![chicago bulls denzel valentine poses for a portrait by LA photographer John Gress](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/01/1200_17C2309-Edit-720x973.jpg)
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 Ingram](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2016/12/720IMG_1572-5-720x590.jpg)
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 Elmsford, New York.](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/01/1200_17C1502editB-720x1014.jpg)
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](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/07/1200_17C0900-720x720.jpg)
![Nlack & White portrait of San Antonio Spurs Dejounte Murray by Chicago photographer John Gress](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/07/1200_17C1936-720x900.jpg)
![Los Angeles Lakers rookie Brandon Ingram poses for a black and white portrait by Chicago Photographer John Gress](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/07/1200_17C7593-720x900.jpg)
![black and white portrait of Kris Dunn of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for Chicago Portrait Photographer John Gress](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/07/1200_17C1068-2-720x900.jpg)
NBA basketball portraits gallery
I also decided to try compositing some of the portraits with photos from the Hubble Space Telescope.
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
![Basketball portraits behind the scenes](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2016/12/720IMG_1562-5-720x624.jpg)
![Profot D1 Air 500 monolights](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2016/12/720IMG_1570-5-720x1007.jpg)
![Basketball portraits behind the scenes with Denzel Valentine](https://johngress.com/wp-content/uploads//2016/12/720IMG_1571-5-720x672.jpg)
Art direction by Tre Hattier. Assisting and behind-the-scenes photos by Kyle M. Thompson