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 7am 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!