Using a hobby to help define a senior’s personality in a photo shoot, is a great way to get the senior immediately comfortable.  What guy doesn’t like showing off his talent as a football player?  This senior is no exception.

Andi of 2A Photography submitted this session, and I love the unique photos from the locker room.  I think this senior will be able to look back on these photos many years from now and remember exactly how he felt dressing for the big game, how it felt holding that football in his hands and how it felt to work so hard at something he loved.  He is definitely a Champion.

I had the chance to talk to Andi about this session and this is what she had to say….Thanks Andi for sharing this session with us!!

What is your favorite thing about these photos?  Hold on, this is kind of a long answer.   This year I really thought about my senior program and the focus that I usually have on girls; they are fun and into it and we usually have a blast and it really shows in their images.    And I know that the couple of guys that I do every year are usually there because they are willing to go along with it for their mamas–which is sweet, but doesn’t accomplish what I really want from my session images.  Now, add in ESPN Game Day coverage.   My husband is forever watching this, right?!   So I see the profiles of players and start really paying attention.   And it hits me that if I can create this, the guys will get excited, too.

Take all this together and my favorite thing about the images from this session is that we planned, had a vision, and executed.    I spent a lot of time planning the session with Anthony and sharing this vision, just like I would do with the girls.   He got excited and got involved.   He had ideas that we incorporated.   And so did his mama . . .

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?  The starting place was the ESPN Game Day.    We wanted locker room shots, weight room, etc.   And then Anthony’s mama starts talking about this sign that they have in the locker room that says, “Come Back a Champion.”   And it all fell into place–that has meaning to their football program and the players.   And so the shoot was really about the heart of a champion.

With that idea in mind, we were able to have a pretty clear direction of the non-football related aspects of the session, too.   Anthony is the student body President, he has started his own clothing line (called Optimism, by the way), and things just started to fall into place.

Where did this photo shoot take place?  Several places:   high school locker room and weight room, his backyard with the jeep, a local shopping center, an easement on the side of the road (for the letter jacket shots)!

What camera, lens and equipment were used during this photo shoot?  D700, 70-200mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, SB900

What time of day was this taken?  Early morning in his backyard, weight room shots closer to mid-day, 2 hours before sunset for the suit and letter jacket shots

Can you share any post processing techniques that were used for these images? For the most part I think what I do in CS5 is pretty straightforward–I’m doing some basic sharpening, white balance, noise reduction.   I used a  soft light layer at about 30% opacity for a lot of these images, and I think that really made a difference in pop when I converted to black and white.   (And I bump up the contrast on the BW shots after I do the BW conversion.)

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your photography style?  That I care.   About the images, the seniors, their relationship with their family and this time in their life.

What is one tip you could share with other photographers in regards to senior portrait photography?  Create an experience.   I think that the common thread with so many of the interviews on this site is about planning the session.   It’s such an important first step.    I see a senior session as a way–as corny as it may sound–for parents to give their child a “blessing”.   To participate in the session and be involved in the shoot, to be able to let their senior know that they are proud of who they have become.    That’s the goal in my mind from our initial conversations throughout the ordering process.   Senior albums are one of my most popular products because it’s where we pull it all together.   Anthony’s album, for example, has a quote about the heart of a champion, a Bible verse, a short message from mom and dad and ends with the picture that started it all–walking away from the sign that says, “Come Back a Champion.”

Football Player {2 A Photography}

  1. Debbie Smith says:

    Beautiful work! Pinned!

  2. taj white says:

    I heart the ones in the locker room, wonderful and filled with great emotion!! Beautiful images!!

  3. Tifani says:

    Wow! This is an A+ session for sure. Pinned!

  4. Love. Love. Love. Pinning this right after I type this! Love. Love. Love!!!

heck, yes i do!

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