I created this graphic on Adobe Photoshop, highlighting my pen pal and her role with the Washington Commanders. To reach this graphic, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A5zsb_esnJ4fueKZyD7KgXo8z-fSFLEw/view?usp=sharing

My interview with Kourtney:

What first got you into photography, and when did you realize it could be more than just a hobby?

My grandfather gave me my first camera when I was seven years old. It was a Canon AE-1, which is film, so he taught me how to shoot on that, and we’d take the rolls of film down to CVS to be sent out and developed. I have enjoyed photography on and off since then, but didn’t really know if I wanted to make a career of it or how to in the first place. After starting at the LSU Athletic department is when, I really decided I wanted to pursue sports photography.

Can you walk me through your path from starting to becoming a photo coordinator/team photographer for an NFL team?

In 2018, I started school at LSU, and I was in the College of Art + Design. I continued with photography for fun on and off all through middle school and high school, but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I really wanted to continue with it for a career. I knew I didn’t want to shoot weddings and events. At the time, I had no idea that a career in sports photography was even an avenue to take. I met someone a few weeks into the semester who was also in the same college as me, and she worked for the Athletic department and recommended I reach out to the lead photographer about working for him. I followed up with her the next day on it, called him until he picked up, and went in for an interview a few days later. My first sporting event I ever shot was an LSU volleyball game.

What were some key moments or opportunities that helped you turn photography into a career?

1. Some key moments for me that helped me turn this into a career are when I trusted myself and the vision I saw for something, and it worked out; it gave me a lot more confidence in my work. A few examples of this are listed below
   1. During the LSU football season, we would send a helicopter up over the stadium each game to get the pregame show and stadium scenes. It was my sophomore year in school when it was finally my turn to go up, and I really wanted to do something that separated my scenic photos from everyone else’s. It was a smaller game for us, early in the season, so odds are the upper deck wouldn’t be filled, and it’d just be a blank space. I ordered some purple kaleidoscope glasses from Amazon and used those as a way to cover some of the empty seating and get a more creative/artsy look. That was one of the first images I was really proud of.

Do you have a favorite memory or moment you’ve captured while shooting for the team? All-time favorite photo, maybe?

I don’t have an all-time favorite memory while shooting for the team. I think the most recent event I can think of that really stands out is the playoff game in Detroit. We were not projected to win at all, but when the team arrived at the stadium, there was just such a different energy that night. Shooting-wise, some of the best images I had taken all season, and the timing of everything was perfect. One of my favorite photos from this night is a photo of wide receiver Dyami Brown catching a deep ball from Jayden. The defender’s hands are in his face, and he’s making the catch with his eyes closed.

How do you prepare for a game-day shoot vs. practice?

For home games, I have another full-time photographer I manage, and between 3 and 4 freelance photographers I hire for a game day. Command Force and sponsorship take two of those photographers so they solely focus on those department needs. The other full-time photographer and freelancer focus on any marketing activations we have going on and any ownership needs. Game day is my chance to be a little more creative, so I really try focusing on details, player routines that are specific to them, anything that stands out to me about the game. For practices, we get a small shot list from football based around the team’s core values. We try to shoot practice in a way that displays those core values so they can match those images to the messaging in team meetings. For example, a big core value for us is brotherhood, so I’m looking for ways in which our players and coaches are displaying that in practice. So the difference between prep for game and prep for practice is separating out what the business side needs and what the football side needs, and doing my part to accommodate everyone’s needs.

How would you describe your style as a photographer? What is your process when editing?

I don’t think I really have a style of photography. What I look for a lot in images is emotion. In quiet moments pregame, players are mentally preparing for the game. A huge play happens, and the celebration moment of the player, as well as the coaching staff and bench celebration. The emotion of the game is what really sticks out to me.

Where do you draw inspiration from, especially when shooting in such a fast-paced environment like the NFL?

I draw inspiration from the other photographers in the league. They are people I’ve looked up to and have admired their work since I was in school, and it’s such an amazing opportunity to get to work with and learn from them at the same level now.

What are the most important skills that have helped you stand out and stay consistent at this level?

Not really a skill, but my hard work has always made me consistent and stand out. Thinking outside the box and doing the work to make sure that the vision is executed properly. The moments I have trusted myself and an idea that I had are the moments I’ve separated myself from what everyone else was doing. To back that up, I’m someone who can always be counted on to get the job done.

What are some challenges you face as a team photographer, and how do you handle them?

I think some challenges I face are trying to balance everything.

For someone trying to break into sports photography, what traits or habits do you think are essential to succeed? Do you need those super-telephoto shots in your portfolio to be hired at the next level, or can you still make it without them?

I think some traits/habits to have are thinking about how to separate your work from everyone else’s and looking at things differently. If everyone is on the field right next to each other, then everyone is getting the same shot, but what about shooting in the stands as if you were a fan and getting that experience? What about shooting from high up if you can and getting a bird ‘s-eye view of the game? Make an effort to create something different than others and be very intentional in your shots.

Another trait to have is kindness. This is a very competitive field, and very difficult to balance work and life, and everyone has their own things they are working through outside of that. Being kind to others will go a long way. 

I don’t think you need the best gear out there to do your job well. The gear that you have doesn’t make the photographer; it’s what you create with what you have that does. From looking through portfolios and resumes, I’m never looking at it and wondering if they had this specific gear or not; I’m looking at whether it’s a strong image or not.

How do you balance work and life? What are the hours like in-season and during the off-season?

1. It’s honestly very difficult to balance work and life while working for an NFL team. A lot of questions I get when the season is done are, ‘What do you do now that the season is over?’ When the season ends, we are flipping to the look and feel for next season. Preparing for Free Agency, Draft, OTAs, starting media day talks early one. This past year, the season ended, and I was part of a team that started working on how our new uniform rollout would look. In season, my week looks similar to this –
   1. Monday – edit my game take if we played on Sunday, print and frame captains’ photos for players, send all images out to players 
   2. Tuesday – a little slower, but tends to be our Community day, so players will work with our Charitable Foundation and go to some events in the community, and we will cover that.  
   3. Wednesday – Friday – practice days, get images to football to match team meeting messaging, get photos to social team for post, send out gameday shot list request form on Wednesday (if at home)
   4. Saturday – Get game day shot list prepared and send to freelancers, or it’s a travel day

What would you say has been the biggest difference in shooting in college versus shooting in the NFL?

I am really lucky in that the LSU Athletic Department really prepared me to step right into an internship with an NFL team. What was expected of me at LSU was exactly what was expected of me at the Commanders. The really great thing was that I no longer had to balance schoolwork with work and was really able to just focus on growing as a photographer.