Got volunteered to take midget league baseball team photos

[MT]

tonight even.

Obviously I've seen examples, but any suggestions?

I'll be using a 300D, probably a 50 1.8 (although I have a 28-135 and the 18-55 kit lens), 550EX for flash fill.

I expect to have a great deal of latitude in taking these - since my grandson is on the team, so I'd like to do something not only nice, but maybe a little different.

Suggestions, comments or offers of asylum?

[IndyJeff]

A guy who did the team shots for our basketball laegue had a release cable and he would compose the shot thru the viewfinder then he would stand back up and talk to the kids. He would almost always take 2-3 shots. Talking the whole time standing right behind the camera. This way he keeps the kids all looking at him. Sometimes he was funny and sometimes serious but, he always gave a good product.
When doing T & I shots the hardest part is getting everyone to cooperate for that 30 seconds or so once you get them lined up.

Taller kids sitting in the front and shorter kids standing in the back sometimes works too. You want to make sure there isn't too much space between the sitters heads and the standers faces. Enough that everyone is visable and not blocked by someone in front or that the top of someones head is chopped off.
Try to have even spacing between the top and the bottom from the subjects, don't cut off heads or feet. Most of all make sure you can clearly see the faces, too loose and the shot will suck.
Just take time to compose the shot, look carefully at the whole shot, the middle, both sides, top and bottom. Once you get it good shoot it and then take a couple more while keeping their attention.

Good luck

[MT]

I haven't looked closely at the shots yet, but I managed to make it home with all of my equipment - so that's a start.