Sports Photography Elevated by Passionate College students

While the WAHS spectators are centered on the gamers, the ball, the basket, the objective, there’s a group of scholars on the sidelines placing up their very own varsity effort. These are the scholar photographers within the Sports Photography Club capturing the motion. They not simply taking footage, they’re stalking the very best angle, anticipating the following play, studying the protection and dialing technical specs into their gear to freeze a 90-mph tennis ball or seize the emotion of a participant crossing the objective line. Winning images requires most of the similar traits as profitable sports activities groups: observe, self-discipline, teaching and talent.

Western has created a program that’s distinctive to your entire Jefferson School District. While different faculties within the district have scholar photographers that will randomly take pictures on the video games, Western has created a structured honors course to serve college students inquisitive about sports activities images that additionally supplies a precious service to the college and neighborhood. 

The program was hatched within the 2025 college 12 months by seniors Rachel Bird and Cierra Hanning, who began a membership to raise the standard of sports activities images. A handful of scholars confirmed curiosity, so that they mentored college students by inviting them to the sidelines and exhibiting them what they had been doing. 

Fast ahead to the 2026 college 12 months when over 30 college students confirmed up for the membership’s first assembly. Senior Luke Winters turned the chief of the membership and can also be a member of the Warriors State Championship Golf Team. He labored with the images trainer, Cass Girvin, athletic director Dan Bledsoe and profession counselor Erin Rittenhouse to outline a Capstone Honors Course and internship in sports activities images. Winters has led the event of a mission and imaginative and prescient for the membership. The college students have taken on total duty for sports activities images on the college together with stay sport motion, official workforce pictures, photographs for social media websites in addition to the yearbook. The membership has arrange a studio on the college with a backdrop {and professional} lighting to carry “media days” for particular person athletes. 

When requested what propels him as a photographer, Winters stated, “I love learning new things, and I’m so glad I get the opportunity to teach and lead a team of amazing, talented and hungry photographers. I love the ability to be able to make someone else happy through photographs, to be able to represent the school, and to provide great photos at no cost to the athletes, their families and the school.” Winters has been engaged in images for 4 years and is self-taught by learning strategies out there on the web, from Girvin, in addition to experimenting, and trial and error. 

Two juniors within the membership, Colin Rutherford and Joel Bird, are set to take management positions within the membership subsequent 12 months. Rutherford has been working with Scrimmage Play all through the Jefferson District this 12 months and has a love of sports activities. When requested concerning the largest problem he has with images, he stated, “Trying to get the perfect shot in-camera.” He finds helpful details about strategies in YouTube movies. Bird received inquisitive about images as his sister Rachael was one of many authentic leaders of the membership, and he’s enthusiastic about sports activities as he’s on the varsity indoor and out of doors observe groups. “I want to be able to capture the excitement and emotion of the moment,” he stated.

Bledsoe is obsessed with this system. He stated, “This allows students that are interested in sports to get involved without playing. This provides them experience and the ability to build a portfolio for college or professional work. Having the students take the team photos now gives us date flexibility that we did not have with a photography company. We added a social media specialist to the program to beef up our presence in the community and the district. Junior Mattie Burnette is leading that effort this year, and we may add a second position next year.” 

Girvin teaches a sports activities and motion photograph class and was in a position to get funding to buy just a few telephoto zoom lenses the scholars can borrow. He stated, “It is impressive what the students can accomplish when you let them find their passion and give them some tools to work with. What started out as a student project is now providing real-world experience and a valuable service to the school and community.”