) and they are not blurry or dark as they appear in the attachments. Just re-sized them real quick to get them uploaded to show the setup.

[clark220grit]

Awsome portraits! If I can get anywhere near the results that you're getting I'll be tickled to death. Players are in perfect alignment...background is excellent...the colors pop even after the re-size. Great Job!!! You have inspired me.

Did you use fill flash? Are you familiar with the flash system that I am considering and do you think it will be appropriate? Which lens did you use?

I don't even know how to use my 20d settings yet, much less set up a fill light system. HELP...

Clark

[MJPhotos24]

Thanks, I used a 580EX Flash on the body only, at I think +1 2/3 compensation cuz the sun was harsh (when you buy the flash you'll see what I'm talking about cuz you'll have to read the manual VERY closely - heck I'm not even through it all yet). Did it make a difference? not sure really...I'd have to take a closer look at the pics and see if flash fired in them all or not since I did a couple bursts. I was going to put up some youth ones (5-10 year olds) but thats a lot different than shooting HS kids like you'll be doing, they will listen and do what you want (usually)...just don't tick off the coach and they'll usually help ya out to...also remember every coach wants their team on the field so when its time to start going, be ready. Every year at one school I coach at the photogs have screwed up our schedule and practice sucked cuz we were so late, always leaves a bad taste about that company.

I'm not familiar with the flash system you mentioned, but then again I really need to learn more in lighting, it's my weak point I think. I just saw an amazing team photo today (Buffalo Bisons team photo give away) and planning on talking with the team photographer about what he did. It was awsome lighting!! Wish I had a copy of it cuz he did an outstanding job.

The lens, well I kinda went back in time and dug out my old kit lens from 1999 that I got with the Canon Rebel 2000. The best team photos I ever took were with that thing so I decided to take it out of retirement and badda bing, it still does a great job for me. HOWEVER, when I do smaller teams (10-15 kids) I use the 50mm 1.4 but probably should upgrade to a smaller MM so I'm not so far back. A better team photo lens is on my "gear wish list".

As for knowing your 20D, read the manual, then read it again, and again. While reading it test everything, in daylight, cloudy, etc, etc. If you're close to the fields you'll be shooting at go there during the time of day to see where the best background is, where the sun sets, all that. Scout your area. When I got the 50mm & 580EX I took a garfield stuffed animal and a stool along with a hat to put on him and shot that testing things out. Knowing the area and where you want everything saves time. The team in red I wish I had put back about 20 feet so you could see the stadium more. I noticed it as I set them up but didn't want to tell them to move back (we'd have to move the benches and all that). Didn't want to do that since they had to practice after and had bats to hit me with :)

Ok, I heard about this new thing called sleep, so I think I'll try that out since its been a couple days.

[MJPhotos24]

I just checked before dozing off and both those the flash fired.