I like to help out when I can & if it saves somebody a few quid in the process…all the better. My daughter works part-time doing admin for my Granddaughter’s basketball club. Eloise (she’s 9) plays in the U12s Mixed National League. Steph asked if I could help them out and shoot the Bracknell Cobras Basketball Club headshots for their new website… Why not, and to add to the fun I brought my photographer mate Jasper along too.
Website work first…
Location for the Cobras Media Day shoot was a music practice room in Bracknell College. Steph has sent out a timetable to stagger the arrivals of the various coaches and players for their photos. So we quickly got to work setting up my equipment for the main website headshots. White paper-roll background with the keylight coming from a PixaPro CITI600 firing into a 120cm softbox (camera right). A little fill from a reflector panel on opposite side bouncing some light back in to the shadows…
As the coaches and players arrived, I worked through a shots list with each of them. Our aim was to produce a bank of images in various poses that would allow the club to use through the year. When possible I always shoot portraits and headshots with my camera tethered to the computer. This allows people to come over to see their photo straightaway on a nice big screen. It lets them be involved in the process rather than just being the subject…. it’s more fun too!!
Job done, time for fun…
Each person arrived, I worked through ‘the job’ poses for the Cobras website, then we had a little fun too. “Nothing too posed, just be you and lets see where it takes us…” It’s cool watching slightly nervous people in front of a camera relax and out comes the real them…
By shooting tethered straight to the laptop I was able to apply some of my motorsport ‘moody style’ edits saved as a preset in Lightroom. It’s quick to do and makes a big impression when the guys could see how these images were coming out.
One the other side of the studio…
Over on the other side of the studio, Jasper had set up 2 smaller Pika200 Pros flashes for some action shots. He captured some awesome backlit images which the Cobras really enjoyed. I know a certain young lady did for sure….
I’m not sure who was having more fun the players of Jasper to be fair! We had a great day shooting with the Bracknell Cobras Basketball Club. Look forward to seeing your new website when its all updated.
