Southwest Minnesota State University

Every sports photographer has a memorable first frame. Mine happened on the sidelines at Southwest Minnesota State University.

From 2020 to 2023, as a student at SMSU, I had the privilege of documenting Mustang athletics across nearly every program on campus — baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, golf, tennis, and volleyball. This was my entry point into sports photography, and it shaped everything that came after it.

I shot it all on a Canon 77D — a camera I scrapped together enough money to buy at the time. It was never built to be a standout for fast-action, high-frame-rate work, which is exactly why I'm so proud of the images it produced. What started as a hobby became the thing that helped pay my way through school, alongside the various jobs I worked on and off campus in Marshall. I learned the craft under real constraints, which made it that much more rewarding.

None of it would have happened without getting access to the SMSU sidelines. Tyler Boddy, SMSU's Head Volleyball Coach, and Kelly Loft, Assistant Athletic Director, both believed in me early and opened doors. Because of them, I found myself at big events early on — including the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament and the NSIC Conference Tournaments.

One moment stands out above the rest: walking into the Sanford Pentagon for the first time. The history in that building, the bright lights, the weight of it — it was surreal. It felt like an "I made it" moment, going from our local facilities to a state-of-the-art gem in Sioux Falls. I was there for the NSIC Volleyball Conference Tournament, and I later returned to shoot the NSIC Men's and Women's Basketball Conference Tournaments. Every time I capture an event at a new venue — Target Field, the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena — that feeling floods my mind all over again.

What means the most now is looking back. When I started, there weren't really any other students shooting SMSU athletics aside from the GAs working in the department. Returning as an alumni, I see sidelines full of students mastering their craft behind the lens. I've had a number of students connect saying I inspired their path forward in photography — that's something that will forever leave an imprint on me.

Bet on yourself, and work for every opportunity — even if you're at no point in your journey where you feel like you belong. The "fake it 'til you make it" mantra should sing loud for any beginner creative.

Passion projects will separate you and open doors you never expected. My full-time career in automotive started with me walking into a dealership in Marshall asking to snag a few photos of a Mustang GT500 they had on their website. That turned into a college internship, which led to full-time position at a 7-store automotive group after college, now leading that marketing department. I truly don't know if I would've ended up here, had I not pursued that one free shoot.

Network, network, network. Every chance you get, make the introduction. Follow other creators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and make a genuine effort to connect with others. There is an incredible community out there for you to engage in and grow with.

In a world of AI-everything, there is an innate need for real, authentic moments — captured by you. Your perspective matters. Your vision matters. That can't be faked or recreated. Give the world your unique flavor of storytelling through your creative outlets!

Need support or just want to connect? Let's chat!