Capturing Champions in the Making: Zach Tijerina’s Guide to Sharp Youth Sports Photography & Editing

Last updated on 12/09/2024

Cover photo by Zach Tijerina

 Capturing the energy and personality of young athletes can be a rewarding yet challenging experience. Whether it’s a fast-paced league photo day or an individual athlete’s media session, youth sports photography requires more than just technical skills — it requires an understanding of the unique dynamics of working with young athletes and delivering high-quality photos efficiently.

Zach Tijerina, the owner of Fungo Productions, has built a successful youth sports and volume photography business by blending creativity, efficiency, and experience. For this blog post, we’ve interviewed Zach and gathered his insights on how he handles the unique challenges of the youth sports photography business, from photo day logistics to fast post-processing with AI editing tools like Imagen.

Top Challenges and Unique Aspects of Youth Sports Photography

Youth sports photography comes with a distinct set of challenges and rewards. Zach shares what makes this genre both challenging and exciting.

Managing High Volume and Tight Timelines

“Volume sports are not for the faint of heart,” Zach says. Photographing up to 15 athletes in 10 minutes, often for 4-5 hours straight, leaves very little room for error. 

He highlights three primary challenges:

• Timely Photo Delivery: Fast photo delivery is essential, especially when catering to young athletes who are active on social media. Zach’s team prioritizes efficiency to meet tight deadlines.
• Consistency in Unpredictable Environments: From scorching heat to strong winds, outdoor shoots can change dramatically within hours. “It’s important for me that our leagues receive a consistent look,” Zach explains.
• Photo Day Organization: With a team of three managing hundreds of athletes, the key to success is preparation, planning, and keeping a structured flow throughout the day.

What Makes Youth Sports Photography Stand Out?

“Youth sports photography is being tested right now!” Zach says, emphasizing how this genre has seen more entrants than ever before. However, by offering unique setups, such as dramatic lighting without heavy Photoshop, Zach stays ahead of the competition.

He shares his media day approach, which includes multiple photo stations to create an engaging experience:

• Headshot Station
• Creative Photo Station
• Hype Video Station
• TikTok Station

“We focus on supporting coaches while also providing athletes with a memorable experience,” Zach adds, ensuring that clients keep coming back.

The Perfect Picture Day Workflow

To make sure everything runs smoothly, preparation starts the night before photo day. Zach walks us through the essentials of a well-organized and efficient day:

1. Pre-Event Prep: “We load up all our gear the night before and check that cards are clean, batteries are charged, and equipment is double-checked,” Zach says. This avoids last-minute hiccups.
2. Setup: Arriving 90 minutes early to set up, Zach’s team  —  which includes a photographer, a photo assistant, and a salesperson  —  ensures every detail is covered.
3. During the Shoot: Once the shooting starts, each team member sticks to their assigned role to maintain smooth operations throughout the day. For longer shoots, additional team members are scheduled to allow for breaks.
4. Post-Shoot Debrief: “At the end of the day, we have a 10-20 minute debrief to celebrate wins or address concerns while they’re still fresh,” Zach explains. This ensures any improvements can be implemented for future sessions.

Creative Control: From Dynamic Shots to Authentic Portraits

Balancing dramatic action shots and authentic portraits is key to capturing the essence of young athletes. Zach believes the most important factor is making the athletes feel comfortable.

“It’s really important to break down relationship barriers early,” Zach advises. He and his team engage with the athletes from the start, encouraging them to feel confident in front of the camera. Zach even demonstrates action poses himself, from toe touches to diving catches, to ease any nerves. “When everyone is bought in, it makes for a special photoshoot,” he adds.

Maximizing Creativity During the Shoot

For Zach, the shoot is where most of the creative control lies. “We set up our lighting to be flexible,” he says, adding that he regularly adjusts lights mid-session to create different looks on the fly. This dynamic lighting setup allows for a variety of portrait photos with unique styles, which clients love.

Post-Production Efficiency with AI Tools Like Imagen

“Imagen has literally saved my life this year,” Zach shares, referring to how much time the AI editing platform has saved him. Before using Imagen, Zach spent hours editing galleries manually in Lightroom, often getting distracted and losing valuable time.

Now, his process is much faster:

• Step 1: Backup photos in the cloud immediately after a shoot.
• Step 2: Send all photos directly to Imagen for processing (Zach doesn’t need to cull photos, as his process is streamlined enough that every shot is useful).
• Step 3: Receive the fully processed gallery within 30 minutes, ready for final review and client delivery.

“At the start of this school year, we photographed 20 programs in 14 days, and every program received their gallery within 5 days. That’s huge for us and our clients,” Zach says, highlighting how critical fast delivery is for volume photography.

Learn More About Imagen’s AI Volume Portrait Photography Editing Platform 

How To Present Your Products For Maximized Sales

Zach offers three key tips for presenting products to customers in a way that maximizes sales:

1. Take Great Pictures

“Parents want great pictures that focus on their athletes,” Zach explains. Prioritize creating consistent, high-quality images rather than chasing trends.

2. Make Photos Accessible  

Easy access is key to maximizing sales. Zach strategically markets his photos on social media and ensures that parents and athletes can easily find and view their images.

3. Showcase Products In-Person  

“Every photoshoot is an opportunity to show off your product,” Zach advises. League photo days are ideal opportunities to showcase prints, buttons, magnets, or any other merchandise.

Advice for Aspiring Sports Photographers

For photographers new to youth sports, Zach stresses the importance of relationship-building.

“Jobs are hired through relationships. Be genuine, be humble!” Zach advises. His recommendation is to start by attending high school games to build skills and offering free photos to schools in exchange for access and experience. “Develop a portfolio before taking on big jobs,” he adds, noting that practice and building rapport with coaches, parents, and athletes is the key to success in this industry.

Conclusion: Elevating Youth Sports Photography with Efficiency and Creativity

Youth sports photography blends creativity, technical skill, and relationship-building to capture both action-packed and personal moments. By focusing on efficient workflows, streamlining post-production with tools like Imagen, and prioritizing client relationships, Zach Tijerina has crafted a winning formula for success.

If you’re looking to elevate your sports photography game, follow Zach’s tips: take great photos, engage with your clients, and utilize tools that save time without sacrificing quality. With the right approach, you’ll create memorable images that athletes and parents will treasure for years to come.

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