Shooting Groups

[Michelle (KK)]

Both my daughter's team and my son's team missed their scheduled "pro" shots (hate those thing anyway *L*) So I have been asked to take. Tips Please. It will be a 6yr old Soccer Team and 14U Softball team. F-stop..where should this be to make sure everyone is in focus..I always have a hard time with that with more than a few people.

TIA!!!

[Paulo]

I have such a hard time with these type of shots, myself. But after screwing up a group shot of 60-70 students, I asked. From what I gathered, it depends on the total number of kids and your lighting condition.
These are just approx's but F5.6 - F.8 for 15-20 people, F10+ for more people.
Shooting from an elevated angle [ladder, chair, etc...] helps in capturing the kids whole faces, limiting the instances of someone in front blocking the person behind them.

[Michelle (KK)]

THx. F-8 is where I was thinking. Good to know my thinking was maybe on teh right track *LOL*

Soccer should be only about 8-9. Softball about 16 or so.

[picman]

Best tip I ran across - it was a doh moment for me - set your rows with odd - even numbers placing heads between shoulders. It helps to know how many you will have before you shoot.
EX: if you have 15: first row 4, second 5 and third 6
if you have 9 then 4 and 5.

[Michelle (KK)]

Good tip!!

Thank you everyone!!

[Paulo]

Originally Posted by picman

Best tip I ran across - it was a doh moment for me - set your rows with odd - even numbers placing heads between shoulders. It helps to know how many you will have before you shoot.
EX: if you have 15: first row 4, second 5 and third 6
if you have 9 then 4 and 5.

Great tip. I can't believe I forgot that one.

[MRCPix]

Michelle I am curious as to how this turned out because I am doing my first such shoot next weekend nov. 3rd. I have two soccer teams to shoot U6 and U12. 5 girls on one team 15 on the older team. I will only have an on camera flash probably a 580ex

[Michelle (KK)]

Mike...well I hope yours went better than mine. My kids were more interested in the practice then stopping to take pictures. And as I said in another thread, I'm trying to break away from my "anxiety" around people, as I can't get better with just my kids....whose kids cooperate for them? haha The whole telling people what to do, etc...just couldn't get past it. Maybe in 20yrs or so I'll get it *LOL* The images themself I was rather okay with. Could've done better if I would have spoke my mind about some placement issues, etc...but I suppose as much as I love it, it probably is not meant to be for me.

[MRCPix]

Michelle did the parents like the pics you got? if so no worries
My shoot went well even with the younger girls were difficult to capture there attention all at the same time :), but overall pretty happy.
I just rented a flash and a really good lens and I was very happy with the results just wish the time of day would have been better as I shoot them at noon and the sun was tough so I put them under trees.