Man, you just can't please some people!

Anyway, I shot 5 of a youth football leagues playoff finals a few weeks back. Anyway, after each game, the teams would get on a set of bleachers for a team photo. I would have the cheerleaders sit on the front row and have the players behind them. I had 2 parents call me and completely lay into me about "How dare you put the cheerleaders in the picture with the players?" I was told that the cheerleaders had no right to be in the picture with players because it's all about the players and the cheerleaders had nothing to do with it. After about 10 minutes of calming the people down, I knew there was nothing that I could do to resolve the issue. I simply said, "Thank you for your opinion, if you feel that strongly about it, don't buy a team picture." One of the team reps called to apologize about it because those 2 people are calling everyone and telling them not to buy pictures of the games. You just can't please everyone.

Wow. Someone needs to lighten up a bit!

You probably shouldn't have had the bleachers in the photo either, after all they had very little to do with winning the games.

Dave

I would have taken photos with and without the cheerleaders.

And shot the Cheerleaders separately as a group as well...

+1

No way to please everyone, it's impossible. Even if you do it perfectly there's people who will find something to complain about. Usually they're not paying customers so hard to try and bend over backwards for them. The fact they're calling around telling people not to buy shows what kind of people they are already.

Though I do agree with doing the cheerleaders portraits separate, what's the point of bi**hing after the fact going to do? Do they expect you to go back in time and re-shoot them all?

Looking at the photos though I think Dave is right (though he was joking), ditch the bleachers to. It may be personal taste but I hate organized celebration shots, just pile in there, make sure everyone can be seen and that's it. Half the fun of celebration shots is the chaos of them! You do one of the team, then have the cheerleaders join in, have the team leave and you got all three. For high school cheerleaders are never in the photo, but for parents in youth leagues where often times they have bro/sis combos on there it makes more sense.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11396248
It may be personal taste but I hate organized celebration shots, just pile in there, make sure everyone can be seen and that's it. Half the fun of celebration shots is the chaos of them!

+1 The emotion is spontaneous and real.
The only time I regroup them is if the coach is missing from it.

cdifoto wrote in post #11395902
I would have taken photos with and without the cheerleaders.

The problem is that I only had about 10 minutes to get both teams organized enough for the shots and then get back on the field for the introductions of the next game's teams. They ran a real tight ship. Which I respect, btw.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11396248
Looking at the photos though I think Dave is right (though he was joking), ditch the bleachers to. It may be personal taste but I hate organized celebration shots, just pile in there, make sure everyone can be seen and that's it. Half the fun of celebration shots is the chaos of them! You do one of the team, then have the cheerleaders join in, have the team leave and you got all three. For high school cheerleaders are never in the photo, but for parents in youth leagues where often times they have bro/sis combos on there it makes more sense.

The conference stipulated that they wanted the bleacher team shots. Nothing I could have done about that, but I would rather have a scrum-like photo of the team with their trophies. I remember when we won league in high school, that's how we had our celebratory shots.

asysin2leads wrote in post #11397323
The problem is that I only had about 10 minutes to get both teams organized enough for the shots and then get back on the field for the introductions of the next game's teams. They ran a real tight ship. Which I respect, btw.


The conference stipulated that they wanted the bleacher team shots. Nothing I could have done about that, but I would rather have a scrum-like photo of the team with their trophies. I remember when we won league in high school, that's how we had our celebratory shots.

It s**** when they think they know what they want and we have to deliver. As exciting as T&I shots

Most parents won't feel that way. They will be happy to have nice pics of their kid. Don't worry too much about it. Haters suck, but they are the voice of the minority typically. Ignore. Delete from memory bank. Press on.

asysin2leads wrote in post #11397323
The problem is that I only had about 10 minutes to get both teams organized enough for the shots and then get back on the field for the introductions of the next game's teams. They ran a real tight ship. Which I respect, btw.

The conference stipulated that they wanted the bleacher team shots. Nothing I could have done about that, but I would rather have a scrum-like photo of the team with their trophies. I remember when we won league in high school, that's how we had our celebratory shots.

I wish my last client ran a tighter ship...I have some choice words for them!

As for what they want - then you do it if you can't argue the fact that you know better. I've had leagues/teams/etc. say they want this or that, sure but...what about...it's our job to educate the uneducated on what looks good. If they insist, show them the results and go hey see how there's a lot of bleacher - why not...and you make a suggestion. Been there and done it a lot, almost always you "win"...sometimes you don't though!

You can't please everyone. You can kill yourself trying though. I teach high school and I'm the yearbook advisor. That makes me the default photographer. "How come you did this this way?" "I know I never turned in the proof and you have a deadline but I don't want this picture." "Why does this cost this?" It never ends. My best answer is "Because...that's why. If you don't like it, don't buy the book." We sell several hundred every year.

Most parents won't care and won't listen to another parent telling them what to do. Do the best you can and move on.

Ugh, I manage both my kids' teams. Some days I have to just smile and say, "thanks" or something like you did. However I take personal offense at someone trying to sabotage your sales or distribution of photos in any way by "rallying the troops" and trying to get others to boycott you. The team should have a manager or coach that could handle that issue for you. I realize I'm new to photography, but if that's the structure they asked for, it shouldn't be up to you to defend it.