What a boring shot!

[Phil Light]

I was asked to shoot a portrait of a pitcher after a high shool game. After looking at what I got I am not at all happy about this boring, generic looking pose. Does anyone have any advice about some creative ways to pose not just pitchers, but any type of athlete? I'd like to get some ideas of shots you're just not used to seeing. Please post examples if possible.

Here's my C- example:

[CGarvin]

you could get a geat in action photo? and a split of a portrait?

[Phil Light]

That's a good idea for a finished product but I'm really looking for ideas to get away from the static, boring, "I've seen a million of them", posed shots. I actually have quite a few action shots which (IMO) aren't bad, but I'm looking for creative, outside the box ideas about posing all types of athletes. I was thinking something like having him holding a baseball that was on fire or smoking or something. But I didn't think I wanted to take the chance of blistering his hands. That makes the athletic director have frowney faces.

Again, not just for baseball but all high school sports... football, basketball, gymnastics, track & field, swimming, etc.

Anyone have any shots that you are proud of?

[mmahoney]

I'm looking for creative, outside the box ideas about posing all types of athletes. I was thinking something like having him holding a baseball that was on fire or smoking or something.

Blazing bats, etc. are pretty gimicky. The core problem here is the "my girlfriend left me and my dog's run away" look the poor lad has on his face .. looks like he's about to cry.:cry:

Athletes often pose best as individuals when their teamates are around as they usually poke fun at one another and the smiles come easy.

So when doing the individual shots I have all the other guys wait their turn close by and usually the biggest problem I have is controlling the laughter.
Mike

[Joe Cyr]

I have always liked the "Randy Johnson" pose with the glove to the face, with just the eyes showing.

[dekalbSTEEL]

How about glove on knee, ball behind back, peering in to get the signs from the catcher?

Or the old fashioned wind-up pose http://www.mbhof.ca/Console/Pub/upload/ClaudeLambert.jpg

[photodrew]

I always like the action shots. however if looking for a posed shot, my favs are either kneeling with arm resting on the raised knee, or the "bad Boy" pose standing at about a 45 degree angle to the camera with arms crossed...
(works best wit two players back to back...)
my .02

Andy

[jsanz11]

I did this for a local highschool pitcher last year.
Thanks,
-Joey

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/939/filmstripryanbendertj6.jpg

[Phil Light]

I'd like to thank everyone for their input, images & links. There are some very good suggestions here that have given me some ideas. If I can manage to get some decent results over the next couple of weeks I'll come back and post my results.

Thank you again.

[Phil Light]

Blazing bats, etc. are pretty gimicky. The core problem here is the "my girlfriend left me and my dog's run away" look the poor lad has on his face .. looks like he's about to cry.:cry:

Athletes often pose best as individuals when their teamates are around as they usually poke fun at one another and the smiles come easy.

So when doing the individual shots I have all the other guys wait their turn close by and usually the biggest problem I have is controlling the laughter.
Mike

Well, I actually did get a couple with him smiling, and for exactly the reason you stated above. His teamates were on the sidelines giving him tons of grief.

Still, because he was smiling, it is a better picture, but I was just looking for ideas that are better than just a standard pose.

I will admit, I was happy about the fact that they were pictures taken on an overcast day at dusk with a flash, and (at least to me) it doesn't jump out at you that they are flash pictures. I've got a long way to go to get good flash pictures consistantly.

[Papaw]

Could make a baseball looking cover and fill it with Hot Ice chips and spray water on it right before the snap?

[MJPhotos24]

I shoot tons of baseball portraits over the summer in pro ball, the problem is they're all kind of boring. Most players HATE, and I mean HATE those fake "pretend you just hit the ball and are following through on your swing" or "pretending to throw" poses. I refuse to take them and do simpler ones usually, in Spring Training I played with a couple though nothing to great or drastic. Hitters it was the old fashion bat on shoulder, pitchers it was glove up and sometimes with a pearl. Kinda what the client wanted more than me. There's some topps/bowman baseball cards with cool poses I've found and this summer with lower level guys will be testing out some.

The 2nd photo you posted is a much better one than the first for a few reasons, first being the smile (love when teammates around to bust on them and get them laughing), 2nd is the angle looks better and is more relaxed. Relaxed always makes for a better pic I think. Try to grab some samples here and post them if I can dig some out from previous years.

[Phil Light]

I shoot tons of baseball portraits over the summer in pro ball, the problem is they're all kind of boring. Most players HATE, and I mean HATE those fake "pretend you just hit the ball and are following through on your swing" or "pretending to throw" poses. I refuse to take them and do simpler ones usually, in Spring Training I played with a couple though nothing to great or drastic. Hitters it was the old fashion bat on shoulder, pitchers it was glove up and sometimes with a pearl. Kinda what the client wanted more than me. There's some topps/bowman baseball cards with cool poses I've found and this summer with lower level guys will be testing out some.

The 2nd photo you posted is a much better one than the first for a few reasons, first being the smile (love when teammates around to bust on them and get them laughing), 2nd is the angle looks better and is more relaxed. Relaxed always makes for a better pic I think. Try to grab some samples here and post them if I can dig some out from previous years.

Thank you for the kind words. Part of the reason I posted the other one first is actually because I didn't like it. I guess I wanted to convey the "essence" of my question. I completely understand why players hate those goofy posed pictures. I would rather see a candid snapshot than many posed shots. I think that's why posing subjects is difficult for me, when it comes right down to it, I don't like most posed pictures.

I would hate to see you go to too much trouble, but I would love to see some of the examples you've got. Thanks for your help!

[MJPhotos24]

Nothing to exciting, random poses - some old, some new, all basic.

#1 - why this looks so dull color wise I don't know, I just resized it in PS and it wasn't. I done did mess something up, anyways, basic bat on shoulder.

http://www.knockoverrecords.com/POSEDPTN01.JPG


#2 - He suggested this one, as he was trying to show the bat logo so he could get paid (he gets paid every time the photo is published and the bat logo is visible, nice sponsorship to have). Shooting directly into the sun.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/POSEDPTN02.JPG

#3 - Similar to the above, old photo from 2003 and again he suggested the pose, it's not bad if you do it right, but I got a couple of these that look like absolute garbage.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/POSEDPTN03.JPG

#4 - Usually never shoot from below the player looking up but did for this one, the coulds made for a nice background and he didn't speak much english, and by much I mean zero. So instead of trying to move him around just adjusted to what he was doing. A lot of players that are bigger this wont work, as they'll get the "double chin" effect going.

http://www.knockoverrecords.com/POSEDPTN04.JPG


#5 - not my favorite of poses, he didnt speak english as well and my spanish only consists of asking for the photo, not posing them. He did it on his own like he had done it before, I kinda showed him but went to this. The company likes these type of poses so did them during the trip. I dont mind this one really, other players that did it though some looked horrible.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/POSEDPTN05.JPG

#6 - NOT the best example and is really old, I couldnt find any of the ones I liked sitting down on CD as most were done with film (been awhie since doing this pose). Sometimes it looks really good, other times it dont. I tried doing this pose again this year but stopped after one try as the 50mm was to long to do it since dugouts aren't to deep.
http://www.knockoverrecords.com/POSEDPTN06.JPG


I know/seen others but since I didnt take them wont post them. Though they are baseball cards and should be able to post them right?

[MJPhotos24]

when it comes right down to it, I don't like most posed pictures.

honestly, I don't usually either but lots of the companies I shoot for need them and tell me they love mine. That confuses me because I always like to keep them very simple and don't go overboard on great poses or lighting (seen some greattttt ones out there before). I always tell players real quick old fashion bat on shoulder or glove up for pitchers and we're done. If its a catcher in his gear, good times I can get a couple with that.

It's "hard" to get posed in pro baseball just because you have to be there much earlier than most photogs want to be, have to interact with the guys and hope the manager or coach isnt a jerk about it (or you work with the coaches to get the pics). It's usually minor hastles, but I've found most photographers don't do it because they dont want to deal with that stuff.

[thekid24]

How about having him toss the ball up and catch it, but instead of following the ball he looks at the camera. Any baseball player should be able to do that without difficulty in catching the ball. Then youll have the ball in mid-drop. And a 'different' look/pose

[Phil Light]

You say you don't like to shoot from below... That could be a problem for me since most athletes are typically larger than average, and I'm 5'4" (when I'm wearing thick socks). I may have to add a step ladder to my camera bag. :D

[Papaw]

Probably the best pitcher picture I have seen was of Nolan Ryan Decking Robin Ventura several years back. However, these type shots don't happen too often.

[Phil Light]

How about having him toss the ball up and catch it, but instead of following the ball he looks at the camera. Any baseball player should be able to do that without difficulty in catching the ball. Then youll have the ball in mid-drop. And a 'different' look/pose

Funny you should mention that. IndyJeff told me the same thing, but added, "who cares if he catches it?" After I snap the shot of the ball in mid-air, the viewer will just assume he was tossing it up and catching it, whether he does or not.

[kgauger30]

I don't know how to make them better, one because of the fact of the staging effect. But one thing I did notice that immeditaly popped out to me in this picture was the background. The scoreboard to me is very distracting. I know that may be not the comments you are looking for, but I just don't like it. I would put the in the outfield shooting toward the plate, if the sun is in the right position. I did this with my son last year and they turned out great (except the fact my son doesn't like his picture taken) Experiment with different poses.. There are many things you can do to make them a little more interesting. One I took before that I liked was posing them at a little angle, with the bat over the shoulder away from you, with the infield in the background. It made the frame of it more interesting. If it was taken better, with a better subject I would send you a copy to see what I mean lol.. You can't go wrong with experimenting.. I am learning that.. It all depends on the mood and the age group you are taking.

[Phil Light]

Although I shot it with the scoreboard in the background intentionally, I think I'd have to agree with you. It does distract more than it adds doesn't it? Very good observation.

[convergent]

There's nothing wrong with a traditional shot... it looks fine to me. I would have wanted a smile, but either way the pose is fine.

[MJPhotos24]

You say you don't like to shoot from below... That could be a problem for me since most athletes are typically larger than average, and I'm 5'4" (when I'm wearing thick socks). I may have to add a step ladder to my camera bag. :D
ha, guess I have the advantage of being 6'1" - 6'3" depending what convenient store I'm walking out of and sometimes doing splits to get down to guys levels :)

[pauldowker]

You could try to darken the sky and use fill in flash for some atmosphere. takes some trial and error to get the background/foreground looking OK.

[jrjphoto]

I would suggest heading over to Strobist.com (http://www.strobist.com) and do some reading.

I do a lot of off-camera flash stuff for portraits like these with a radio-triggered Nikon SB-28 speedlite fastened to the end of a monopod or on a light stand with an umbrella (or not). I also tend to shoot portraits with a 70-200 f/2.8L telephoto lens because they are generally more flattering for the subject and offer a great blurred background. I also try to carry a stepladder with me to portraits "just in case".

[Phil Light]

I would suggest heading over to Strobist.com (http://www.strobist.com) and do some reading.

I do a lot of off-camera flash stuff for portraits like these with a radio-triggered Nikon SB-28 speedlite fastened to the end of a monopod or on a light stand with an umbrella (or not). I also tend to shoot portraits with a 70-200 f/2.8L telephoto lens because they are generally more flattering for the subject and offer a great blurred background. I also try to carry a stepladder with me to portraits "just in case".

All excellent suggestions. I haven't been to Strobist for probably 6 months. I need to get back there and do some studying. Thanks for the reminder!

[muls]

Phil,

The points about the step stool are a good one, I keep a turtle stool with me in the car, just in case. I'll never forget last year I had to do a portrait shoot of Lennox Lewis for his HBO announcing job. I'm 5'5", Lennox is 6'6", pretty comical, stool worked out well...

[Phil Light]

Phil,

The points about the step stool are a good one, I keep a turtle stool with me in the car, just in case. I'll never forget last year I had to do a portrait shoot of Lennox Lewis for his HBO announcing job. I'm 5'5", Lennox is 6'6", pretty comical, stool worked out well...

I guess it's a cross to bear for those of us who are vertically challenged. I try to compensate by being incredibly cute. :p

[jrjphoto]

I guess it's a cross to bear for those of us who are vertically challenged. I try to compensate by being incredibly cute. :p

LOL, yes sir. :)