WHY WE RECOMMEND COMPOSITE TEAM PHOTOS VS TRADITIONAL
Why We Don’t Do Traditional Team Photos (And Why Composite is Better for Sports & School Photography)
For years, the traditional team photo has been a staple of school and sports photography — everyone lined up in rows, smiling (or trying to while the sun’s in their face) while the photographer rushes to keep dozens of kids still and in frame.
We get it. It’s nostalgic. It’s classic.
But we prefer a different way — and it’s called composite photography.
Here’s why we’ve made the switch (and why you’ll love it too):
1. No More Chaos on Picture Day
If you've ever tried to line up 20+ students or athletes for a team photo (or 100 for that matter, thank you football), you know it’s like herding cats — and fast-moving ones at that. Composite photography means we photograph each individual separately, and build the team photo digitally. No lost time, no shouting over whistles, no stress and coaches get athletes in and out faster.
2. Every Kid Looks Their Best
Traditional group photos are full of blinking eyes, awkward angles, and kids hidden behind taller teammates. In a composite, each child gets their own dedicated photo — taken with care and attention — so everyone looks their best in the final image. Not to mention, you can SEE every athlete!!
3. Makeups Are Easy (No One Gets Left Out)
Someone sick on picture day? Out of town for a game? With traditional group photos, that means they’re just… missing. With composites, we can photograph absentees later and seamlessly add them in — so every athlete and student is included.
4. Consistent, Professional Look
Traditional group photos often suffer from uneven lighting, weather changes, and distracting backgrounds. Composite photography ensures every photo is consistent and branded to your school/organization — same lighting, clean background, and a layout that looks polished and professional every time.
5. No Weather Problems
Outdoor team photos are great — until it rains, gets too windy, or the sun makes everyone squint. Composites are done indoors (or a tent), in controlled environments, so weather never ruins picture day (or the final product).
6. Faster, Smoother Picture Days
Since we shoot individuals one at a time, picture day runs like clockwork. No time wasted organizing teams into rows or retaking entire group shots because of one issue. Kids (and coaches!) get in and out quickly.
7. Perfect for Schools and Leagues of All Sizes
Whether you're a small team or a district-wide program, composite photography scales beautifully. We can manage large groups efficiently and still deliver high-quality, cohesive team photos across every grade or age group.
The Bottom Line:
We’re not ditching team photos — we’re reimagining them.
Composite photography gives you a cleaner, more inclusive, and more flexible way to capture your teams and classes.
No chaos. No stress. Just great pictures that every parent, player, and school can be proud of.
* ADs and Coaches:
Please make sure the team rosters you provide before Picture Day are accurate and up-to-date for both coaches and athletes. This information is essential for correctly matching individuals to their teams during the photo process.
