Please help with Hockey Portraits

[speedneeder]

I have been recruited to do some team photos.
For the individual shots, I will be doing a couple poses for each kid. Aside from needing to clean up the background edges a little better, any suggestions for improving this photo?
I have to do these Wednesday night, so not much time to plan!
I think this photo is pretty decent, just wish the kid's uniforms were in better shape for this.

Thanks

[Andrew76]

Hi Brian - Unfortunately, I don't think I can offer you much advice. I think the shot is great! Your lighting is spot on (in my opinion), and the pose is perfect. So, sorry!

[speedneeder]

Well you're no help Andrew!


Thanks though.

[Loose Canon]

Hokay Brian, let’s give ‘er the Olde Checkliste (such as it is)!

Firstly, by background edges I assume you are talking about the edges around the subject/stick? If so, then… check.

Key Lighting- check. Shadows nicely controlled.
Rim Lighting- check. Nice separation from background.
White Balance- check. Skin tones/colors look good from here.
Background- check. We don’t need no stinking lily-white background!
Pose- check. I like the angle.
Props- check. Screams “Hockey”.
Game face- check. Screams “we’re Bad-A hockey players! Any smiles should be missing teeth!
Eyes- check. Except I would expect a few black one’s!
Dried Blood from brutal hockey game- um, er, well…

If I had to nitpick, I might burn in his right-hand wrist just a shade where the skin is showing.

I’d say it’s a go, Brian! Looks to me like you’re ready to run ‘em through!

Nicely done.

[Andrew1]

From another Andrew.

1. Notify the coaches the jerseys need to be cleaned and ironed. You'd be surprised how many kids forget that kind of thing and it will detract from your personal efforts. Everyone, especially moms will notice afterwards.
2. Have them clean their gloves and sticks. Consider fresh tape on the sticks.
3. Do you or they want the team name to be legible? If yes they need to face more straight-on. Without padding, the jerseys are very loose. To read the name you may have to gather up material in the back an hold it with a clothespin or paperclip. Not too tight, just enough to read the name if they wish.
4. Black sticks, gloves and dark hair will blend in with the background. Put another light on the background, strobe or continuous, to give a bit of separation or have a grey available as well.
5. Boys in a group? There will be some horseplay. Allow at least an hour more than you think for the shoot.

And good luck.

[speedneeder]

Terry, good point about the wrist. I may use some gaffer's tape!
Andrew, thanks for the points about the jerseys and the tape - text messages have been sent
I may add another light to camera right as well.
My plan is to have two 'standard' poses along with one 'do what you want' pose.
Perhaps this is too ambitious?
The way I have the photos set up, the same lighting will work for both poses.

[limin]

Hi I have been doing hockey teams for three years now ,I love thr way you have this young man posed.I am not much for the traditinal hockey pose.The light background skin tones all perfect in my opinion .

[Radu Dinu Cordeanu]

I have been recruited to do some team photos.
For the individual shots, I will be doing a couple poses for each kid. Aside from needing to clean up the background edges a little better, any suggestions for improving this photo?
I have to do these Wednesday night, so not much time to plan!
I think this photo is pretty decent, just wish the kid's uniforms were in better shape for this
Thanks

I think something like that

[speedneeder]

Radu, you prefer a portrait orientation?
This is one of two poses I plan to do. The other is more conventional, this is just something I saw surfing the web some time that I thought looked good/unusual.

[Andrew1]

Brian, landscape or portrait don't cut off something important to the shot. You might also do some more checking for poses on the internet and print off a few of the casual ones. Give the players a choice of pose they are more comfortable with. Also check if there are any siblings on the team that may want a photo together. Sorry to keep going on, I keep thinking of extras.

[Radu Dinu Cordeanu]

Radu, you prefer a portrait orientation?
This is one of two poses I plan to do. The other is more conventional, this is just something I saw surfing the web some time that I thought looked good/unusual.

Hockey is a tough sport for a future man not for a future woman so the subject position has to be full of force.You had to take that shot from down to up(but not from too down).Your subject seems to be tired under his stick.As you could see I changed a little the position of the head and its shape to give more action and ''masculinity".But I didn't,I'm sorry.Generally speaking your shot is very good and well done.He is a child only!

[speedneeder]

Thanks for input Radu.
I think the pose is great