My Love of Sports Photography

One of the most common questions I get asked is "how did you get into sports photography?" Photography started out as a hobby of mine in my late teens. Over time, it's turned into a business that I absolutely LOVE! If I would have known how much I enjoyed taking pictures, I would have jumped on the photography bandwagon a long time ago. My family teases me because I take my camera more places than I do my purse or kids! So, when people ask me what type of photography I do, I tell them . . . if it moves, I shoot it!

My first camera was back in 1980. It was a 35mm Yashika. My biggest struggle was making sure the film was intact and attached to the roller that pulled the unexposed film out of the canister and advanced the film.

Back then, you had to know what you were photographing ahead of time. The film you purchased had to be appropriate for the lighting and speed you planned on shooting at. When you were done with a roll of film, you would manually wind a little handle on the camera so the film would retract back into the canister. Then, you would get in your car and drop your film off at Fotomat. It took at least a week for your images to be developed and you never knew if your pictures were decent until you picked them up. Surprise! The top of Grandma's head is missing but she looks happy! There was NO editing either -- you got what you shot. I vividly remember sitting in my car and whipping through my photos to see what they looked like. We've come a long way with digital technology in the past 30 years. Thank goodness too, I don't think I could afford to develop all the pictures I take if we still worked with film!

My children have had a huge impact on my photography career.  I'm fortunate to have 2 athletic kids who have given me an outlet to expand my skills. It all started when my son began playing football at the age of 7. My daughter was a cheerleader too. Being able to photograph both my kids at the same event was a definite plus.

Not only did I take pictures of my kids, but I also took pictures of everyone else's kids. After the games, I would run home, download hundreds of photos and upload them on Facebook for the families to see and download. The gratefulness shown by the kids and parents was my drive to continue taking pictures. It was truly rewarding to see others appreciate my work.

As my kids increased in age, so did their participation in more and more sports -- football, cheer, baseball, softball, track, and volleyball -- and so did my experience in shooting moving objects.

The Thrill of the Game

My favorite sport to photograph is football. The excitement on the sidelines and the intensity of the game make for great photos. Whether it's a grimacing facial expression before a hit or the smile from a victory celebration -- it's exciting to capture those moments through the lens.

Photographing football is challenging, especially when the weather doesn't cooperate. My husband makes fun of me because I'm never happy with the weather when I'm taking pictures -- no matter how beautiful the day is. And . . . he's right! It's either too sunny, too overcast, too rainy, too snowy or too windy. If we could play the game under some REALLY tall tree canopies (with filtered sunlight, of course) it would alleviate a lot of these issues! All joking aside, that's part of the challenge . . .never knowing what you're up against and being able to adjust accordingly makes every shoot unique.

At the start of the football season, I'm sweating profusely in my flip flops and trying to keep cool. At the end of the season, I look like the Michelin Man with all the layers I have on trying to battle rain, snow and cold. And, don't forget the plastic shopping bag I have wrapped around my camera to keep it dry. I'm quite the sight during fall football!

The Beauty in Movement

One of the most exciting subjects to photograph (and another one of my favorites) is horses. The beauty and grace they exude is breathtaking. As a former horse owner and dressage rider, I can appreciate the discipline, athleticism and training that goes into these creatures. Photographing horses soothes my soul.

The photograph below was taken at a local horse show that featured driving classes. It was a great photo opportunity on a beautiful day (the lighting was perfect -- one of those rare days I have!)

Stopping the Clock

Photography allows me to "freeze" a moment in time. Whether it's a facial expression, a great pitch, a fumble or a cheerleader doing a split jump, time essentially stops and is captured in my images. It's life as it happens at that very moment -- it's pure and unadulterated. The ability to "stop the clock" for a split second and cherish that memory for a lifetime is truly amazing and rewarding.

I have Athlete Sessions available for the up and coming 2019 sports season. More information is available HERE. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thanks for stopping by!

Janet Thompson Photography

Sports/Events/Family & Senior Photos

(847) 812-8648

JanetThompson.zenfolio.com