SMU
What a wild ride 2019 has been so far in terms of the opportunities that I’ve had with my photography. I’m still trying to figure out what’s next on my journey as a photographer! I don’t know what the rest of the journey will look like but it’s been pretty sweet thus far. You won’t find a blog post from the second basketball game that I shot at SMU, mainly because I got caught up with doing some other stuff and didn’t have time to make a post. So, you’ll get this one instead!
The game against Wichita State was one of the best games I’ve seen in a while. The intensity that each team played with was beyond amazing. These guys were going at it in the first half and at one point, I was hoping that we could take the game into a double overtime, jump start my excitement for March Madness! Unfortunately, the double overtime didn’t happen but it was still a great game nonetheless.
One other cool fact about this game was that it was their senior night and the last home game of the season. President Bush didn’t show up to the past two games so I’m really lucky that I got a few photographs of him while he was there… Well, he could’ve been there but just not courtside like he was when I saw him. Who knows. Anyway, the senior night was pretty cool. It was a packed stadium, intensity was there, the crowd was excited and all four seniors got to start together. Being an athlete my entire life, I know exactly what it feels like to be playing your last home game and feeling how you’ll never go back to play there again as an athlete. Wild, right?
Well, that’s all for now! Stay tuned for more to come this month! Lots of things moving and manifesting right now and I’m super excited to see where things will go. Also, if you don’t already, give me a follow on Instagram to stay in the loop with what’s going on when I’m not posting blogs!
What’s up, guys! Can you believe that it’s almost November?! I swear it feels like we started October yesterday. It’s all good though because we’re getting closer to my favorite holiday… THANKSGIVING!!!! Anybody else a big fan of doing nothing but eating and sleeping your life away?
So about two weeks ago, I applied for a photo credential on Southern Methodist University’s website. They messaged me and asked who I was shooting for and I told them that I was just shooting for my blog. Per their policy, they only grant passes to people who are shooting for a media outlet. Well, they messaged me back earlier this week and told me that they made an exception and that they will let me photograph their game against Cincinnati! Super stoked? Heck yeah!
I do remember when JMU came down back in 2015 to play SMU during their homecoming. It was the first time I had ever heard of SMU but JMU came and managed to beat them in an upset! Ever since JMU came to play them, I’ve been wanting to go to SMU for a game and check them out. I must say that the school has amazing facilities! I always drive past the football stadium but I never stopped to check it out. Now that I’ve seen the stadium, I want to go walking around campus and see what else it has to offer. Seems like a pretty cool school to be.
The best part about this entire experience was meeting one of the photographers who has been a Staff Photographer at the Dallas Morning News since 1989. Steve is one of the photographers whose photos are always running through the DMN and I have always wanted to meet him and some of the other photographers. Steve was so cool and talked to me for a few minutes about his career with DMN. Right before the game started, I asked if he would take a selfie with me because he was one of the photographers who I look up to! So, we took our selfie, got ready for the game, and he told me that I have a great career ahead of me. Talk about filled with joy. It meant a lot to hear that from someone who has been in the field longer than I’ve been alive.
Moving to Dallas and making the connections that I’ve made so far is truly amazing. I am forever grateful for the connections that I make and people that I meet. One of these days, I’ll get my breakthrough and when I do, y’all will be the first to know!
JMU students pose for a photo in front of the ESPN College GameDay bus.
Well, it has been one heck of a semester with JMU athletics and it was definitely one to remember. It was great to get to know the athletes across town from EMU. It was a great season for all of the fall programs. First off, the football team had an outstanding year! They had seven consecutive wins, beat SMU (an FBS school), had ESPN College GameDay come to campus and competed in the NCAA tournament! I'd say that they had a pretty successful season and is looking to have another successful season next fall.
Janey Goodman celebrating after JMU receives a point against the College of Charleston.
Women's soccer won the CAA conference title this year and competed in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Field hockey placed second in the CAA conference after an amazing game against the University of Delaware. One of my favorite sports to photograph was the women's volleyball team. Their celebrations were always really intense and super fun to capture! Photographing cross country was fun too. It was great seeing the ladies run but there was one meet where it poured down raining the ENTIRE time that they were running. I was out in New Market with a super huge umbrella strapped between my back and my camera bag so that I was able to use both hands while shooting. It was miserable for me with my umbrella, I could only imagine what it felt like to be running in that pouring rain the entire time they were running.
Men's soccer was great. Those guys really know how to play some soccer. Reminds me of the days when I was young and playing soccer myself. The fellas came up short in their race to the CAA championship game as they were defending CAA champions.
Right now, we are photographing winter sports, which include men and women's basketball, and track & field. So far that has been great! Right before we went on Thanksgiving break, EMU and JMU played for the first time since 1975. EMU lost but it was definitely a great game to watch, especially when it's the first time that both teams have met in 40 years.
I will be continuing to shoot for JMU next semester as I finish up my final semester of undergrad. Can't wait for softball and baseball to roll around! This past spring, the softball team did really well and hosted the NCAA Regionals. If all goes well, they could possibly host it again, so fingers crossed!
Be on the lookout for more blog posts as I will be posting more as time goes on!
