Charleston Battery Match Photography
For the 2020 season, I had the opportunity to photograph the Charleston Battery for their home fixtures. The team moved into a new stadium that gradually welcomed back fans as the season went on.
My role as the match photographer involved producing images for widespread publishing for a host of stakeholders: the Battery, United Soccer League (USL), visiting clubs and news outlets. There were many placements and applications for the images (more on that later).
This was all achieved while adhering to the USL's standards for image styles/guidelines and deadlines, ensuring only top-quality photos were delivered and done so in a timely manner with only a minute amount of post-production editing. Let's take a look!
Among the most recurring challenges to overcome was the lighting at the pitch, where there would be pockets of light providing diverse range of white balances and occasional harsh shadows.
Some crafty camera work/prep and diligent retouching was needed to ensure a consistent look and preserve the club's colors. This challenge was accentuated as all but one of the matches started while or after the sun had set.
Pregame is always my favorite to photograph since it provides a unique opportunity to capture a mix of scenes; action, portraits, stadium scenes, the likes.
The club incorporated a new set of warm-ups with 'Black Lives Matter' on the front, complementing the 'BLM' arm bands worn during games, and allowing the players to use their platforms for the movement by way of the images.
Of course, it's tough to beat a goal celebration. Some had more energy than others, but these were key moments to capture during a season that saw the Battery rally and play exceptionally well at home. The raw emotion was paramount to share with fans who could only watch at home.
Capturing a strong variety of images is key, since more angles can create more opportunities to find use for the images and set a dynamic look and feel to your digital channels.
Equally important is the background selection; I would position myself to in a way to add some extra spice to photos as much as I could with an interesting background (despite the many empty seats).
Placements in the Battery creative/social mix, designs and implementation credited to the Battery broadcast, communications and marketing staff. By capturing a variety of shots and angles, the options opened up for a variety of uses.
Most games were shot with only the one camera I had, but a few involved a second body which allowed for a nice extra set of angles and focal lengths.
As the Battery's points grew, so did the media presence. Presented was an opportunity to photograph some more unique scenes as they interact with reporters in post game conferences.
Placements in the local media outlets and USL articles. Media coverage was paramount as the main medium for fans to consume match content as spectators were only gradually allowed at games.
Who doesn't love a good stock photo?! These are great for match updates and news which doesn't necessarily call for a player image to be included.
Providing quality images for the visiting clubs was a key responsibility to ensure their coverage of the match was done as smooth as possible. I was the only photographer at matches, so I was simultaneously assisting other entities.
The same guidelines and requirements applied for visiting club photos, but it is of good practice to deliver quality images to better build relations with the team's media so they can help when the roles are reversed.
Placements in the the design mixes by the respective clubs, designed and retouched accordingly. Social media became among the primary mediums to stay connected with fans with attendance restrictions, so strong imagery was necessary to deliver for those following along at home.
The Atlanta United 2 post of Morales' first goal was their most-liked post of the month.
Always important to recognize the fans who were able to make it out, especially during a season like this! Their presence and support was greatly appreciated by the club.
Thank you for viewing! I appreciate you looking over my photos and I hope you liked what you saw -- feel free to see more design and photo posts on my profile!
(Below are some extra images from the last scrimmage before the season began, which featured a gorgeous sunset!)
