shooting youth soccer team and individual

Casey, thank you for posting your samples. Now I just want to know how you metered and your flash setting.

yes the flash was TTL. i usually take 2 pictures of each team, one with spot metering and one center weighted, also incase there are eyes closed etc. The individual pictures usually benefit from center weighted metering, although spot metering the face usually works pretty well also.

 

The speed light is enough for a fill on the team pictures and the pop up flash is enough for the individual/buddy. With the 18-55 lens, im usually closer to the 18mm on the group photo so im closer and the flash can fill more, on the individual im in the middle, somewhere between 30-45mm. Soccer is a little easier as they dont wear hats, baseball is a little harder because of the harsh shadows due to the hats, but either way the same technique works great. it doesnt completely remove any shadows, it just tones them down plenty to look more natural as our eyes see. Also it allows the camera to capture the nice blue sky, not a washed out white sky. everything looks more natural with the flash (sounds weird, but its really true)

 

Also as far as letting kids do whatever they want for poses, it really isnt practical when you are shooting 1000 kids in one day, you will never finish. Some people like different poses, some just want there kids in a standard pose, not all kooky.

 

Also you want to try and get down on the same level as them when you are shooting, instead of shooting down at them. for the individual picture i was crouched or kneeling, the buddy i was laying on the ground and the team picture i was kneeling.

 

One last suggestion, white balance your camera. The sun light setting works, so does auto, but there will be small variances due to the flash and you not being exactly the same distance for different kids. If you manually set your white balance you will get better results (not a big issue, but will save you some time in post)

i also use a d200 and i was able to shoot about 200-250 kids +30 team pictures before my battery started getting pretty low, so have plenty a back up on hand. Allow 20 minutes per team and i HIGHLY reccommend spreading them out a little more then that at first. it will give you time to look at what your capturing and make adjustments early.

 

to sum up...

camera: d200, shutter priority, 250ms, low iso (somewhere between 100-200), on camera pop up fill flash, manual white balance

 

posing: simple pose that can be replicated, relaxed, show personality the kids will react,

team pictures: split team in half, if there is an uneven number more in the back then the front. tallest kids in the back row, shorter kids in the front kneeling, or sitting, or on one knee. everyone standing up tall, shoulder to shoulder-no space in between. coaches on the end with banner behind. make sure everyone is looking at your camera as you will have parents behind you trying to capture the team pic for themselves and their kids will be looking at them. i usually say "everyone look here first, then after your parents are going to take some more pictures" so i take my 2 and move out of the way.

<p>Ugh! It's "their" not there! =)</p>