High School Football Portraits

My son has been playing football for a few years now and I've been increasingly been involved with taking action shots on the field and his portraits. I've found that I DO NOT enjoy sports photography (the action) part, which doesn't surprise me (plus I don't have good equipment for that.) But if I don't do it, not many others will (and I want the photos for MYSELF.) But I have had a lot of fun experimenting with sport portraits and am considering marketing them more (these are very different from what I typically do when it comes to light and setting. I am a natural-light family, child, & Senior photographer.) Not sure if this forum is more about sport event photography, but any feedback, cc, suggestions on these portraits is greatly appreciated!

NOTE: I took these in my garage and used a black backdrop and natural light. I wanted a more dramatic look and light.

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YankeeMom wrote in post #19002075
My son has been playing football for a few years now and I've been increasingly been involved with taking action shots on the field and his portraits. I've found that I DO NOT enjoy sports photography (the action) part, which doesn't surprise me (plus I don't have good equipment for that.) But if I don't do it, not many others will (and I want the photos for MYSELF.) But I have had a lot of fun experimenting with sport portraits and am considering marketing them more (these are very different from what I typically do when it comes to light and setting. I am a natural-light family, child, & Senior photographer.) Not sure if this forum is more about sport event photography, but any feedback, cc, suggestions on these portraits is greatly appreciated!

NOTE: I took these in my garage and used a black backdrop and natural light. I wanted a more dramatic look and light.

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4.) This is a head-shot, so I made it a little softer. Not sure if that's the best choice though.

5.) Though it would be fun to experiment with B&W, but can easily convert back to color.


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Garage - Black Backdrop - NATURAL LIGHT?? This is the epitome of "making what you have WORK!!!!" Outstanding job, IMO!! In nearly all of my portrait work, I lean towards this dark, grungy, edgy style myself, so yeah, I think these are rockin'! This "style" lends itself to athletes. Unless you simply have no desire to learn portrait lighting, I would suggest starting with some inexpensive lighting and a couple of reflectors as a step forward. You can make your own makeshift reflectors with white bed sheets and PVC. You could start your lighting set-up with some high wattage "daylight" temp bulbs in those lil clamp on work lights. Go to youtube and search DIY photo lighting. There's a ton of ideas out there.
Again, good stuff here!! Love it!

Thanks so much -- and, yes, I would love to start learning more about lighting beyond my external flash (that I only use on occasion.) I typically shoot families, children, and high school Seniors, so haven't delved into that yet. Thanks for the direction and suggestions!