Sports Photography

Basketball Photography

Sports has always been a highlight in my life. When I was young, I played basketball. Being a point guard taught me so much, watching and seeing the whole court was a must. It was a gift that I learned from my father; aka "Pistol Pete" as some of his former Winslow HS friends would call him, when we would run into them at the store in my hometown. It was fate when meeting my husband Shawn, that he too was an exceptional basketball player, among all the amazing attributes he embodies. The fact that he knew the game, at times better than me was beautiful. To share this bond was a dream come true.

Photographing sports was at first something that I would capture of my kids only and do on the side just for fun. My Son Shawn, who is a gymnast and my daughter Saryah who plays basketball. As I published my images on social media (instagram/Facebook) my photos started to gain a lot of attention. Once we moved to Los Angeles, California not only did my kids excel in their own sports dreams but so did my photography, especially in basketball. With basketball being my first love, it was easy for me to capture moments of the game that felt inmate to me; much like playing the game, it was home. Having different lenses to capture different angles of the game is so important, like a point guard reading and seeing the floor as a photographer is a must. I have to be able to anticipate every shot, defensive move and of course all the different emotions of the game. Watching my daughter who plays for Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, the same gym that Kobe Bryant coached at, is surreal. They have opened their arms to her and welcomed me to photograph different events that they held; that is where my confidence of being a "sports photographer" began. Learning to be faster with my camera, my shutter speed and ISO settings so I wouldn't miss a moment of play. Being that I mainly shoot in manual mode, it didn't take long for me to feel comfortable in any situation.

Just like the game of basketball, practicing my craft on and off the court became second nature. Conditioning my self to practice new skills in camera and in post production so I could showcase my skills for the world to see on different platforms. This is only the beginning but it does feel good to visit an old friend that at one time made me so happy. Basketball always finds a way to be apart of my life and for that...I'm forever thankful for that bond!

Thanks-Char