Team / Group Shot

[tameboy]

I hope I have posted this shot in the correct place. Whilst the advice I am asking for is related to sports, essentially it is a static people group shot that I need advice about.

I am the photographer for 3 under 7s soccer teams, one of which my son plays in. They often ask for group shots as well as the action shots I enjoy taking. However I often feel out of my depth when asked to do the group shots. I got lucky with one and so my reputation was elevated, but since then I have struggled to reproduce a good shot. The trouble I have is a combination of factors:

Poor lighting and weather conditions - including wet ground. It is difficult to convince those at the front to kneel on muddy ground - but the team manager wanted the photo in front of the goal.

The time we play is often 9-10am and the shot needs to be taken before they get muddy - so with the run of cloudy Saturday mornings we have had in Nottinghamshire recently, lighting is not ideal either - using a high ISO is not ideal if these shots are going to be enlarged.

Under 7 behavioural problems - they are great bunch but they all love pulling faces at the camera and I would never have imagined how difficult it is to spot the one that is sticking his tongue out. I have got back a few times with shots that I thought were great until I realised there was a tongue or two sticking out. I think I made a mistake previously - getting them to pull silly faces at the end of a shoot. Now all they want to do is pull faces on my group shots!

My plan was to ask the back row to stand folding arms and have a front row kneeling on one knee. I get on with them all okay, so I think I will just have to suggest to them that the sooner they all do a proper photo for their mummies photo album, the sooner we can get on with the football.

Rather than a shot in front of the goal I think I will go with a shot next to the corner flag - that way avoiding the mud, and this will have a dark back ground of trees - which will contrast well with their bright shirts.

One last point, should I be using a tripod? Given 6-7 year old's tendency to be completely incapable of standing still I do wonder whether the tripod would be of any use, I was thinking of using a higher shutter speed just to make them at least look still - which would mean that the tripod wasn't really necessary (I was thinking of speeds of 1/200).

Any tips advice or tutorials you can point me towards would be very much appreciated!

[zona5101]

humm...lighting, mud, kids...
For the lighting you can add some fill flash, if thats a no go, then go ahead and increase your iso. Nobody is going to do wall photos, 8x10s probably the biggest. The increase in iso will allow you to get a higher shutter and hopefully stop the motion.
Go ahead an use a tripod, besides elimination camera shake that you might introduce, it also allows you to look around the scene with your face away from the camera, then when you see what you want you can press the shutter, even remotely if you have one.
Moving the kids out of the mud is a decent idea, be aware that kids with dark hair will probably blend into the background of the dark trees. What about moving them on the opposite side of the goal, the back side. Shouldn't be muddy there and the goal and net are still in the background.
Kids - just need to beat 'em no, wait. just need to tell them that first we do the serious shot and then the goofy and if they don't straighten up , no goofy shot.

Good luck.

[tameboy]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Go ahead an use a tripod, besides elimination camera shake that you might introduce, it also allows you to look around the scene with your face away from the camera, then when you see what you want you can press the shutter, even remotely if you have one.

I see the merit in this, thanks. I have just received a remote shutter release too so it will be the first time I get to use it

Originally Posted by zona5101

Moving the kids out of the mud is a decent idea, be aware that kids with dark hair will probably blend into the background of the dark trees. What about moving them on the opposite side of the goal, the back side. Shouldn't be muddy there and the goal and net are still in the background.

I think I will go and have a look at the ground earlier. Another suggestion was to stand on the edge of the box, where it is less likely to be muddy but the goal is still in the background

Originally Posted by zona5101

Kids - just need to beat 'em no, wait. just need to tell them that first we do the serious shot and then the goofy and if they don't straighten up , no goofy shot.

I think this is the way forward: serious shot first, then let them pull funny faces

Originally Posted by zona5101

Good luck.

Thanks for your suggestions. Fingers crossed!

[camaddictus]

One thing that helps, especially with this age group is distraction. If you have a tripod and a cable or remote release, step away from the camera. Talk to them, get them focused on you and they are thinking "not time for picture" when BOOM there you go. When doing a large group picture I think a tripod is one of the best tools you can have.

[tameboy]

thanks camaddictus, I made good use of my tripod in the end. I was a little disappointed with my wireless (IR) release - the range is not very good. But still, it was good to be able to step away from the view finder and it certainly helped to be able to interact with the group face to face while taking the shots.

Perhaps I need to invest in a cable remote.