GLOSSY FINISH
PHOTOGRAPHERS
WELCOME
PHOTOGRAPHERS
We love the art of photography, but we also understand the business. Over the years we have refined our process to allow us to walk the line of art & commerce. We created this page to help you get up to speed on what we expect and how we do it. Thanks for being here. We look forward to seeing your photos!
PHOTOGRAPHER QUICK START
To ensure consistent style of photography between all our various events, Glossy Finish has adopted the use of standardized camera settings. These standards are important in maintaining the Glossy Finish expectation from our customers. Please review the required setting below and feel free to ask us any questions!
APERTURE
Shoot as “wide open” as possible – Preferably no smaller than F4, assuming your lens allows it
Use Aperture Priority – To lock in your desired F-stop
SHUTTER SPEED
Shutter speed should be no slower than 1/1000
Auto ISO is preferred – let it ride as needed
DRIVE MODE
No faster than 10–12 FPS
Mirrorless shooter? Dial back the FPS to something manageable
FILE SIZE
No RAW files – Only JPGs are accepted
JPG only – Straight out of the camera
Keep files under 5MB – Helps us speed up uploads and avoid issues
Need help? – Take some test shots and we’ll check them for you!
ACTION REMINDERS
Photos should be vertical and tight
Auto rotate = ON
Shooting indoors or under lights? Make sure anti-flicker is ON
CARD & GEAR PREP
Format all new memory cards before shooting
Dual card slots? Please shoot to the backup card as well
Turn in your primary memory card (not the backup) inside a coin envelope
Always bring extra memory cards, coin envelopes, and batteries
PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS
What Is the Shot List?
Provided before your assignment by the scheduler
Includes game time, field, and athletes to be photographed
Who Do You Photograph?
Only photograph athletes listed on your shot list
No random photos – stick to assigned players
Cleanup Matters
Delete any photos of athletes not on your list
This keeps galleries clean and focused
SHOT LIST
ORANGE BANDS
What are the Orange Bands?
Registered athletes will have an orange band on their shoe
Orange Band Rule
Only photograph athletes wearing an orange band, unless told otherwise
Double Check
Before the game, verify all athletes on your shot list have orange bands
If any are missing, radio the scheduler to resolve it
Prep & Test Shots
Take test shots before games and events to confirm your settings
HEADSHOTS FIRST
Photograph headshots for athletes on your shot list prior to the start of the game
Double Check
Capture athletes warming up without others in the background
Refer to provided example photos for guidance
PHOTOGRAPHING
WARMUPS
FORMULAS FOR SUCCESS
Our photographers follow a basic rubric to deliver customer satisfaction. Photographers should strive to deliver the following for every customer to minimize the chances of recovery.
(NOTE: Recovery is our term for “reshoot”.)
ACTION PHOTOS
While not every player will receive game play with the ball,
these are the most requested shots by parents
📸"MOMMY" PHOTOS
Capture a headshot showing intensity and excitement during the game
This shot should be taken for every player who signed up — even if they don’t get game time
QUANTITY
The second highest request from parents is having enough images to choose from
While quantity may vary by sport, play time, and assignments,
Aim to deliver 75–100 quality images per player
GROUP PHOTOS
Photograph spontaneous team comradery moments for each team
This includes: dugout reactions, huddles, victory celebrations, coach interactions, and more
⚠️ Do NOT take posed team photos!
RADIO ETIQUETTE
Photographers will be assigned a radio at the beginning of every day. The same radio channel is used by all Glossy Finish team members, so it is important to keep non-work-related chatter to a minimum to keep the channel open.
📡 Acceptable Radio Use
✅ Relaying relevant info to the scheduler, sales ambassadors, or Glossy Finish staff
✅ Communicating with other photographers about player locations and field coverage
✅ Contacting office staff to bring gear — memory cards, batteries, water, etc.
❌ Non-Acceptable Radio Use
🚫 Having non-work-related conversations with other Glossy Finish staff
🚫 Commenting negatively about plays during the game
🚫 Commenting negatively about players, coaches, or parents
Remember: Anyone nearby can hear your radio
COMMUNICATION
- It never hurts to ask. Need player info? Ask a parent, coach, or radio the office.
- Report any envelope discrepancies over the radio immediately.
- Don’t be shy. You’re in charge of your field and your shot list.
- If someone asks about a controversial play, just say: “I didn’t get it.”
- Our photos are not used to dispute plays or calls.
- Communicate proactively with managers about schedule conflicts or time off.
PARTNERS
Trusted by leading youth sports organizations nationwide.
🚫 Parent Photographers & Field Access
- You have the right to be on the field — no one else does.
- Glossy Finish is fully insured and authorized for field access.
- If a non-Glossy Finish photographer is on the field or dugout, radio the office.
- Stay focused on your game — we’ll handle it from there.
🎉 Have Fun & Create Memories!
- Expect long days and occasional challenges — but know we have your back and will help find solutions.
- Stay in the moment and keep communicating.
- Remember, we’re camera to customer — every shot matters.
- Log into the app to review your work and see it as the customer will.
- Take notes on what you can improve for your next game. Growth makes the difference!
