Behind the Lens Series - Collegiate Soccer

Recently, I had the opportunity to take pictures of the first few practices in early August, 2025 of the Ave Maria University Men’s Soccer team. They just announced a new head coach for the program in late July. There is a lot of energy amongst the players in anticipation of a new season, new coach, and some new players. The intensity with which they practiced, the focus, and the fun they were having was palpable.

One of the coolest things about being a sports photographer is being on the field with the players. I’m silent in the background, but I’m there hearing and feeling the intensity of the game as it progresses. In high school soccer, there is no VAR like you would find among the ranks of the professionals. There were countless times I had picture evidence of calls that shouldn’t have been calls or times where there should have been a call and there wasn’t a call. You empathize with the players because you have a front row seat to the action. However, being a photographer means you are in the background, silently moving around the field taking pictures of the action, all the while feeling the intensity capturing many unscripted and truly exciting moments.