Leaf Player photo options?

[WatchMyBreaks]

Why can't a company like Leaf take a page from the 1994 lockout year and use photos of players in street clothes or weird jerseys etc? Using game photos and removing team logos just comes off as cheap. It's obviously much cheaper to have a kid sit down in a hotel room and sign several sheets of stickers but hiring a photographer isn't that pricey.

 

[pathshot]

Why can't a company like Leaf take a page from the 1994 lockout year and use photos of players in street clothes or weird jerseys etc? Using game photos and removing team logos just comes off as cheap. It's obviously much cheaper to have a kid sit down in a hotel room and sign several sheets of stickers but hiring a photographer isn't that pricey.

So send a photographer all over to get casual photos of the player? That'll keep costs down... Should they also take photos at cemeteries just so they can get up to date photos of vintage players, which Leaf remains keen on including?

 

[WatchMyBreaks]

So send a photographer all over to get casual photos of the player? That'll keep costs down... Should they also take photos at cemeteries just so they can get up to date photos of vintage players, which Leaf remains keen on including?

Where did I mention keeping costs down? Pack prices increase, the market flood with more and more game used material and a company like Leaf doesn't have a license. Including a little variety with player photos would go a long way. Using the same airbrushed photo for every player just looks cheap. Some of the multi player jersey cards that don't even include player headshots are downright awful.

 

[pathshot]

Where did I mention keeping costs down? Pack prices increase, the market flood with more and more game used material and a company like Leaf doesn't have a license. Including a little variety with player photos would go a long way. Using the same airbrushed photo for every player just looks cheap. Some of the multi player jersey cards that don't even include player headshots are downright awful.

The point is they don't have the biggest margins to start with, and asking them to do that is prohibitive. And this is so far off the original conversation I probably shouldn't have responded to it.

 

[LeafGregg]

Where did I mention keeping costs down? Pack prices increase, the market flood with more and more game used material and a company like Leaf doesn't have a license. Including a little variety with player photos would go a long way. Using the same airbrushed photo for every player just looks cheap. Some of the multi player jersey cards that don't even include player headshots are downright awful.

Funny, we actually have cropped our images much tighter the last few products to lessen the airbrushing situation, especially with upcoming Ultimate. Can't win with some people and I have come to understand that after all these years in this industry.

Players without images, the only option is to not use them in memorabilia sets. Orr, Gretzky, Dryden and others would cease to have memorabilia cards.

Having a photographer sent out to take images of players in street clothes just isn't an option. Time, availability, money and cooperation are all factors. in 1994, this was a much easier option. You have to remember. Be A Player was a set done by the NHLPA in conjunction with UD, they had easy access to the players.

Be a Player didn't use much, if any memorabilia If I recall. How would it look to have Pavel Bure in 501's and a t-shirt as the image, with a Vancouver jersey swatch? I am just not sure.

Also, when you say sit down with a kid. Well, we don't have access to NHL rookies. We would have to ask legends and retired to sit down at a hotel or their house and pose for photography.....for free....good luck.

I am not knocking the thought process. New ideas are always welcome, but the best option is to be more strategic with the photography at our disposal. I think we have been.

 

[SNobles]

I honestly always found those plan street clothes cards to be the worst although they were funny.

Dino Ciccarelli feeding a carrot to a rhino in the UD Choice set is one of the worst/best cards.

I hate the airbrushing just as much as the next but I understand that it has to be done on some pictures.

 

[RGM81]

Gross. No.

 

[WatchMyBreaks]

Interesting one of the mods turned my post into its own thread.

Anyway in no way did I mention that leaf should turn their entire product line into that UD BAP set. It's simply a suggestion as a way to get away from their sets becoming really redundant with using the same airbrushed photos especially of older stars. Using a cartoony depiction of an Orr jersey that is on the same card as three other superstars makes the product look cheap. It comes off to me very similar to a product that came out a couple years ago which featured jersey swatches that took up 95% of the card and just the player name.

With that being said design seems to be suffering with Upper Deck also.

 

[LeafGregg]

Interesting one of the mods turned my post into its own thread.

Anyway in no way did I mention that leaf should turn their entire product line into that UD BAP set. It's simply a suggestion as a way to get away from their sets becoming really redundant with using the same airbrushed photos especially of older stars. Using a cartoony depiction of an Orr jersey that is on the same card as three other superstars makes the product look cheap. It comes off to me very similar to a product that came out a couple years ago which featured jersey swatches that took up 95% of the card and just the player name.

With that being said design seems to be suffering with Upper Deck also.

I don't think our designs are "suffering." Airbrushing and imageless are absolutely a challenge, but I would put our designs up with anyone. I think Ultimate is a beautiful product. I think ITGU was stunning. That is just me though.

 

[WatchMyBreaks]

I don't think our designs are "suffering." Airbrushing and imageless are absolutely a challenge, but I would put our designs up with anyone. I think Ultimate is a beautiful product. I think ITGU was stunning. That is just me though.

Its your product so I would hope you feel that way. Heres a perfect example of what my post was talking about. Again, I didn't start a thread someone turned my post into a thread for some reason.

Dryden besides not even being pictured basically shares no affiliation with the other players selected. Really didn't even play in the same era and only played in the league for one season with any of the goalies pictured.

It seems to make more sense not to include a player if you don't even have the rights to use their photograph especially on a 1/1 piece where 7 of the 8 players use photos.

 

[LeafGregg]

Its your product so I would hope you feel that way. Heres a perfect example of what my post was talking about. Again, I didn't start a thread someone turned my post into a thread for some reason.

Dryden besides not even being pictured basically shares no affiliation with the other players selected. Really didn't even play in the same era and only played in the league for one season with any of the goalies pictured.

It seems to make more sense not to include a player if you don't even have the rights to use their photograph especially on a 1/1 piece where 7 of the 8 players use photos.

Really? 8 Hall of Fame Goalies? 7 Vezina winners and the guy the trophy is named for have no connection?

Could I have chosen an image guy as the 8th? yes. could I have chosen 8 from the same era? sure, all that has been done before. The level of nitpicking seems odd. You have a history of bashing ITG and now Leaf in your short time on the boards, that is 100% your prerogative so do what you must.

I think this is one helluva card!

 

[Superdoup]

Its your product so I would hope you feel that way. Heres a perfect example of what my post was talking about. Again, I didn't start a thread someone turned my post into a thread for some reason.

Dryden besides not even being pictured basically shares no affiliation with the other players selected. Really didn't even play in the same era and only played in the league for one season with any of the goalies pictured.

It seems to make more sense not to include a player if you don't even have the rights to use their photograph especially on a 1/1 piece where 7 of the 8 players use photos.

I do not have purchase any Leafs because it's all high end but personally, I like to see the back of the jersey with the number on it. instead of a focus on the face and no logo. my two cents.

 

[WatchMyBreaks]

Really? 8 Hall of Fame Goalies? 7 Vezina winners and the guy the trophy is named for have no connection?

Could I have chosen an image guy as the 8th? yes. could I have chosen 8 from the same era? sure, all that has been done before. The level of nitpicking seems odd. You have a history of bashing ITG and now Leaf in your short time on the boards, that is 100% your prerogative so do what you must.

I think this is one helluva card!

I've exchanged emails with Dr. Price personally for several years. ITG/BAP was my favorite product for years. The only "bashing" I've done on this board in regards to that company is a vault release that was a slap in the face to collectors who spent thousands of dollars chasing hard to find inserts of their favorite players.

Is this a forum to discuss the hobby or an advertising platform for Leaf cards? I find it interesting that a post in a several page thread was made into its own thread. Seems to me either one of the mods agree with my position or you've requested to address this position in its own thread.

 

[WatchMyBreaks]

I do not have purchase any Leafs because it's all high end but personally, I like to see the back of the jersey with the number on it. instead of a focus on the face and no logo. my two cents.

Its more of a continuity issue really.

 

[LeafGregg]

I've exchanged emails with Dr. Price personally for several years. ITG/BAP was my favorite product for years. The only "bashing" I've done on this board in regards to that company is a vault release that was a slap in the face to collectors who spent thousands of dollars chasing hard to find inserts of their favorite players.

Is this a forum to discuss the hobby or an advertising platform for Leaf cards? I find it interesting that a post in a several page thread was made into its own thread. Seems to me either one of the mods agree with my position or you've requested to address this position in its own thread.

I requested nothing from anyone in regards to this post, where it originated or why. I just respond when i can

 

[odjickfan]

I honestly always found those plan street clothes cards to be the worst although they were funny.

Dino Ciccarelli feeding a carrot to a rhino in the UD Choice set is one of the worst/best cards.

I hate the airbrushing just as much as the next but I understand that it has to be done on some pictures.

There were some cool cards in UD Choice. I remember a card with the player sitting on a snowmobile.

 

[WatchMyBreaks]

I requested nothing from anyone in regards to this post, where it originated or why. I just respond when i can

Which is great because the access to an actual manufacturer is amazing for the people that participate in the discussion on this forum. But in all honesty I have noticed that when Dr. Price used to participate in the discussion any negative opinion of ITG was met with heavy criticism. Even valid complaints.

Members are free to rip apart Upper Deck all day but ITG and Leaf are treated with kid gloves. I suppose part of that has to do with executives frequenting this board. But you would think from the perspective of a business owner getting feedback from your customers, especially free feedback, would be valuable.

And to address the point of "nitpicking", I showcased a photo of arguably one of the highest end cards in that product line. Its certainly a card that would be featured in promo material. You would think that continuity would be a concern when it comes to a high end piece like that. It would be like having a jumbo patch card featuring Joe Sakic wearing a Nordiques jersey with an AVS emblem. Would it be nitpicking to suggest that perhaps the design team should have picked a Joe Sakic Nords photo?

 

[LeafGregg]

Which is great because the access to an actual manufacturer is amazing for the people that participate in the discussion on this forum. But in all honesty I have noticed that when Dr. Price used to participate in the discussion any negative opinion of ITG was met with heavy criticism. Even valid complaints.

Members are free to rip apart Upper Deck all day but ITG and Leaf are treated with kid gloves. I suppose part of that has to do with executives frequenting this board. But you would think from the perspective of a business owner getting feedback from your customers, especially free feedback, would be valuable.

And to address the point of "nitpicking", I showcased a photo of arguably one of the highest end cards in that product line. Its certainly a card that would be featured in promo material. You would think that continuity would be a concern when it comes to a high end piece like that. It would be like having a jumbo patch card featuring Joe Sakic wearing a Nordiques jersey with an AVS emblem. Would it be nitpicking to suggest that perhaps the design team should have picked a Joe Sakic Nords photo?

I Hardly think we are treated with kid gloves. As for UD bashing, that would be up to them to come here and answer questions and take complaints. They will not. Probably a good idea.

There is nothing wrong with feedback, we use it whenever we can and it is appreciated. However, there are ways to give feedback that is constructive and ways that come off as just plain complaining and yes "nitpicking."

I agree 100% with matching the photograph to the memorabilia. Not always possible, but something we are striving to do better at and have been. Sometimes it is lack of available imagery and sometimes laziness. Both are being addressed.

 

[LeafGregg]

I will always come on here and answer questions the best I can and will be as honest as possible. The answers aren't always going to please everyone.

 

[WatchMyBreaks]

I will always come on here and answer questions the best I can and will be as honest as possible. The answers aren't always going to please everyone.

But the same logic applies to the questions. You've summarized my entire time on this board as being a ITG/Leaf basher. If you, a high level card exec can somehow have the time to remember the individual dissidence on a specific website than I would have to say that the reception of your product must be pretty positive overall.