Hobbton High School Basketball Senior Banners: A Fog-Filled, High-Energy Shoot

Shooting senior banners is always a fun challenge, but this time, Hobbton High School’s senior basketball players brought the intensity to a whole new level. Instead of a typical gym or studio setup, we shot in the library, which gave us a unique environment to work with. The key to making the banners stand out? Fog, dramatic lighting, and a lot of energy from the athletes.

The Setup: Bringing the Hype

As usual for senior sessions, I shot tethered to a laptop, allowing the athletes to see their photos in real-time. This always adds an extra layer of excitement—the players hyped each other up, celebrating each epic shot as it appeared on screen. The atmosphere was electric, making the experience just as fun as the final images.

The Fog Effect: Safe, Controlled, and Dramatic

To create a bold, intense look, we used fog throughout the shoot. Isabelle, our official "fog girl," worked two handheld Smoke Genies to generate just the right amount of mist for each shot. The fog juice is water-based and food-grade, meaning it’s completely safe to breathe and designed not to trigger alarms. That said, you never know for sure—so we were cautious! Crystal and Isabelle kept the fog fanned between shots, making sure it stayed controlled and dispersed properly. Thankfully, no alarms were set off, and the effect was exactly what we wanted. 

The Lighting: School Spirit in Every Shot

Kirk used a four-light setup to create depth and drama:

•    A main light to highlight the players' faces
•    Two backlights to separate them from the background
•    A yellow gel light to add dimension to the fog (school colors are black and yellow)

This combination made each shot pop, with the fog catching the colored light for an intense, cinematic effect.

Custom Banner Designs

Once the photos were captured, each banner design was custom-made, incorporating the school’s branding while ensuring every player had a standout look. The result? Bold, high-energy banners that the athletes (and their families) will cherish.

Final Thoughts

Shooting in the library, using fog, and capturing real-time reactions made this one of our most unique banner shoots yet. Huge thanks to the Hobbton High School basketball teams for bringing their energy and making this shoot unforgettable!

Looking for custom banners for your team? Contact Kirk Pullen Photography to book your session!