Tennis anyone??

[rcavanaughjr]

I have the chance to take the team picture of the local college tennis teams (men and women). The only kicker is the coach (and AD) wants me to come up with a "creative" team picture. He does not want the usual posed team shot. If I can impress him, I have the chance to take other sports teams photos.

The picture will not be taken until after the first of the year, so I have time to try to get my creative juices flowing.

Any unique ideas?

[SHULTSIE!!!]

Have them all take aim @ you... maybe even do a half swing/serve without following through...

[troutbreath]

How many people are on a tennis team? Men & women together, or separate?

[Sittingshooter]

Check out the Wedding Forum, and do a search on " toogy style" . If you dont know Toogy, he is a wonderful photographer that has a wonderful style of getting group shots. I know it's tennis and not a wedding but check it out, I think it will give you some inspiration. Also, looking at your SIG , I dont see any WA lenses. This may be an issue depending on how many playerswill be in the shots. Good luck, and keep us informed.....

[rcavanaughjr]

Sorry for being gone so long, been busy wrapping up the recreation football season.

I am not sure how many member there will be. I had that on the list to ask him the next time I talked to him. The men and women will be separate.

I will check out the wedding forum.

Any suggestions on sharp affordable (i know that is subjective) WA lens?


Thanks for the reponses so far.

[superdiver]

Put some of them in fire fighters gear and shoot it next to a fire truck and lable it "burning down the house" Thats what we did for our basketball team and that IS the end of my creativity....LOL

This year we are just doing HS team pictures....

I would love to hear more creative ideas as well.

[michael_]

depends on how many in the team, probably 4-6 i would say, have them line up on the baseline if you can shoot from above them do it, have them toss the ball in the air as if they are going to serve, once the ball is i the air and they are all looking skywards shoot OR get on the ground just behind in front of the net and have them lines up in a V formation staggered as if they are playing a forhand or backhand OR have them falling over the net in a line you on the ground looking up at them (ie they are bent over the net say reaching to stop a fall) OR have the girls swap uniforms and visa versa, dont know how the last one would work but it would be different

[H20boy]

I used to play tennis in high school and college... let me ponder on this, I may have an idea or two for you.

[rcavanaughjr]

Keep them coming. I am taking them all in.

Excellent ideas, really starting to get the creative juices flowing.

[modemanual]

I think, if the shoot is 1 to 3 days, just rent a wide angle.

http://www.borrowlenses.com/category/canon_wide_angle

[JTVal]

I dont know how many are on a team but have them all serve while you stand on mid court(at the net) and get a few shots of them hitting the balls at you.
Someone already suggest something like that but I think you could get some cool shots.
I would assume 4-6 people serving as close to you but not AT you would make some cool shots.

[H20boy]

Here's an idea...forgive the crude drawing :oops:

http://matt.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p945631047.jpg

Using a wide angle, how about a V-shaped arrangement with the coach in the middle, net behind the group, the two (or one, if it is an odd number of team members) in front are on a knee. Now what could be fun is this..., the coach of course, just has his arms crossed, serious-like. But every one of the players is doing something. For instance, one is twirling his racket (all players can do this), one is straightening his strings, another taping his grip, another rolling a couple tennis balls in his hand (as if choosing which one to serve with), another spinning his racket (different than the first twirling), another with the racket on his shoulder, another could be holding two rackets at his side, like he's ambidextrous ...then a slew of nice shiny tennis balls laying on the court around them. Or, that could be too much, i dunno.

If there are any sponsors, this would be perfect to get the sponsor item in the shot as well, either as a prop with/on a player, or in the background/foreground somehow.

[H20boy]

I'd suggest a low angle on this ^^^ looking up at the group. ??

[H20boy]

Now that I slept on it, a higher angle too would look cool for the ^^ above, maybe atop an 8' ladder?

I really like the idea of shooting a player during the serve, but for individual pics instead of a group shot. it just seems more believable. Great idea though! Again, after thinking overnight about it, high and in front a few feet would be a fantastic shot. I envision the ball OOF, but the eyes and expression in focus.

[T2000]

I'd put them all on a court and shoot them from way, way up. I like shooting down. :p


www.proTennisPhotos.com

[michael_]

is that your site t2000? if so who do you shoot for?

[T2000]

Yes it is. I sent you are PM :cool:

[mrbojangles13]

there are 7 varsity players on a team

[penodr]

Have them all lie down in a star pattern with their heads in the center and shoot straight down from a tall ladder.

[cstewart]

Get hundreds of tennis balls and put them all in a big bin or box similar to the ball areas you find at the play structures at McDonalds or other kid play zone places. Have the team members climb in the balls and just have their heads or faces emerging from all the balls.

Here (http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/how/style_and_design/abstracts/222086_thousands_of_coloured_balls.php?id=222086)i s a shot of what I mean by the balls. Imagine all these as tennis balls and players faces emerging from them.

Maybe you could photoshop something similar if you can't set this up?

[BrownDogWilson]

Get a ladder and shoot down on them serving,,,I used to play and I still teach tennis,,,,but once I did this modeling gig for Reebok and they took some shots of me serving from above and it turned out pretty cool,,It made the cover!:)