Todd White, Visual Content Producer at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, employs an innovative system for capturing the university’s sports teams, designed to tackle the unique challenges of team photography. From individual football players to full team portraits, White utilizes the LUMIX S5II and its Volume Photography firmware solution to deliver consistent, professional-quality images.
At Southwestern University, White’s role involves producing content ranging from documenting student research projects to creating sports team portraits. One of his main responsibilities is photographing individual and team roster shots for the university’s many sports programs, a task that comes with its own set of challenges.
“When shooting the football team, for example, which has over 100 players, all with varying heights, it’s always a challenge to get the head and space around the person just right,” White explained. “I need consistent proportions across every photograph to minimize post-production adjustments.”
Consistent Framing
To meet these challenges, White turned to his go-to camera, the S5II. The full-frame camera’s compact size, 24-megapixel resolution, and reliable performance made it his go-to choice for both photography and video. “I like the S5II because of the size, weight, and color accuracy,” he said. “The color comes out right, and I rarely have to make adjustments. The exposure tools take the guessing out of it, and the autofocus system ensures the eyes are sharp in every shot.”
Southwestern University's Todd White trusts the LUMIX S5II for its compact size, 24MP resolution, and reliable performance in photo and video.
The Volume Photography Firmware solution further enhanced White’s workflow, particularly with its frame masking feature. Using the built-in portrait mode, he could set an adjustable head oval on the screen, ensuring that every player’s head was positioned consistently. “I move the camera on a tripod and adjust for each player so their head fits perfectly inside the oval,” White explained. “This guarantees the same proportions from top of head to top of frame for every shot.”
The frame masking tool was especially useful for streamlining post-production. By setting a consistent crop and color adjustment in Lightroom, White could apply the same settings across all images, saving significant time. “This firmware saves me from having to make guesses during shooting and reduces my post-production workload,” he said.
The Volume Photography Firmware’s frame masking feature helped Todd White maintain consistent head positioning using the built-in portrait mode.
In addition to individual portraits, the firmware’s horizontal group photography masking feature helped White with full team shots. These masks provided markers for aligning team members and leaving space for text or design elements, ensuring uniformity across compositions. “The team masks let me adjust and shoot with space for names or other text,” White said. “It ensured everyone was in the same area, and I didn’t have to guess about spacing or alignment.”
“I’m always looking for unique tools that LUMIX cameras offer to make my job easier,” he said. “The Volume Photography firmware has applications for both sports and corporate headshots, and the suite of tools in LUMIX cameras helps me focus on getting things right in the camera.”
Visual Content Producer Todd White
Workflow Enhancements
The improvements in White’s workflow were evident in the feedback he received from his colleagues. His graphic designer, responsible for integrating the photos into the university’s website, noted the time-saving precision of White’s process. “He called me over about an hour after I gave him the photos and said it was one of the smoothest runs he’d had,” White recalled. “Every head was in the exact same spot, which saved him time from having to adjust the images.”
While White primarily used the frame masks for sports photography, he also recognized their broader applications. He regularly shoots headshots for faculty and staff at the university, and the same techniques could be applied seamlessly. “Another application for this would be corporate headshots,” White noted. “It’s helpful to know that the head will be in the exact same spot, minimizing changes when the web developer integrates the images into directories.”
The LUMIX S5II’s other features also play a crucial role in White’s work. Tools such as the luminance spot meter, various exposure controls, and white balance settings help him achieve precise results in-camera, reducing the need for post-production adjustments. “I’m always looking for unique tools that LUMIX cameras offer to make my job easier,” he said. “The Volume Photography firmware has applications for both sports and corporate headshots, and the suite of tools in LUMIX cameras helps me focus on getting things right in the camera.”
Through his work at Southwestern University, White has demonstrated how thoughtful use of technology can streamline complex tasks. By integrating the LUMIX S5II and its Volume Photography firmware into his workflow, he has improved both the quality and efficiency of his photography. Whether photographing athletes, full teams, or professional headshots, White uses these tools to produce consistent, high-quality images.
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For more information on the LUMIX Volume Photography Solution, visit https://shop.panasonic.com/pages/lumix-volume-photo.
