Ram V Chary: How to Take Photos of a Sports Team

The more individuals in a photograph, the more complicated the shot — which means that sports team photography can be challenging for beginners. Managing multiple players, getting all the eyes looking at the camera, and getting multiple faces sharp isn't an easy task, whether that's a pro team or the local Little League. But, with a few tips from the right organization strategy to creating a cohesive look, you can capture a worthwhile memory.

Get organized

A bit of planning goes a long way, notes Ram V Chary. Before the photo shoot, track down a team roster. This will give you an idea of how many players you need to place in your shot. Most players can be assembled into a single photo just by varying the position. But football teams can be tricky. They generally have a big second string, and there's no way to get them all into one photo. By planning, you know if you need to move your photo shoot to the bleachers to fit everyone in.

For sports team photography, think levels

It's important to get everyone on different levels, and the larger the team is, the more important that is, says Ram V Chary. Alternate each row's position to ensure other players block no faces. For prop-free posing, try alternating heights by having each row maintain one position, like standing, sitting, or kneeling.

Think symmetry or uniformity

There are several ways to pose individual players that look good, but the key to posing teams is creating a cohesive look, adds Ram V Chary. There are two approaches — the first is to have everyone in the same row doing the same thing.

The second option is to create symmetry by variations on opposite sides of the group. If everyone in the front row is kneeling, the player in the middle could have both knees down, while the right side can raise one knee and the left side can raise the opposite knee.