Dynamic Gymnastics Pictures
Hi,
Performing with a gymnastics group or team is an exciting way to develop athletic prowess and meet new challenges. Individual progress as well as team success conveys important characteristics of pride, perseverance, and grace that help to strengthen body and soul. Friends and family members who come to practices or competitions may take gymnastics pictures for posterity. Often a coach will get some photographs or video footage as well. But there may be times when you will want to consider hiring a professional photographer to capture action shots during public performances or intense practices.
Whoever hires the photographer will want to keep certain things in mind. First, have an idea of the type of gymnastics pictures you want to get on film. Are you looking for team shots or individual poses? Either way, you will need to look for photographers that specialize in this type of photography. You also will want to prepare the team ahead of time so they can be sure to wear clean uniforms, arrange hair, and look their best. No one likes to be surprised by a picture-taking session. You also will want to ensure that all of the team members will be there on the scheduled day so they don’t miss out. If someone is absent due to illness or vacation, you may want to set a makeup day. Check with the photographer to see if and when this is possible, and ask about additional costs, if any.
Pictures of gymnastics events are another option. Some sports photographers specialize in action shots that catch a gymnast during a particularly tense moment, in the act of performing a challenging move or maybe in the graceful gymnastics splits during the artistic part of a routine. The joy of success can be etched in film forever, along with an individual or the team accepting awards for victory. Stance, facial expression, movement, and form can all be caught in a photo taken at the right time. Individual, pairs, or group shots can be taken to form a portfolio of team effort or individual performance. And it need not be a winning performance to be worthy of photographing, training and rising to a level of competition is a wonderful achievement in itself.
Photography format is another important consideration. Will each gymnast and/or parents order the photos from a negative or original? Can the pictures be posted digitally on the Internet at a password-protected site for special viewing and ordering? Or will team members order a designated package with a certain number of photos of varying sizes? Perhaps there will be a choice of packages, like many school systems use.
Videos of competitive events are another option for interested parents and coaches. Sometimes a team assistant can informally videotape a performance. Its not only for nostalgia, a videoed performance is a very effective feedback tool for improving coordination with gymnastics floor music or use of gymnastics equipment (especially in rhythmic gymnastics) and if you are lucky (or is it unlucky?) you may even catch an amusing gymnastics blooper, where no one is hurt of course. But at other times, you may want to hire a professional to get top-quality shots from strategic events. Get an idea of pricing and a delivery schedule before hiring a photographer. In fact, ask several for this information so you can get the best possible deal.
Pictures preserve special highlights in an athlete’s career. Start checking into photography and video possibilities ahead of time so when the special moments arrive, you will be ready to capture them in a meaningful format that gymnasts and their families or fans can enjoy.
Until next time, remember, be the best gymnastics parent you can be, your child deserves nothing less.
Thanks,
Murray
