Soccer poster gifts I gave last season

[RickHulshof]

Last soccer season with my new diggy rebel I took quick posed shots of all the players on my daughters soccer team (I was new with the DSLR so all setting were auto - so sorry in advance about quality) and took action shots at every game. Toward the end of the season I made a poster image for each player to hand out at the final day tournament as a gift - blending in 4 of each of their best action shots - here are 2 samples I have permission to use here. (The blond girl is my daughter Sarah). The parents literally flipped (the paid phots were given out the same day and the majority of them said they would pay me the next year beacuse the paid phots were garbage - colouring was the worst my wife and I have ever seen from a paid photographer) - it was funny they were all offering me money for what I did - made me feel great but not as good as the feeling I got from look on there faces when I handed them out to each of my daughters teammates -Here are the 2 sized down images.

[JX]

Rick,



I stared doing photomontages last fall for my son's soccer team. Try taking a picture of the soccer field when no one is playing. Use that picture as you base, then place you images on them. It will really make your photomontages blend in more naturally.

[RickHulshof]

Great Idea - Thanks

[gmen]

I find my eye is drawn to the bush in the background... and I think I'm right in saying that there are people wandering about behind it as well!

There's a bit too much going on for my liking - I'd prefer the posters to be simple yet striking. There's no reason why the 'posed' shots that form the central image of the poster couldn't have been shot with a less intrusive background in the first place.

Also, perhaps a poster of this nature should have some text - e.g. the player/team name. Just a thought.

The idea is a good one, however - and I'm sure there's plenty more mileage in it!

--- Gavin

[SonicZoom]

I'm sure the kids love it, but from a design standpoint they can really use some help. A simple solution would be to turn those transparent gradient ovals into simple non-transparent boxes with a black stroke around them. My eyes are going everywhere. If yo'ure dead-set on keeping the oval and transparent feel, then just make the edges transparent.

K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple...

[RickHulshof]

Thanks for your input, this was a new trial I did when I was new to photography (still new to it) I did it as an experiment for this years season.

gmen - I was kicking myself for the backround choice as well but time was short (couldn't retake them by the time I noticed)- although I should have at least cloned out the backround activity. The player copies did have the player names and number added. I left them out for online posting.

Sonic I like your idea for the boxes with a borderline - I'll have to experiment with that

This year I plan to take team photos for my daughters team before the photographer comes in, provide a proof sheet, offer retakes, and to sell prints to any parents that are interested. The way it is done now they don't see the results until they get the order. I am not looking to make much profit - but to use it as a learning experience that can benefit both parties.

Thanks for the constructive advice to a newbie

[tuggnet]

My daughter (7yo) is playing soccer now. I think this is a great idea! Hope you don't mind if I "borrow" your idea for my team. I'm sure the girls would love it.

I've not had too much trouble with the "pro" pictures. The quality has been okay. I just don't like the package selections.

cheers,

-et

[RickHulshof]

Go ahead use the idea to your hearts content - this forum is all about sharing knowledge, idea's, and helping each other in a friendly environment - It's this aspect that made me fall in love with this place. Hopefully your first experience will be better as you have my mistakes to learn from ;)

Before last year we had good luck with the packages - the price never bothered me because I could see what was involved but next year the same photographer is doing them so I am going to give the parents on our team the choice.

Its a great way to practice and actually how I got interested in photography. I started with a fuji finepix 2600 a few years ago trying to capture 20 - 30 good action shots then putting them up on a team website I built. Then got frustrated with how slow and hard it was to get the action shots with that camera and bought my Canon rebel. Been spending money ever since LOL