Individual and Team Portraits FAQ (T&I)

[DD974]

here are some of my recent T&I shots .. inspired by DD974 :)

http://just.razzi.me/photos/251040/99080cb.jpg?1321368107

http://just.razzi.me/photos/251041/c2d5369.jpg?1321368109

http://just.razzi.me/photos/194794/e19a73f.jpg?1317707418
Nice work Jay!....they should be pleased with these.

[DD974]

This is a 16x24 I did to commemorate my son's selection to a National Baseball Factory/Under Armour team that competed in Peoria, AZ last month. Thinking I'll make a poster for his room 566249

[firefighter4u]

wow congratulations and nice pic!

[MJPhotos24]

This is a 16x24 I did to commemorate my son's selection to a National Baseball Factory/Under Armour team that competed in Peoria, AZ last month. Thinking I'll make a poster for his room

Well, doesn't he look familiar....

All three Under Armour/Baseball Factory teams at www.mikejanesphotography.net/photocart/

Shoot for Factory, though don't think they sent that link to any of the parents for that event.

[jay.johnsonau]

Nice work Jay!....they should be pleased with these.

Thanks ... that club has booked me for next year along with another local one

I have another club who are not happy with the time it takes to take the photo
I have quoted 25 - 45 mins.

Do you do your shots individually or as a team ?

[DD974]

Well, doesn't he look familiar....

All three Under Armour/Baseball Factory teams at www.mikejanesphotography.net/photocart/ (http://www.mikejanesphotography.net/photocart/)

Shoot for Factory, though don't think they sent that link to any of the parents for that event.

Wow!...very cool!...I saw you and never realized you would have been MJPhotos24. This was our first time ever in AZ, and hope to go again next year...Dylan's only a Freshman so we have a few years of HS to do this stuff. I posted the link to the 2011 AFC on my Facebook and shared on several walls. Thanks again!

[DD974]

I have another club who are not happy with the time it takes to take the photo
I have quoted 25 - 45 mins.


Was it a BF team that wasn't happy?...what do you mean 25-45 min.? Is that the time you quoted to have them online after the game or just the time you spend at each game?

[DD974]

wow congratulations and nice pic!

Thank you!

[MJPhotos24]

Wow!...very cool!...I saw you and never realized you would have been MJPhotos24. This was our first time ever in AZ, and hope to go again next year...Dylan's only a Freshman so we have a few years of HS to do this stuff. I posted the link to the 2011 AFC on my Facebook and shared on several walls. Thanks again!

If you keep having him do Factory events good chance I may be there, or at least possibly have a photographer there. Some events shooting for them directly and also official for the parents to get images through, others they don't need any images for their use but still official for the parents to get images. That'd be for events they run, not like AFC because they bring teams in for that and don't run the show.

This one was mainly for their use and not geared towards the parents, found it very odd that the tournament did not have any official photographers - looked like you could set up two tents at both locations and sign kids up for posters like you made and other prints, items and they would have done well.

I'm doing things a bit different at the Pirate City Camp, trying pre-registration and sign up at the event if the parents do come so concentrating on kids where there's interest instead of trying to get every kind in the camp and end up with just some of each. Posters and the like are going to be the main change next year offering more, gotta stay ahead of the curve and get what the parents can't (um, most, ha). Is funny though, that poster is VERY similar to an idea I had for the UA Pre-Season tournament two years ago and shot the background images that year, just never did it.

Have done these events last year or two...

UA All-American Pre-Season Tournament in Tucson, AZ
UA All-American Game in Chicago, IL
Pirate City Christmas Tournament in Bradenton, FL
UA Fall Classic in Jupiter, FL
UA Fall Invite in St. Petersburg, FL
Team One East Showcase in Jupiter, FL
Team One West Showcase in Peoria, AZ (hired a guy to cover for me)

Factory is worth every penny, the Pirate City camp/tournaments are spectacular events with non-stop all day baseball, great speakers, etc. Rick Sofield, who was the Baseball Factory team coach at the Fall Classic, is the main speaker there and his speeches are great - for that they let players and parents in to listen, spectacular.

[jay.johnsonau]

Was it a BF team that wasn't happy?...what do you mean 25-45 min.? Is that the time you quoted to have them online after the game or just the time you spend at each game?


no it was a rugby league team ... i quoted them 25-45 for the shoot .. as i do each kid individually and layer them into the pic

JJ

[jason69]

Hi atached is what i did for all-stars 12 bucks each. I did them on speculation and they all sold but one.

[jason69]

This is what i sold for 50 bucks but this year they are going to 80

[DD974]

This is what i sold for 50 bucks but this year they are going to 80
An 8x10??....these wouldn't move for $50 in my area. How much time is spent on editing for this one final composite?

IMHO I find it way too busy and more detail on image extraction would be beneficial to the overall appearance, particularly on the upper left, lower left and bottom center images. When I say too busy I mean too many player & baseball images for the canvas...I rarely use more than 2-3 players on any one composite myself. Another detail lost is the player name and year, they should stand out a little more....but it's all about what the customer wants.

[jason69]

The 8x10 was 12 dollars It was a template I bought takes about 10 minutes.

The 16x20 currently sells for 50 but it's going to 80 because it takes me about an hour or two. Yes i need to use less images because it takes me too long to cut them out.

[jason69]

Thanks for your comments I'm glad you noticed I got lazy so I used the eraser tool on the images you pointed out . I thought it would be faster and still look ok but it doesn’t. It wasnt one of my favorites but I only have a couple on this drive. Here is another one using the pen tool.

[DD974]

Thanks for your comments I'm glad you noticed I got lazy so I used the eraser tool on the images you pointed out . I thought it would be faster and still look ok but it doesn’t. It wasnt one of my favorites but I only have a couple on this drive. Here is another one using the pen tool.
Nice job!...the parents should be pleased with this.

[geoff5093]

This thread has been a HUGE help! I didn't think of half the things talked about here. I shot a softball tournament 2 years ago when I was first starting off with sports photography, and this is one of the team shots I did:

http://www.actionphotosnh.com/Sports/Softball/Litchfield-Softball-Tournament/i-WfPLK82/0/L/MG4826-L.jpg

Looking back I can see a few mistakes. I am slightly off center (I wasn't the only photographer, and we were taking them at the same time), and two of the coaches could be placed in a different spot so their faces aren't cut off. But other then that it came out pretty well I think.

[jay.johnsonau]

So the time has come for The rugby league season to begin ... I have been working on my payment envelopes ... not sure if i've forgotten something :(
http://just.razzi.me/photos/468160/c1601db.jpg

[Mike R]

So the time has come for The rugby league season to begin ... I have been working on my payment envelopes ... not sure if i've forgotten something :(
http://just.razzi.me/photos/468160/c1601db.jpg

I have a spot for them to write the cheque number in case it gets seperated from the envelope at some point. You should also have a spot for the parents name and address. It may be different than the players.
Over here (US) it's best if checks are made payable to your business, rather than as personal.

[RSB]

I assign (beforehand) a Team Code (TC1, TC2) for each team I am going to photograph. I make both Team and Individual slates with the the (a) Team Code (b) Division and (c) Team Name. I photograph each of the slates before I photograph each team, once with the individual slate before the individuals, and once with the team slate before taking the team picture, and I record the image number on each of the slates. I have a several boxes on each order form to record (a) the Team Code, and (b) the image number(s) of the players as I photograph them. This works perfectly if I'm using just 2 cameras and shooting 2 teams and 25 players, or using 8 cameras and shooting 200 teams and 2500 players. I always use at least 2 cameras, 1 for individuals, and 1 for teams. On my large jobs, we use as many as 8 cameras, 4 individuals and 4 teams. When using more than a 2 camera set up, we will have Individual/Team Camera A, Individual/Team Camera B, etc.

As far as your package offerings, I think you are dramatically limiting your income opportunity. I don't know what lab you use in NSW, but parents of younger players will buy a wide variety of products that you are not offering, Trading Cards, Magnets, Mugs, T shirts, Key Chains, Game tickets, etc. They won't buy what you don't offer. They will, however, scan your images and produce their own products. Even if you don't offer any of the above products, and only want to sell straight prints, I would put together 6-8 print packages starting at your $22 package, and build them up to $60-$70 using a combination of wallets, 4x5's, 5x7's and 8x10's. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how many parents will buy the higher priced packages, and your overall average sale will be significantly higher.

[jay.johnsonau]

I have a spot for them to write the cheque number in case it gets seperated from the envelope at some point. You should also have a spot for the parents name and address. It may be different than the players.
Over here (US) it's best if checks are made payable to your business, rather than as personal.

Im actually thinking about taking the cheque option off there .. its only about 1% that pay by cheque and I havent set up the bank to accept cheques in my business name yet :(

[jay.johnsonau]

I assign (beforehand) a Team Code (TC1, TC2) for each team I am going to photograph. I make both Team and Individual slates with the the (a) Team Code (b) Division and (c) Team Name. I photograph each of the slates before I photograph each team, once with the individual slate before the individuals, and once with the team slate before taking the team picture, and I record the image number on each of the slates. I have a several boxes on each order form to record (a) the Team Code, and (b) the image number(s) of the players as I photograph them. This works perfectly if I'm using just 2 cameras and shooting 2 teams and 25 players, or using 8 cameras and shooting 200 teams and 2500 players. I always use at least 2 cameras, 1 for individuals, and 1 for teams. On my large jobs, we use as many as 8 cameras, 4 individuals and 4 teams. When using more than a 2 camera set up, we will have Individual/Team Camera A, Individual/Team Camera B, etc.

As far as your package offerings, I think you are dramatically limiting your income opportunity. I don't know what lab you use in NSW, but parents of younger players will buy a wide variety of products that you are not offering, Trading Cards, Magnets, Mugs, T shirts, Key Chains, Game tickets, etc. They won't buy what you don't offer. They will, however, scan your images and produce their own products. Even if you don't offer any of the above products, and only want to sell straight prints, I would put together 6-8 print packages starting at your $22 package, and build them up to $60-$70 using a combination of wallets, 4x5's, 5x7's and 8x10's. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how many parents will buy the higher priced packages, and your overall average sale will be significantly higher.

Hey RSB,

I do all photo's individually and then they are layered in a composite. I have them do 3 different poses, 1 shot with a name slate and a quick shot of them all in a line to get there heights as reference.

Here are my team & Individuals
http://razzi.me/albums/5773-team-individuals/entries/224303-team_photo_sample_2012-jpg

http://razzi.me/albums/5773-team-individuals/entries/224304-individual_photo_sample_2012-jpg

I held off on offering all the extra'a this year because in the last 8 years of being involved with the sport I have only seen a couple of parents buy anything other then just the prints :(. Next year I will look at offering trading cards as I have done these previously for my own teams i have coached and they went down a hit :) I was more worried about just getting them all shots done and printed in time frame I have allowed as I am doing 3 clubs in 6 weeks with approx. 2000+ players all up.

My packages are already 30-40% more expensive then the other local photographers and I only got the gigs through contacts and the fact that my shots are more professional. So im alittle hesitant to up them more then they are already

Just out of curiosity does anyone here know of anyone in australia that offers a full lab services with these extra's (stubby holders, magnets, calendars) ?

[Mike R]

Im actually thinking about taking the cheque option off there .. its only about 1% that pay by cheque and I havent set up the bank to accept cheques in my business name yet :(

Most of my customers pay by check, I only get a few that pay cash. This is my first year (school year) that I'm accepting credit cards. So far not enough people are paying that way to make it worthwhile. I was hoping that it would lead to people placing larger orders, but when people are spending a lot, they're paying by check. I'll continue accepting cards for another year and then may stop.

BTW: offer more products

[RSB]

Hey RSB,

I do all photo's individually and then they are layered in a composite. I have them do 3 different poses, 1 shot with a name slate and a quick shot of them all in a line to get there heights as reference.

My packages are already 30-40% more expensive then the other local photographers and I only got the gigs through contacts and the fact that my shots are more professional. So im alittle hesitant to up them more then they are already

Just out of curiosity does anyone here know of anyone in australia that offers a full lab services with these extra's (stubby holders, magnets, calendars) ?

Jay, if you have an efficient system for tracking your players, and it works, by all means stick with it. As far as your packages go, I must say you are doing a huge amount of post processing and graphics work for the prices you are charging, but you obviously know what prices your market will bear. And, I really don't know how 18 Aussie Dollars compares to 18 US Dollars.

I'm not saying that you should necessarily raise the prices on the packages you have, but simply offer higher priced packages with additional pictures as well. Yes, many or most of your parents will choose your least expensive package, but as I said, you might be surprised how many will buy higher priced packages, and your averages will increase. Plus, there are always a handful of parents who will always buy your highest priced package, just because thats the way they are, they buy the most expensive of everything.

With the graphics laden images you are selling, it's no wonder you haven't had much luck with some of the other "Digitally Enhanced" products that are available from most Sports Labs in the US.

I would also sell your products in 8x10 Units, 1 Unit =1-8x10, or 4-4x5, or 2-5x7, or 8 wallets. I would not offer 4x6's, replace with 5x7's. The perceived value of a 5x7 is much higher than a 4x6, and the cost is very close.

Just my opinions, although I have been successfully shooting T&I for 25+ years :D

[jason69]

Mike, I like your package can you all critique mine?

[Mike R]

Mike, I like your package can you all critique mine?

I may not be the Mike you're looking for BUT... Your 5x7 package of 7-9 prints is priced too low. I'm in an area that cannot price prints too high, yet my 5x7 action shots (on line) are $9.00 each. My T&I packages start at $20.50 for 2 5x7 and a 5x7 team shot. For $33.00 they get an 8x10 and magnet included.

[5DmkX]

Out ouf curiosity, does any one here shoot team pictures using a 35mm prime? I'm debating either that or a 24-70mm. The 35mm appeals to me more because of the extra stops. Thanks.

Tom

[RSB]

Out ouf curiosity, does any one here shoot team pictures using a 35mm prime? I'm debating either that or a 24-70mm. The 35mm appeals to me more because of the extra stops. Thanks.

Tom

I shoot teams with either a 50mm f1.4 or a 24-70 f2.8. You don't need extra stops for team pictures, you want a lens that's sharp at f8 or f11. I don't like to go any wider than 50mm on FF, as I don't care for the perspective. On a 1.6 crop camera, a 35mm would work.

[5DmkX]

I shoot teams with either a 50mm f1.4 or a 24-70 f2.8. You don't need extra stops for team pictures, you want a lens that's sharp at f8 or f11. I don't like to go any wider than 50mm on FF, as I don't care for the perspective. On a 1.6 crop camera, a 35mm would work.

Thanks Randy - I should have clarified, the extra stops on the 35mm were for also using it indoors in poor lighting independent of taking any type of group shot, but I'm leaning towards the 24-70 f/2.8 for the perspective reasons. I do have a 50mm, never thought about that one for team pics - thanks again.

Tom

[Tigershark]

I use a 24-70 2.8 for individuals and teams, teams as small as 5 all the way up to 100 kids, it is my goto lens

[DD974]

I just bought the 24-70 IS 2.8L and love it!....it's all I use now for T&I stuff.

[bobbyz]

I just bought the 24-70 IS 2.8L and love it!....it's all I use now for T&I stuff.

Where did you get the IS version from.:D

[5DmkX]

Where did you get the IS version from.:D

It comes with a tripod - lol! :)

[RSB]

The 24-70 f2.8 is a true workhorse for the T&I photographer, and does a great job with both Teams and Individuals. One great feature of the lens is it's humongous lens hood, which really comes in handy outdoors in many situations.

[5DmkX]

The 24-70 f2.8 is a true workhorse for the T&I photographer, and does a great job with both Teams and Individuals. One great feature of the lens is it's humongous lens hood, which really comes in handy outdoors in many situations.

Thanks Randy, definitely going to pick one up as my T&I work is going to increase dramatically this year. Another quick question -- I was reading how you do your team pics with the 2 Normans -- I assume my Alien Bees would work similarly?

Tom

[RSB]

I'm not sure how old that post was, but I have actually retired my Normans, and am now using AB1600's and VML's for all of my team pics. The AB's are great, and I'm able to use a single AB for my teams instead of 2 Normans. A single AB1600 with VML @ $600 makes pretty good sense compared to 2 Norman 400's @ $1400 each. Also one less Pocket Wizard needed. My Normans were getting tired, and I was spending way too much money every season on repairs and new batteries. A spare VML battery is $90, compared to 2 batteries for each Norman at $120 each. I've been using the 8.5 inch High Output reflector (45 degree coverage) with the AB's, but I'm getting ready to order 4 of the 11in Long Throw Reflectors for the fall. If I've done all of my math right, the 11LTR's should give me f11 across a 15ft wide line with the flash 30ft from the subjects. I highly recommend Joe Jack's excellent Bracket for the VML. They're rock solid.

VMLBracket (http://www.vmlbracket.com/)

On my big T&I jobs, 8 cameras, 1500-3000 players, we still use on camera 580's for individuals. But on my smaller jobs, I'm also using an AB with a PCB 35in Octabox. They work beautifully.

[5DmkX]

Thanks for all of the helpful information Randy. Already have the ABs and a VML. I have an LTR too. So you just bare bulb it? I was going to use a PLM, but if I don't need to hassle with that, I'd just as soon not.

Tom

[RSB]

I normally just use reflectors on my teams when outside, but inside I use a pair of 42" Westcott Halo Mono shoot throughs. On occasion, if I'm only shooting a couple of teams, and there is no wind, I'll use them outside, and the light and shadows are obviously much softer. Straight reflectors are certainly much harsher light, but worrying about the wind blowing over lights with umbrellas on four different team cameras over an 8 or 9 hour job is not something I want to do.

[DD974]

Where did you get the IS version from.:D
That's habit :lol:...love that lens though. B&H had a special..:rolleyes:

[axe]

Great thread! I didn't read every post but I've spent an hour learning. Got a quick question still. Im going to shoot a football team of 55 high school players and would like some help posing the team.How many to a row for this size team and players? Thnx

[RSB]

Fifty five players, plus you need to factor in the coaching staff, which will probably add another 6-12. The High School football teams in my market area expect their team photographer to have risers. You would need a minimum of 24ft wide x 3 step, which would give you a total of 5 or 6 rows, 3 on the risers, 1 standing on the ground, one sitting on benches in front, and perhaps one sitting on the ground. A HS football player, with shoulder pads, is 2 ft wide, so on a 24ft wide riser, you'll have a maximum of 12 players, you might possibly fit 13, but no more. So, you would have on the risers - Back Row-12, Middle Row-11, Bottom Row-12, Standing on Ground-13, that's a total of 48. Depending how many coaches in the picture, you may be able to fit the balance on the benches. However, if you have more than 12 left, you would need to split the balance up, have half sitting on the benches, the rest sitting on the ground.

GPS Risers (http://gpsrisers.com/)

[axe]

Thank you. It is my son's team and I shoot all of the games, (to be clear-he's a player). The coach asked me to do the T&I pictures for them, they seem to be in a time pinch so he asked me to shoot them. I appreciate your help.

[Tigershark]

I had to buy my risersa while back but before I owned some I got away with using the stadium bleachers, it doesn't look as nice but can be done, bring a ladder so you can climb on to get the picture and make sure you have some fill light for their faces. Large strobes would be ideal. I usually use 2-3 1600s minimum good luck

[C.david]

Can anyone utilizing this thread make a recommendation for an imagining company for T&I packages? I have found plenty in the back of the PPA photographers magazine, but need at least a suggestion.

Thanx in advance,
C.

[Tigershark]

I have used Richmond Pro Labs for years and no complaints excellent customer service and great prices for large volumes

[RSB]

Multi Visual Products (http://mvpcards.com) I've been a very satisfied customer for 15 years.

[C.david]

Thank you, Tigershark and RSB for that info. Do either of you do environmental portraits or green screen shooting.

Thanx again!

[axe]

I had to buy my risersa while back but before I owned some I got away with using the stadium bleachers, it doesn't look as nice but can be done, bring a ladder so you can climb on to get the picture and make sure you have some fill light for their faces. Large strobes would be ideal. I usually use 2-3 1600s minimum good luck

I tried to rent some risers but had no success. I am having to use bleachers as you said. I did this several years ago for a young league team but the stakes are higher now as this is our local highschool team. A better set up would have been possible with the risers. Now I have to rely on the placement of the bleachers which is facing the sunrise. Worked it out with the coach to shoot just before sunrise - wish me luck. (This is all I feel I can do under the time constraints that were imposed.)

I have a ladder so I will be able to shoot over the rail. Thanks for the help.

[Tigershark]

Thank you, Tigershark and RSB for that info. Do either of you do environmental portraits or green screen shooting.

Thanx again!

Yes, I believe they charge .25 cents an image to do the editing, it's something ridiculously low , you can use yor backgrounds or theirs they have a lot to choose from

[Tigershark]

Risers are expensive, Mine are from GPS, they paid for themselves after one season, I also use them for track, XC, golf, etc but they are a large investment one I could not justify without several schools

[MJPhotos24]

I have used Richmond Pro Labs for years and no complaints excellent customer service and great prices for large volumes

Ditto, only thing I hate is the $5 minimum but for large orders that's obviously not a problem...smaller orders have to use a different vendor and it's annoying.

[Tigershark]

Mike, I charge a 4.00 shipping and handling fee, that covers Richmonds shipping fee plus the 1.50 or 1.75 they charge for orders under $5 printing. It is a fee based on a scale so sometimes it is only 1.00 so a lot of times i end up giving the client an extra print as it actually saves me money than paying the fee

[5DmkX]

Does anyone shoot Team pictures with a prime, like a 50mm, out of curiosity? I used to shoot team pics with my 17-55mm, but I sold that when I got the mk 3, since I only wanted lenses that could be used on both my 7d and mk 3. I just planned on using the 50mm for team pics and zoom with my feet, but was just curious on other's opinions. Thanks.

Tom

[RSB]

I shoot High School teams with my 50 f1.4 on a 5DMkii; extremely sharp lens that works beautifully. I know in advance how large the teams will be, so I set up the tripod accordingly. With youth leagues, where the teams vary in size by age group, I'll use 24-70 f2.8's.

[5DmkX]

I shoot High School teams with my 50 f1.4 on a 5DMkii; extremely sharp lens that works beautifully. I know in advance how large the teams will be, so I set up the tripod accordingly. With youth leagues, where the teams vary in size by age group, I'll use 24-70 f2.8's.

Thanks Randy, my teams would be high school and junior high, though I'm sure a 24-70 is a must have anyways - lol!

Tom

[jason69]

Shot this weekend 1D MKIII and a 50mm 1.8 Medal Mount. I used it for the individuals as well. In the past I was using an old 20 to 35 2.8 but noticed some of the girls on the sides were a little wider than normal. I’d appreciate your comments but I think it came out well. I also had the choice of a 28mm 1.8 but thought the 50mm would be better , your thoughts?

[RSB]

The 50mm was the right lens choice. Some things I see that I would watch for, (1) when you have such a strong horizon, make sure you keep it horizontal, (2) you have 16 total players, the front row should be 5, second row 6, back row 5. Always think odd/even or even/odd; that way you can pose the players in the second and third rows in the gaps between the players in front of them, and you will avoid the stacking heads like you have on the left, (3) when kneeling players, have them straight to the camera to avoid the leg hanging way out from the group like the girl on the right end of the second row, (4) put the (only) girl in the long sleeves in the center of the back row.

[12Rock]

Some good ideas here

[p3av8or]

I've been asked to shoot T&I photos for a 225+ member swim team. Right now the plan is to put them in bleachers on one side of the pool and light them with 2 Einstein's (and me with the camera) on the other side of the 25m pool. The strobes will be high up and using the long throw reflectors. I will be able to get about 6 rows of swimmers and maybe a row poolside. I'm thinking at least f/8 or f/11 to get the DoF that I will need. Anyone done something like this before? Shall I just get them outside and shoot from the roof?

[Mike R]

I've been asked to shoot T&I photos for a 225+ member swim team. Right now the plan is to put them in bleachers on one side of the pool and light them with 2 Einstein's (and me with the camera) on the other side of the 25m pool. The strobes will be high up and using the long throw reflectors. I will be able to get about 6 rows of swimmers and maybe a row poolside. I'm thinking at least f/8 or f/11 to get the DoF that I will need. Anyone done something like this before? Shall I just get them outside and shoot from the roof?

I have a swim team of 106 and I thought that was large!
The team has 4 groups, based on age . I shot 4 team photos and the parents love it, Their kids are in a team photo with their friends that they practice and compete with. The person who shot the team last year, did one team photo. Smaller groups make for a better team photo.

[RSB]

I've been asked to shoot T&I photos for a 225+ member swim team. Right now the plan is to put them in bleachers on one side of the pool and light them with 2 Einstein's (and me with the camera) on the other side of the 25m pool. The strobes will be high up and using the long throw reflectors. I will be able to get about 6 rows of swimmers and maybe a row poolside. I'm thinking at least f/8 or f/11 to get the DoF that I will need. Anyone done something like this before? Shall I just get them outside and shoot from the roof?

I have to agree with Mike, I do numerous large swim teams, but we always break down the team to smaller age groups. Do you know how tiny a kid is when there are 225 of them in a 5x7 or 8x10 print? It's almost impossible to pick out an individual swimmer.

[p3av8or]

I think we may do small groups as well, but they want one big photo. I think it will be more of an advertising piece for the team. I'm already looking at doing multiple days of shooting after the big picture for all of the individuals posed shots. I'm just not quick yet. I do primarily action work and need a way to run them all through efficiently.

[12Rock]

nice job here

[waterrockets]

I really do much better with people moving rapidly in their sport than I do with portraits, but I'm learning.

I did the big swim team all in one group. Twice now. I can't post the final, but here's a nearly straight-out-of-camera copy of the "crazy" shots that I always do before the "real" shot. Natural light only, on the grass next to our pool. Bench, sign, other stuff removed in post for the "real" shot:

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Sports/Swimming/2012-Circle-C-Select-Swim/i-K3pZ9sw/0/X2/IMG_8667-X2.jpg

This is the other neighborhood team, the "small" one. This was my first team portrait ever, and I nearly blew it with a dusty lens getting hit by the setting sun I was able to fix up the dust in the final with some time-consuming PP:
http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Sports/Swimming/Seals-Action-Photos-May-31/i-TgGfSm7/0/XL/IMG_3402-XL.jpg

Soccer with flash:
http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Sports/Soccer/Pumas-Portraits-2012/i-JCR8BqZ/1/XL/IMG_4268-XL.jpg