Football photographer Surf Coast

by | 29 Aug, 2026 | Blog, Corporate, Loved-up, Uncategorised | 2 comments

Football photographer Surf Coast

Storytelling at Its Core: My First Season Sponsoring a Local Soccer Club

It’s the end of winter. The end of the soccer season. And the end of my first year sponsoring a local club, documenting sport, and being a team sports Mumma.

And I really, really enjoyed it.

I never thought I’d be the person setting an alarm for sparrows on a Sunday, driving to the ground while the sun is still rising and the fog hasn’t quite lifted. I invested in thermals to survive the coastal wind. But there I was, week after week, loving every second of watching these little humans find their groove, both as individuals and as a team.

Soccer ball hitting the back of the net, shot through the goal net with the goal scorer and the keeper visable
The ball, the keeper the reaction of the scorer to the crowd still, watching…waiting – GOAL!

The Community Behind the Camera

What surprised me most wasn’t the early mornings or the cold. It was the community.

By sponsoring the club and showing up with my camera, I formed instant connections with people I’d never have met otherwise.

A few weeks ago I was photographing a local artist’s mural at a nearby primary school and a group of preppies from the club turned up to help out. Even picking my son up from school, kids recognise me now. Some give a shy smile. Others walk straight up and ask, “Do you recognise me?” Which of course I do.

Do you need a story told?

I’ve been able to capture the community and tell the stories that mean just as much to me now…

Young boy holding a handmade sign cheering on a player at a junior soccer match
Older supporter watching a soccer match wearing a club scarf, back turned
Mother lifting and hugging her daughter in soccer uniform on the field
Parents watching a junior soccer match from the sideline in fog, one with a dog
Parent comforting a young soccer player on the sideline, black and white
Father and young son holding hands walking across a soccer ground, black and white
Junior soccer player sitting in the locker room before a match, black and white
Junior soccer player pulling a funny face with an orange slice in his mouth

Shooting Soccer Teams Photos

As the official photographer I was employed to do the team photos for the year. I shots for 26 teams, along with individual portraits and sibling shoots. 

Every single session, we prayed the weather would hold and chased the last of the light on short winter days.

Being a wedding photographer for years, winter has always been my quiet season. This year it was one of my favourites in a long time. Getting out there, camera in hand, documenting something completely different to weddings reminded me why I fell in love with storytelling through photography in the first place.

I’ve learned a lot this year, professionally and personally. Mostly, that the best stories are often found somewhere you didn’t expect to find them, like a foggy soccer ground at 8am on a Sunday.

Family soccer photo of Father holding his young son with a soccer ball at sunset on a Surf Coast oval
Two brothers playing with soccer balls at sunset on the Surf Coast
Under 10 soccer team goofing around together after training at dusk
Under 10 soccer team group photo with coach at dusk on the Surf Coast

Ready to tell your story? Whether its your family, a team, club or communities story?

Let’s talk about what a season, a club, or a group of humans finding their groove could look like through the lens

Let’s colaborate


I shot 1000’s of images throughout the season, so to get it down to a dozen was difficult. So it was rude not to share more. I hope you like how I have told these stories – ENJOY!

Close up black and white portrait of a junior soccer player, half his face in shadow
Goalkeeper gloves resting on grass in soft sunlight
Coach walking across the field with a bag of soccer balls after training
Junior soccer player listening intently during a coach's team talk making eye contact with the camera
Two girls soccer players looking at a clipboard on the sideline
AUFC goalie sitting on the ground gesturing playfully, framed between two players' legs, black and white
Girls soccer team gathered around a tactics board before a match
Junior soccer players laughing with arms around each other after a match
Junior soccer players walking off the field together, black and white
unior soccer players calling for the corner kick in, black and white
Junior soccer player taking a throw in during a match
Close up of a coach's hands and beard calling out instructions on the sideline
Close up of junior soccer players' legs and a ball kicking up dust
Soccer players running across the field with long shadows in low winter sun, black and white
Two adult soccer players contesting the ball mid match from bendigo cup, black and white
Girls soccer player running during a match, hair flying
Junior soccer player signalling to his coach on a foggy morning, black and white
Girls soccer player kicking the ball during a match
Goalkeeper in purple kit facing an incoming ball, shot through the net
Goalkeeper in purple kit facing an incoming ball, shot through the net
Teenage soccer player smiling back over his shoulder
Overhead shot of a picnic rug with chips, toys and a young sibling at a soccer match
Soccer player throwing a ball near the clubrooms
Soccer players on a large open field, one in the foreground out of focus
Girls soccer player with her hair flicking mid movement on the field, black and white
Junior goalkeeper diving to make a save during a match
Junior soccer player sliding to control the ball during a match
Two teenage soccer players standing together with a ball, casual portrait
Overhead shot of orange slices in a container at half time with muddy boots nearby
Official standing on a soccer field with a ball in the foreground, community centre behind
hree siblings walking together, one in soccer kit and one in a tutu carrying a teddy bear
Girl lying back over a bench laughing on the sideline
View through a soccer goal frame across the field under a dramatic sky, black and white
Junior soccer players shaking hands after a match, long shadows, black and white
Soccer players walking off the field, one with an older woman's arm around him


Here, I don’t just document football and teams. I document all stories from family’s, weddings to small-large business.

Do you have a story you want to tell?

Let’s chat about yours!


A Huge Thank You to This Season’s Sponsors

None of this happens without the people and businesses who back the club season after season.

Major Sponsors

Your support is what keeps kids on the ground every Sunday, and what let me be there capturing it.

Here is a case study I did for YMCA. My images helped YMCA secure four tenders across four different city councils

Comments

comments

2 Comments

  1. Lawrence Nicholson
    Lawrence Nicholson on August 31, 2026 at 10:16 am

    Hi Loz,

    Some fantastic shots from this season with Armstrong Creek. A couple of great ones of my son. I was interested in getting a copy of one of them that I could print out (it’s the b&w one of him sitting listening to the coach in the clubroom). How much do you charge for a digital copy?

    Thanks

    Lawrence

    Reply
    • Loz M
      Loz M on August 31, 2026 at 10:50 am

      OMG, there are a few awesome ones of him from that game. That is him getting the goal I believe?!

      Absolutely you can. I will email you now.

      Reply

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