Shooting Team Pics for Ice Hockey

Looking for opinions here.

I have a shoot this weekend for one of our Midget Major teams. I know they want Team and Individual player pics.... (Now the questions...)

Do you prefer to do the team shots "On Ice" and do you think that the individual shots look better "Posed" (like in front of the goal) or some type of action shot (maybe a hockey stop)?

If any have done these, please give me recommendations and whatever settings you may have used? (Lens, flash, etc...)

Alan,

Team shot definately looks better on ice than to one side. It puts things into context. I'd suggest three rows instead of two but the coach may have different ideas. Make sure they stick the game lights on for you.

Now with juniors they have to wear cages, well they do in the UK, here I'd go for a pose without helmet so they can see who they are. Netminders may want a shot of them in their helmet, particularly if they have a painted helmet. If you stand by the bench so there's no netting (If it's there) and shoot across the rink you should have a lovely blown bokeh background if they stand just the other side of the boards.

You can always stick the team and player photos together on a backdrop to make a memory mate.

Scott

what Scott W said, plus use fill flash. For three rows of players it helps to get your f-stop down to 5.6 or smaller (to get all three in focus) so you need more light than the arena lights.

Thanks Guys for the suggestions.

I'll be able to get on the ice and the players will not have to wear helmets during the shoot.

Should I use CWB and high iso (Like game photos) with fill flash or set up more like a portrait shot??

I really don't know the best way for this, there are certainly better ways. If I had better lighting gear I might try to use multiple strobes on stands, but I don't.

I use the same setup as for game shots, turn the shutter down to 1/100, which gives me about 2 stops to play with. Turn the ISO down to 800 (eats 1 stop from my usual game setting) and the lens up to f5.6 (eats 2 stops from my usual f2.8 ), and then the flash is providing about 1/2 the light for the shot. I let ETTL figure the amount of flash. Works OK. But I'm sure there's a better way to to it. I shoot those in RAW & adjust the WB off the ice near the players.

Funny this came up today. I was asked yesterday if I could shoot hokey team pictures because they are unhappy with the current franchise shooter they are using. I have never shot team sport before and this franchise seems to have the market cornered.

They requested that the pictures be taken on the ice. I guess the other photographer would back the team into a corner in one of the rooms.

I haven't accepted the job yet because I don't have the lighting to accommodate a group shot but I think I can make it work with the stadium lights and a couple speed lights.

Thanks Dave! I'll have a little time to expeiment with the settings. We'll see how things come out.

I'm doing the same thing. I don't think it gets much tougher than hockey teams. Our arena is particularly dark. I've been shooting with flash and experimenting with all different settings. My next step comes today -- I just got an Alien Bee 800 light so I'm going to give it a try (one advantage of doing different teams on different days -- I get to tweak and try again).

Can anybody tell me what the technique is for those creative shots like the ones on this link? These shots are always taken on fully lit rinks, use strobe lights. What I can't tell you, is...what camera settings are used and flash settings to achieve this.

Can anybody assist?
http://www.snydersport​spix.com …key%20Portrait%​20Gallery/http://www.snydersport​spix.com …key%20Portrait%​20Gallery/

GregJensen wrote in post #9486754
Can anybody tell me what the technique is for those creative shots like the ones on this link? These shots are always taken on fully lit rinks, use strobe lights. What I can't tell you, is...what camera settings are used and flash settings to achieve this.

Can anybody assist?
[URL="http://[URL]www.​snydersportspix.com/ph​otos/Hockey%20Portrait​%20Gallery/[URL]http:/​/www.snydersportspix.c​om/photos/Hockey%20Por​trait%20Gallery/"][URL​]http://www.snyderspor​tspix.com/photos/Hocke​y%20Portrait%20Gallery​/[URL][URL]http://www.​snydersportspix.com/ph​otos/Hockey%20Portrait​%20Gallery/

Those are very impressive. Thanks for the link. My only guess is 1-2 strobes, on most. Looks like they're probably high on their stands and aimed some-what downward.

I'd beauty dish one shot towards them and downwards to get a similar effect. Just expose to eliminate almost all ambient (til it's black) and use the strobe to expose the subject.

Those are some great sports shots!

GregJensen wrote in post #9486754
Can anybody tell me what the technique is for those creative shots like the ones on this link? These shots are always taken on fully lit rinks, use strobe lights. What I can't tell you, is...what camera settings are used and flash settings to achieve this.

Can anybody assist?
[URL="http://[URL]www.​snydersportspix.com/ph​otos/Hockey%20Portrait​%20Gallery/[URL]http:/​/www.snydersportspix.c​om/photos/Hockey%20Por​trait%20Gallery/"][URL​]http://www.snyderspor​tspix.com/photos/Hocke​y%20Portrait%20Gallery​/[URL][URL]http://www.​snydersportspix.com/ph​otos/Hockey%20Portrait​%20Gallery/

If you don't have strobes than don't bother looking at his images and trying to emulate them. He is using at least 2-3 strobes in those photos.

When I shoot a team photo I go 4 fstops for each row. Usually always shooting 3 rows so I shoot at f11. I like to place the team on the blue line with 1 light to each side of the team and one light ion the middle. I stand at the face off circle and shoot down ice so the small fstop blacks out the background.