Team Pictures

I got asked by the local soccer league to do team and individual pictures. I'm mostly looking for advice as far as positioning them, as well as individual soccer poses. Also, this a a youth league. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

In no particular order...

#1 - look at getting off body flash and power pack, works so much better.

#2 - if going with the 580EX make sure you still get a battery pack to get recycle time going faster and bring a lot of freshly charged batteries because sitting there waiting sucks.

#3 - get an assistant, seriously, pay $10/hour + mileage to someone to help out.

#4 - if allowing multiple poses have a print out of images to show them (your assistant does this and then tells you what they want to do and then you set them up. I usually allow 4-5 and they can make one up if they want.

#5 - have plenty of extra order forms and pens, not everyone will have gotten the ones before - oh yea, they should be handed out at least a week or two before photos (league should do this)

#6 - know it's assembly line photography, i.e. you're not getting that creative. It kind of sucks in that form because photographers in general are creative people, but this is more basic poses, including team photos.

#7 - shoot RAW for the love of photography shoot RAW!! Light can be all over the place so it's just best to do so as it makes editing so much easier.

#8 - have some fun, but remember who you're talking to...kids, some scared, some don't wanna do it, some can't wait, you get all kinds.

#9 - ask coaches for help if you need it to get everyone in line, etc. They're usually more than happy to help as long as it speeds things up.

#10 - poses - usually for soccer it's...
- one foot on ball, hands on hips
- kneeling down next to the ball
- ball in one hand, other hand on hip
- holding the ball (goalie type shot)

Team poses simple, 2 or 3 rows.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #13147708
for the love of photography shoot RAW!!

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #13147708
off camera flash

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #13147708
battery pack

I have some Yongnuos RF-602s, but by light stand adapter for the hot shoe is stripped and the flash spins on top of the light stand... i kinda need a new one. But i think i might be able to work with it. I also have a few flash modifiers for my 580 (a Lumiquest softbox and a Wescott umbrella), would you recommend using either of those?

From my experience:

2 flashes if inside, otherwise it'll be high ISO. Usually (15 kids + 2 coaches) 2 flashes, 2 stands + umbrellas. (for group shot that is)

Single photos:
Make sure you shoot on kids level or better yet (as I found previous time), wide angel @ knee level, kids love'd that one, made them look bigger

Poses were already mentioned, but ball under feet was best one. 2-3 shots per kid was enough, then they got nerveous and it could be seen on photos.

I would use 2 flashes if i had a light stand for it. But saying hypothetically i had 2 flashes, would you set one differently from the other, or have both on the same stop?

I have also found that sitting the yonger kids 4-6yrs on a small stool will help them balance better. Some of these lil guys have enough trouble standing still let alone holding a ball in one hand with a knee propped up or a foot on the ball.