Have Some Fun With Team Sports Photography

Photographers are often tempted to go the traditional route with team sports photography.  We have gotten into a habit of posing and editing in ways that are “safe” and admittedly boring.  Sometimes you have to push yourself to break out of the box that you’re used to and do something a little different in order to really do justice to the team you’re working with.  Capturing a little personality is crucial to your work, and even more so when working with a younger audience.  

 Instead of lining everyone up in rows with hands behind their backs and smiles on their faces, mix it up a little bit.  Try changing up the way team members are standing, the way you stack them and the expressions on their faces.   If you’re unsure if the group you’re photographing will be receptive to a newer style, ASK.  It has been our experience that most teams and coaches alike have been waiting desperately for something different.  They really love being able to show who they are in their photos.  We do a standard group shot, but also one with a little more attitude.  Take the photos below for example.  You will never see a real softball player in a clean pressed white uniform.  These girls work hard and get dirty.  They have earned the grass stains and dirt, and they want that toughness and hard work to show in their photographs. 

  When it comes to editing and correction of the photos, try something a little different and more modern there too.  Play with your saturation and settings to give that dramatic feel.  A few minutes of editing can really give your work some impact.  The same goes for the individual photos.  These girls were so happy to finally have something besides the same old traditional photos because they didn’t represent them at all. We even decided to take a few “silly” photos at the end of the session to really have fun with it, which we later put up on Facebook for the girls to have and share.  We had a great time and so did the team, and all of the photos came out beautifully.

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