Basketball Portraits at Panini’s NBA Rookie Photoshoot
Chicago Bulls Denzel Valentine poses for a portrait by LA. by photographer John Gress
It was another star studded jam packed day photographing the top 40 NBA draft picks for Panini America at the New York Knicks training facility in Tarrytown, New York. And just like NFLPA Rookie Premier, I set up two lighting setups on the same set. so I could take more portraits in the same amount of time.
Basketball portraits behind-the-scenes with Brandon Ingram. by photographer John Gress
Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles & the leading multi-national publisher of trading cards, stickers, comics & children’s magazines.
Finished image from my Photoshoot with Sacramento Kings Malachi Richardson at the panini america nba rookie photoshoot in Tarrytown, New York. by Photographer John Gress
I decided to composite some of the NBA basketball portraits to great effect. But I also decided to do a very high contract black and white photography look as well.
Black & white portrait of Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown by Chicago photographer John Gress
Black & White portrait of San Antonio Spurs Dejounte Murray by Chicago photographer John Gress
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram poses for a black and white portrait by Chicago Photographer John Gress
Black and white portrait of Kris Dunn of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for Chicago Portrait Photographer John Gress
NBA basketball portraits gallery
I also decided to try compositing some of the portraits with photos from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Brooklyn nets Isaiah Whitehead poses for a portrait by Chicago sports photographer John Gress
LA Clippers draft pick Brice Johnson by Chicago photographer John Gress
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Timothe Luwawu by Chicago Portrait Photographer John Gress
Kris Dunn of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for Chicago Portrait Photographer John Gress
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram poses for Chicago Photographer John Gress
Kris Dunn of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for Chicago Portrait Photographer John Gress
The Phoenix Suns Tyler Ulis poses for a portrait during the Panini America Rookie photoshoot in Tarrytown, New York.
Houston Rockets draft pick Gary Payton II poses for a portrait in Tarrytown, New York
Memphis Grizzlies guard Wade Baldwin poses for a portrait by Chicago Photographer John Gress
Chicago Sports Photographer portrait of Brooklyn nets Isaiah Whitehead poses for a portrait by Chicago sports photographer John Gress
Atlanta Hawks DeAndre Bembry poses for a portrait by Chicago photographer John Gress
Some of the basketball portraits I created for Panini have been published on several lines of their basketball trading cards, with more to come.
NBA basketball portraits behind-the-scenes
I used two sets of lights on the same set. One of them with 4 hard lights and one of them with 6 soft lights.
I used a total of 10 Profoto D1 Air 500 monolights to light the photos. One of the advantages to using the monolights over packs is that if one light dies, you only lose one light. But I may use 5 packs and 10 heads next time to speed up my recycle time.
Basketball portraits behind-the-scenes with Denzel Valentine
Art direction by Tre Hattier. Assisting and behind-the-scenes photos by Kyle M. Thompson
