Winter soccer at Westridge
Soccer is a winter sport in Southern California, and Westridge School in Pasadena held its soccer media day in the 2025-26 season. Winter light sits lower than the September sun, which changes how the strobes get set.
Balancing strobes with winter light
We shot on a Canon R5 with four Westcott FJ400 strobes and the 70-200 and 24-105. Two strobes go behind the players as rim lights and two go in front as mains. Outdoors, we read the ambient with the camera, bring it about a stop under a normal exposure, and then add the strobes on top for soft, even light. The angle and power of each light change with the conditions. No light meter, just the camera and an eye for it.
Team first, then every player
Team photo, then seniors, then coaches. Then we re-rig for individuals. Every player gets the yearbook headshot, then stylized portraits and action, a ball juggled off the thigh or a player driving toward the lens. We photograph the athlete, not just the kit.
Soccer players spend most of a game far from any camera on the sideline. Media day is the one afternoon they stand still long enough for a real portrait, and then we let them move again for the action frames.
For more from Westridge, see the Westridge flag football media day.
Book your media day
See how our high school media day works, or browse athlete work on the sports portraits page.
