Shooting Tips For Dynamic Photos

 

Sports Film Recommendations

For best results on Youth Sports and Special Event portraiture, Excel’s equipment is best balanced to our recommended film, Mitsubishi MX100. Consistency in exposure is the key to optimum results. Find methods for calculating exposure that give you the results that you are seeking and then stick with it. You will get better results shooting an entire league ½ stop off than you will by constantly changing from ½ over to normal to ½ under. By using fill flash, even in full sun, you will reduce the impact the ambient light will have on exposure.

 

Testing For Proper Exposure

Test your equipment and method of calculation, then leave it. Since your lighting procedures and film emulsions change, periodic testing is necessary to maintain proper exposure throughout the season. For this reason, we will process your test film at no charge and make recommendations. Simply mark your process order “TEST ROLL – PLEASE EVALUATE”. All test film is developed within 24 hours of receipt and is evaluated shortly thereafter. You will be contacted by phone or fax with our recommendations or to advise you of any problems.

 

Flash Adjustments / Shooting Indoors

Within reason, the more flash that you deliver to your subject, the more vibrant and dynamic your pictures will look (especially in bright sunshine). Remember, the distance from your flash to your subject will change from team to individual shots. Your groups will usually need at least one stop more flash than your individuals. Move your flash off the camera to a stationary light stand or tripod and establish a designated spot for the subject. This will allow you to move around with the camera without affecting the flash exposure. When shooting indoors with portable equipment, the best results will be achieved by using two strobes mounted at least six feet high and moved off-center approximately twenty degrees to each side of your subject. An easy way to picture this would be to think of your subject as being the six on a clock, your camera being the twelve, and your lights placed at the ten and two positions. By placing your strobes high and off-center but aimed towards your subject, you will be “throwing” most of the shadows down and out of the picture as it is framed. Again, test before shooting, find a method that works, and stick with it.

 

Schedule Of Approximate Sport Delivery Times

 

The sooner we know when you are shooting and what your needs will be, the better prepared we will be to meet those needs. We strongly encourage that you provide us with a copy of your schedule when it has been determined. Let us know the date you will be shooting, the name of the organization, how many subjects you anticipate photographing, whether or not you will be providing sponsor plaques and any predetermined organization ending dates. If you are anticipating a high volume of plaques, buttons or magnets, this information should be noted as well. With this information, we can plan staffing and supply needs more accurately to help ensure prompt delivery. Our goal remains to deliver jobs in less than two weeks. However, in-plant time may fluctuate. Other factors impact in-plant time that only you can help us avoid. Improperly exposed images, missing, incomplete or disorganized paperwork and cut negatives all slow down production time. Please read the section entitled “Avoiding Extra Time & Charges” on page 2 for further explanation.