My First Book for my daughters soccer team

[foygroup]

My daughter made the High School JV soccer team this year (#3 on JV). I went to every game for both JV and Varsity. I took over 6,000 pictures during the season, and compiled my favorites into this year book for her and her coaches.

I did a two page spread on each team member, so now all the parents want to get copies. The team pictures were taken by the professional group paid by the school, I just scanned in the team picture for each team, all the pictures of the game were done by me on the sidelines during the games.

What do you think, This is my first book published anywhere, so I'm hoping the book comes back as good as it looks in the software.

http://www.mypublisher.com/bookshelf/bookviewer.py?d=tq%3Ey-cppl%60je%3E3533254

[LindaL]

Your book is wonderful. You really have some great action shots of the girls. I love that you devoted two pages to each girl on the team. No wonder all the parents want a copy.

Kudos. Nicely done. And you will love it even more when you have the hard copy in your hands.

[foygroup]

Linda,

Thanks for the comments. Yes, I actually produced it as a gift from my daughter to her coach and got an extra copy for her to keep. I let the other parents see it online so they could have their daughters sign the book before my daughter presents it to the coach. I've coached my daugthers teams for the past 6 years, this was the first time I was able to watch from the side lines with the rest of the parents. You get a completely different prospective from this side of the field. As a side benefit I was able to really get to know the kids and their parents. They came to the point of expecting to see me on the side lines taking pictures each game. It was great fun.

I wasn't expecting them to all ask for copies, but I am glad they are happy with the online results. I can't wait to get it in my hands. The coach does not know we are doing this, so it will be a surprise for him as well.

[foygroup]

Interesting.....

The only scanned photos are the two team pictures which I did buy. I did get permission in writing from the photo company to put them in my book, but they did not mention giving them credit in the book.

All the other pictures were digital out of my camera. No scanning for them, but there is a lot of post processing in Adobe Light Room 2, and Adobe Photoshop CS4. That took weeks before I was ready to put them in the book.

Thanks for your comment. I will ask the photo company regarding credit for their work in the book, before I print any for the parents. I can always modify and re-upload the book before ordering.

[gregi23]

Question: How long did it take you to decide on what page you place the single picture of each girl?? Either you thought about it or it just happen? Why do I ask? The other day I was in a round of friends and I showed off one of my books. I stepped ten feet away and just watched each of them looking at the book. I am here to say that 70% of them could not tell me any pictures they saw on the left side. I am not saying they would never look at it if they would have the book longer in their hands... but overall... the right side is the dominant side...

[foygroup]

For me I just found it esthetically more pleasing to have their best shot on the left as you open to each of their pages. I have heard that being left or right brain dominent could affect your view of the book. So if you place the bigger shot to the left, it will compensate for the lack of interest on the left side. Since more interest is paid to the right side, I could include more photos on that page. Two pages of multiple shots would get lost, getting more results like you experienced.

I found that photographers liked the setup, parents commented mostly on the larger shots, while coaches were more into the action shots on the right. I got more comments on night-time shots where I either panned the camera with the subject which showed more action blur behind the subject or use a longer exposure showing more action around the ball, then I did on the daytime photos where the action was stopped.

There were a couple individuals where I just could not dedicate a full page to them because I just could not make up my mind on fewer shots of them, so I ended up having more shots by adding a couple to the larger left page.

[hopta]

I'm thinking that you spent to much time coaching and not enough time taking photos! Your book is awesome. I can see why all the parents want copies...

[foygroup]

Thank You for your comments. I had a lot of fun on the side lines this year. We will have to see what next season brings. I may take pictures again and do it all over again.

[k27usa]

Great work - looks fantastic. Your daughter & her team mates will really appreciate your efforts as they back a few years from now.
I have to ask - since my daughter is also serious soccer player (she plays on a U11 travel team) and I too am taking pictures at just about every game, how large a zoom did you use ? I'm using a canon 100-300 and I find that at times that still doesn't get it done.
BTW - I can relate to your new found feelings on the sidelines this year, I had coached both my sons in baseball for years and when I let go and became a spectator, it was a new and enjoyable experience or me.
Again, outstanding job.