How to light your sports portraits and take them to the next level.

This tutorial will walk you through the way to light, shoot and process out a portrait of an athlete and keep the budget for equipment some what low.
You can check my work out at www.toddeckelman.com
Sorry about the bad audio on this video!
Gear used.
Manfrotto 032 Single Autopole Extends from 82.7-Inch - 145.7-Inch - Replaces 2950S
www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-Sing...
Manfrotto 032BASEBSET Black Standing Bases, Auto-Poles
www.adorama.com/l/?searchinfo...
Fovitec StudioPRO SDX-200 Photography Studio Monolight, Professional Studio Strobe Flash Lighting Head 200 Watts/s
www.amazon.com/Fovitec-Studio...
Fovitec StudioPRO Wireless remote control trigger for SDX-200, SDX-400, SDX-600 Monolights
www.amazon.com/Fovitec-Studio...
30Degree Honeycomb Grid Mesh for 7-inch Reflector Diffuser Lamp Shade Dish
www.amazon.com/30Degree-Honey...
Mini Boom Arm and Weight Bag
www.adorama.com/we9940.html
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM AutoFocus Telephoto Lens - USA Warranty
www.adorama.com/ca8518afu.html
Capture One software
www.captureone.com/en/
Advantage Gripware Apple Box Posing Prop, Full Apple Box 12 x 20 x 8 inches
www.amazon.com/Advantage-Grip...
Savage Seamless Background Paper - #20 Black (86 in x 36 ft)
www.amazon.com/Savage-Seamles...
Neewer 2 Packs 9 feet/260 centimeters Photo Studio Light Stands for HTC Vive VR, Video, Portrait, and Product Photography
www.amazon.com/Neewer-centime...
Neewer Pro 100% Metal Max Height 10ft/305cm Adjustable Reflector Stand with 4ft/120cm Holding Arm and 2 Pieces Grip Head for Photography Studio Video Reflector, Monolight and Other Equipment
www.amazon.com/Neewer-Adjusta...
B01GUQUBEW?ref_=ast_slp_dp
Tether Tools TetherPro USB-C to 3.0 Micro-B Right Angle Cable, 15', Orange
www.adorama.com/ttcuc33r15or....
Manfrotto 003 Backlight Base with 013 Spigot 3094 - Replaces 3095,Black
www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-Back...

[@lwwarren9485]

Nice job, I’m gonna try this tomorrow for a fighter.

[@mareeahmarbella]

Thank you for your work, a lot of people appreciate you

[@arthur_ohumukini]

Still awesome in 2022. Timeless technique and setup!

[@be-do-have]

I'll try this setup. Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@49sixteen]

Very enjoyable and helpful to watch. Also cute that the wife did the videography. She did a wonderful job.

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks! I will let her know.

[@rostanddarbouze5735]

Well done. Thank you so much for detailed masterclass.

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks, glad you liked it.

[@earnieboy54]

I’m so inspired right now! Love content that educates and challenges me to do better. One day I’ll do photo work for some major clients. Thanks again for the inspiration Todd!

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks for the comment. Just keep shooting!

[@jeremiahyoung5931]

Thanks this is a great in detail setup

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks

[@aletangoshow]

Thank you so much!!!! Great tutorial!!

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@garyfournier3938]

Great video Todd! Thank you.

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@Apironel76]

Very cool tutorial. Thank you.

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@guentherkubiza]

this was cool ! thx for the video !

[@AkinaMedia]

This is brilliant, thank you! Subscribed!

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@fangorn2]

Nice video Todd, very informative!

[@ToddEckelman90]

Alec M Thanks!

[@charlottekenx3]

amazing tutorial! felt like a little workshop :)

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@M4TR1X]

I was just looking for this.

[@jjonestowne]

Great video. Thanks, man.

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@davidhammond1475]

good job! very informative

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@pagpapaitim]

i never thought cutting off the feet was so cool.

[@carlosfloreszbodografo3363]

i love it, you got a new follower

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@gamstyle_]

love it! You have my sub :*

[@MartinV.]

Great Video!

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@brandonisaiahcunningham2929]

I have a godox ad200 and some aputure led lights, do you think i could achieve the same look with what i l already have?

[@beverlybasden2648]

Thank You!

[@ToddEckelman90]

You're welcome!

[@monztermovies]

Nice! 👍👍👍

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks

[@frederickthephotographer6315]

Hello, Great video, I'd like to know about that steamer.

[@15acontent]

Subscribed 💯

[@richardrowland9511]

Nice video ❤

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks!

[@chicubs2099]

Hi Todd. Awesome video. Question for you: I used the Godox AD600 strobe, and I'll be using that as my key light for some studio sports portraits here in a couple of weeks. But would you have any recommendations on edge lights if I can't afford additional strobes? I was considering some cheap soft box white lights. Would those suffice?

[@ToddEckelman90]

Hey Joe
Which cheap lights are they?
You could also use some cheap led lights and go with a 1/15 of a sec shutter speed. It could give you some cool movement on the edges.

[@chicubs2099]

@@ToddEckelman90 Hey Todd. You're awesome for replying. I purchased some ESDDI soft box lights ... 900W. Just for edge lights. Black backdrop. I will be shooting football and volleyball shots. Mostly stills but might attempt to incorporate action

[@ToddEckelman90]

@@chicubs2099 Great. I hope your shoot goes good!

[@mikezupancic2182]

Rather than the bare lights in the rear with the separate flags, would the use of strip softboxes be a good alternative? (ie, 1x4)

[@ToddEckelman90]

You can use softboxes if you like. I just like the hard light look with the grids.

[@krisgreen]

You’re correct. A strip box with an egg crate will direct the light directly at the subject to the point you won’t need the flags. The light will still be very hard and create those chiseled hard edge lights on the subject. Additionally it’ll rim out your subject more evenly from head to toe.

[@michaeld1165]

Awesome work and thanks for the inspiration!!!! I have a question for you. Is that a clothes steamer that you are using? I was going to get a fogger however this would work better for the environment that I will be working in.

[@ToddEckelman90]

Yes, it’s a clothes steamer. It works better because the steamit dissipates

[@ToddEckelman90]

The steam dissipates quick it what I was trying to say in that first reply.

[@michaeld1165]

@@ToddEckelman90 Thanks! I'll be adding this because I was looking into getting a fogger, but this will work better because of the dissipation!

[@brandonisaiahcunningham2929]

Great tutorial. I have a few question. I see you are using a few strobes. Am I correcting in assuming your only using one as an actual strobe/flash and the rest as monolights?

[@ToddEckelman90]

HI Brandon,
They are all strobes. You could use the aputure led lights as you edge lights and strobe as the main light. Just keep your strobe on low power so you don't over power the led lights. You could also shoot second curtain sync at a slow shutter speed to get some cool movement on the edges. You could give that a try. Hope this helps. Have fun!

[@ToddEckelman90]

Thanks

[@brandonisaiahcunningham2929]

@@ToddEckelman90 It does help and thankyou. I have a call with a hs school coach today and this would be my first sports team gig. So this helps alot, especially in knowing i have mostly all the gear already

[@ToddEckelman90]

@@brandonisaiahcunningham2929 Have a good shoot!

[@deandrajarboe8280]

What are your tips for working with the brim of the cap? How do you avoid a shadow across the forehead?

[@ToddEckelman90]

Have them keep their chin up a little, and don’t let them pull their hat down too far. That should help.

[@maggiehowland9558]

Hey, what's the cord you have attached from your camera to your computer?

[@ToddEckelman90]

Hey Maggie, The cord I use is TetherPro USB 3.0 to Micro-B to attach the camera to the computer.

[@jaimelimotte9589]

What computer program are you using to have the photo pop up immediately on the screen? Still photoshop?

[@ToddEckelman90]

I am using Capture One. It is a great program.

[@DeeJayVisuals]

Would the ad 400 pro be good enough?

[@ToddEckelman90]

I think that should work, can you put a grid on it?

[@indrajitadvani3742]

Todd....you have an attachment with a grid on your 200ws strobe. What is the function of that attachment?

[@ToddEckelman90]

I am using a 7" reflector with the 30 degree grid. This way you can control the direction and the amount of spill the light has. You don't want the light getting on the background.

[@indrajitadvani3742]

@@ToddEckelman90 So that's what the grid does (right?) but what about the reflector. Sorry if this is a dumb question. I normally shoot with soft light (diffusers) so I'm curious as to why you don't

[@ToddEckelman90]

@@indrajitadvani3742 For this look I want hard light, to give hard shadows. Soft won't make it look as dramatic.

[@indrajitadvani3742]

@@ToddEckelman90 Perfect. Thanks for the prompt reply. Really like your work and look forward to seeing more.

[@ToddEckelman90]

@@indrajitadvani3742 Thanks

[@YanajRettun]

What editing app is this?

[@ToddEckelman90]

Hey Yanaj, I use CaptureOne and Photoshop for all my still work.

[@SlamBradley]

Hi, new subscriber here. Can you share the info on your steamer?

[@ToddEckelman90]

Yes, I use the TRAs Steamer model # E-8 and Jiffy Steamer model # J-2. I use both and both work great. The Jiffy is more expensive but it lasts longer. I use them mainly for steaming when shooting apparel.

[@SlamBradley]

@@ToddEckelman90 much appreciated!

[@danielheon4777]

Clip on mic would help

[@ToddEckelman90]

That would have been nice. I didn't have one when I made this video.

[@richschmitt100]

Why did you cut off his ankles?

[@ToddEckelman90]

He is standing on a full apple box so I can get the hero perspective of looking up at him. That's why I crop the feet off.

[@richschmitt100]

@@ToddEckelman90 that’s the first rule of photography, don’t cut off the ankles or the knees, you should know that. Other than that really wonderful video, thanks for sharing your insights.

[@richschmitt100]

Is the baseball player your son?

[@ToddEckelman90]

It's my brother-in-laws son.

[@GraphicsDesignBD10]

Hello
I think we could help your business .we provide high quality image/photo editing services .we can ensure best quality and fast service and are also able to manage high volume

[@robinarkenberg5693]

Audio could greatly improve with you not continuously turning your head around.

[@ToddEckelman90]

I know. Sorry about that.

[@iwangrozny5672]

I tried to watch but audio is horrible. Work on your audio and I might go back some time

[@ToddEckelman90]

Sorry about the audio

[@Stansphotos1]

Why do you keep turning your head backwards while you talk. It makes my brain hurt

[@themackpack2020]

There is always an a-hole

[@hoping41]

Always! I know it’s been 2 years, Stan… but, are you doing anything like this for photographers wanting to learn something new?
This is awesome, love how you want to make the kids look “heroic”. New follower!! I learned so much, not just about this method! You rock!

[@sohmiJesuswithme]

Jesus love us all he can save us all he save me now am free