Every season, every league, every team gets a photo day. Most of them are awful. Kids squinting into the sun, coaches holding a faded banner, awkward poses that look like 1987.
Here's the thing: parents actually frame these photos. They hang in hallways, go on Christmas cards, live in kids' bedrooms for 15 years. When the kid's 25 looking back, this is what they see.
What makes a team photo actually good
1. Shoot at the right time of day
Not high noon. Not in blinding desert sun. Late afternoon, 90 minutes before sunset, when light is warm and faces aren't in deep shadow.
2. Frame tight — kids, not background
The field is not the point. Get close. Fill the frame with faces. Use the field as context, not the subject.
3. Shoot multiple formations
Traditional rows, sure. But also: a loose formation around the coach. Kids laughing mid-joke. A serious "game face" version. Give parents options.
4. Capture individual portraits too
Every kid gets a solo shot. Parents buy prints. Some parents buy 11x14 canvases. This is where photographers make real money and families get something worth keeping.
5. Account for the "one kid who hates photos"
Every team has one. Don't force it. Take candids during warm-up. Get them in the group shot but not the focal point.
A team photo is a time capsule. If your team's photos look like they came out of a 1990s Olan Mills, you're robbing parents of something they didn't know they wanted.
What we do differently
Every Focus Photos EP team session includes: traditional team formation, candid team shot, individual portraits, a senior banner composite for outgoing players, and delivery within 10 days — digital files + optional prints. No weird "minimum order" nonsense.
Book your team's photo day
Custom packages built for your roster. Season dates fill fast.