This was my first year covering a wide range of summer league games and I was amazed with not only the teams but the umpires as well. Most of them are or were Varsity Softball & Baseball Players for Athens & Union City High Schools. I love the fact that they were given the chance to learn what it is like to be behind the plate and show their knowledge of the rules of the game but to also be a role model for the younger players.
Kudos to all of you…
Friday night I was at the 2014 Athens Follies, “Remember the Feeling… Enjoy the Fun” and Saturday night I was at the 2014 Cabaret in Tekonsha, “Black Tie Affair, Under the Stars”. Both productions were student based with assistance from teachers, parents and the community.
What was the most interesting between the 2 productions though was that the 2014 Athens Follies had mostly singing and choreographed dancing while the 2014 Tekonsha Cabaret was singing and skits or plays with acting.
Both events were held in their school’s gymnasium with public invited to watch. Both events had a stage crew, ushers and programs but at Tekonsha the students really did run the show with lighting, music, curtains and communication. While the 2014 Athens Follies is open to all students K-12 the 2014 Tekonsha Cabaret was 7-12 grades.
I was amazed with the talent at both shows especially with some of the solo artists. There was range from playing the guitar to saxophone and even a violin!
Now as a photographer, I will have to admit that the Follies and the Cabaret can be my most challenging events to photograph. It is completely pitch dark in the gymnasiums with spotlights and stage lights but not controlled by me. Freezing motion in this type of setting is extremely hard. However, I always manage to get some good pictures even though I probably drove those sitting next to up the wall with the number of clicks they heard and all of my movement!
The crowd is roaring and you can feel the excitement in the air! The game has ended its 4th quarter but the score is tied… everyone prepares for OVERTIME!
There is a buzz in throughout the gymnasium… “Who is going to win?” Someone shoots… misses then a rebound… Now someone is at the free throw line. The crowd comes to a low roar but then as the shot is about to be made there is a frantic cry for a miss!
The score goes up for one team and then the score goes up for the other team. There is a break away and a block… the clock is counting down the seconds… and then buzzer goes off. The score is still tied. OVERTIME once again!
There is finally a break through and one team takes a lead. With the sound of this final and third buzzer Athens wins with a final score of Athens 77 Union City 71.
It was once again another game for the record books! It was about 4 – 5 years ago that the boys Varsity Basketball Game between Athens and Union City went into multiple overtimes. The ironic thing is… the game was played at Athens and Union City won the game. This year the game was played at Union City and Athens won.
But I remember that game at Athens all too well. I was not photographing it but instead I was a parent of a Union City Junior Varsity basketball player. We were watching the Varsity game to support his school team and fellow athletes. However, a part of me was also supporting the Athens team… you see, I am an Athens Graduate (1986).
It is amazing now going to these games and photographing them. I’m not rooting for one or the other teams any more… but instead I am thrilled to be a part of documenting such a great rivalry between schools. Click here to see more photos from last nights game between Athens and Union City.
During the month of February many of us would probably think of roses, hearts, Valentines Day… the cinnamon red hots I have sitting on my desk when asked “What do you think of when you think of the color Red?” Another thought might be red birds of sorts like this House Finch…
To be honest, I have been thinking about this post all day (we receive our daily prompts for WordPress in the morning) and I finally decided to write about something that I really do think of the majority of the time when I think of the colors Red & White.
Now mind you, I am suppose to “Show you Red” another words with these daily prompts for a photographer, I am suppose to show you something… so tonight I am going to show you Red & White, but I am also going to tell you a little bit about the Tekonsha Indians.
Last night I spent the evening at the Tekonsha Senior High School in Southern Michigan photographing the Indians during 3 basketball games. It was a fun night with the JV & Varsity Boys winning their games and the Varsity Girls really put up a good fight against the Will Carleton Academy Cougars.
At the end of an evening, when I am leaving any sporting event, I am always thinking about something that stood out as in a player’s outstanding athleticism, a spectator’s spectacle or an official’s call… but last night not only was I thinking of the wins that I had just photographed, I kept thinking back to 1985 when Tekonsha went all the way to the State Quarterfinals in basketball.
Now Tekonsha hasn’t been the only school in the area to go a long ways in a sporting season. 1985 was however the first time that I had followed a team when they had gone as far as Tekonsha did.
I never dreamed back then I would be a Sports Photographer now, but I remember the excitement and the thrill of the crowd as the team took the floor back in 1985. It wasn’t too long ago I was able to not only follow but photograph the Athens Indians Varsity Girls Basketball team go all the way to the State Finals in 2012 and the Semi Finals in 2013.
You see, I was actually an Athens Indian (purple and white) but I had some really good friends who were Tekonsha Indians. I knew quite a few of the 1984 – 1985 graduating classes and then some. I had spent quite a bit of time attending Tekonsha Senior High School events from the Cabaret, sporting events, dances… to attending school on an occasion as a guest student (something that most schools do not allow anymore). I was purple and white thru and thru but there was a bit of red and white in me too!
Now I am photographing for several schools all different colors including the Athens Indians, Tekonsha Indians… the school that my children graduated from, the Union City Chargers (maroon and grey) and schools in the surrounding area.
You can find more information and my photographs on Facebook and my Website.
I am so excited today to share the New PayPal Button on my website! I am a huge fan of PayPal and I use it whenever it is available. Now I can offer you this feature on my website!!!!
No more limiting my customers to Credit or Debit cards…. one click of the button and you can log into your PayPal account and purchase your prints.
If you have not used PayPal before, it is supper simple and easy to set up and account. Go to PayPal and set up an account. You have the option to use credit cards or debit cards as your payment option but even better… you can have PayPal set up to use your checking or savings account for your payment!
That’s right… You can now pay for your prints with your checking account from my website!!!!!!
No more shuffling around to find your Credit or Debit card to make a purchase!
Char
My 12″ x 12″ Memory Pages can be customized to your school, sport or event! One way to find out how to order a Memory Page from me is to go to my Website, scroll down to the Sports Folder, click on it and you will find the following information…
12″ x 12″ Memory Pages cost $25.00 each. Starting in September, 2014 – when you purchase 4 Memory Pages you will receive your fifth Memory Page for FREE.
Here are some examples of Memory Pages from Union City 2013 Homecoming…
and here are a couple examples of Memory Pages done for Harper Creek 8th Grade Football.
Memory Pages are 12″ x 12″ and perfect for Scrapbooks. You can also find frames for 12″ x 12″ prints at various stores. Memory Pages are an excellent way to display your Senior’s accomplishments and participation in various sports and events for their Graduation Open Houses! A Memory Page makes a great present and is a keepsake that will last forever with proper care as they are professionally printed.
To order your 12″ x 12″ Memory Page, contact me with the Athlete’s Name, Number and Sport/Game/Event they participated in by sending me an email, message on Facebook, filling out the contact form on my website or by calling me at (517) 767-3013.
I do offer the option to have a Memory Page mailed to you with a tracking number and in a cardboard sleeve for an additional $5.00. For more information on having your Memory Pages mailed, please contact me.
I have had a few people inquire about how to purchase Prints & Downloads from my website. Here is a quick break down on 2 ways to purchase Prints & Downloads from my website…
All galleries will have a button “Add to Cart” in the upper right hand corner.
When you click “This Photo” you will be taken to this screen. Select the size print you would like to purchase and then you can click “Back to Photos” to add more to your cart or “Checkout” to purchase the prints you have in your cart.
You can also click “Downloads” at the top of the shopping cart. This will take you to the screen shown above. Here is a break down on the different sized downloadable file that are offered
– Low Res (1Mpix) is about 1000 x 1000 megapixel file. This will work for 4″ x 6″, 5″ x 7″ and possibly 8″ x 10″ prints.
– High Res (4Mpix) is what you would purchase for good quality 8″ x 10″ or larger prints (reasonably sized).
– Original File is just that. It is my original file which is high quality and resolution. This would be purchased for printing large poster or larger prints.
All downloadable files come with a personal print release which basically states that you can print these photos for your personal use. You cannot resell any of my files or prints.
This screen viewed above is what you will see if you select “Photos from this Gallery” when you click on “Add to Cart”. This screen is actually pretty cool if you have several pictures in a gallery that you would like to purchase! You can select the Print Size or Download that you would like to purchase and then just click on each of the pictures that you would like to purchase. Once you click “Add Photos to Cart” you can continue on to another gallery and purchase more!
Prices shown here are for Sports and Event Galleries only. If you are interested in Portrait Session & Prints Prices, please contact me.
Thank you for your business and support but even more so… Thank you for allowing me to photograph your athletes!
Above you are looking at the new 8″ x 10″ Team Portrait print that you will receive when ordering a package containing an 8″ x 10″ Team Portrait or an individual 8″ x 10″ Team Portrait. All schools of the teams that I photograph will also receive an 8″ x 10″ Team Portrait for displaying in their school.
Above you will find the new 5″ x 7″ Team Portrait print that you will receive when ordering a package containing a 5″ x 7″ Team Portrait or an individual 5″ x 7″ Team Portrait. Also, all coaches will receive a 5″ x 7″ Team Portrait of the team they coach.
You will notice that the new Team Portrait prints look similar to the Memory Mates! Now you have nice complimentary prints for scrapbooks and framing. There will be times when I will customize the Memory Mates to suit the teams, school/team colors and portraits taken. Here is an example of a change in the Memory Mate for the same school but different sport:
I am looking forward to an exciting and busy year of High School & Middle School Sports! Good luck to all of the teams that I am photographing… Athens, Tekonsha & Union City. You will also find me in Harper Creek this fall photographing athletes competing in Football & Volleyball.
I grew up in Athens and graduated from Athens High School (Charlotte Converse). Shortly after I moved to Union City where I was married and started a family. I since then I have divorced and now live just outside of Tekonsha with Mark.
I have been asked if my photography skills came from taking classes or if I am self-taught. The answer to this question would be both. I started taking sports pictures of my brothers when they played baseball, basketball and football with a 35 mm film. I also did some portrait and candid work at weddings, anniversary and birthday parties. I did take a black and white photography class where I learned how to develop my own film and prints in a dark room. I bought my first digital camera several years ago and I have taught myself how to use it. It has taken me a long time to get where I am now. At the age of 44 I finally turned this passion of mine into a business, Photography by Char.
Another question that I have been asked has been “Do you ONLY photograph Union City School Sports?” The answer to this is NO!
My 2 children have attended Union City Schools and have been involved in sports pre-k thru graduation. Union City has been a wonderful place for me to start my business but I certainly do photograph for other schools and communities. For example:
1) I have always enjoyed photographing any Athens vs. Union City sporting competition. I have also photographed Athens Winter Homecoming, their 2013 Follies and followed the Lady Indians to Regional and State Final Tournaments at the Breslin Center.
2) I have also traveled to Battle Creek to photograph Harper Creek Middle School Football, Freshmen Volleyball and traveled to Coldwater to photograph the Varsity Harper Creek vs. Coldwater Football game this past fall.
3) I have been asked to travel to Battle Creek for Baseball this spring/summer and to Marshall for Soccer.
4) I have had parent customers from Athens, Bronson, Harper Creek, Quincy, Union City and
I do not charge at the present moment to attend and photograph a sporting event or other special events (dance recitals, proms, etc). I also do not charge to travel to your home school to shoot a Portrait Shoot of a team or group. I rely solely on the sale of my photographs and portraits to athletes, parents and coaches. I also work with schools and coaches to provide photographs for the organizations and publications.
I also photograph Seniors & Families along with Weddings. These have mostly come from my work as a Sports Photographer!
I have found a real joy in my ability to provide documentation of not only an athlete, team, school year 
but the life of these teens, young adults and families.
Now that my kids are grown (Martha graduates this spring!) I am looking to expand and cover more schools and teams in the area.
Now would be a great time to schedule those Summer and Fall sporting leagues for Portrait Shoots and Game Coverage. You can contact me and request a photo shoot on my website www.photographybychar.com, by email photographybychar@gmail.com, by phone at (517) 767-3013 or by commenting here on my blog.
I am a Freelance Sports Photographer in Southern Michigan. I have come across some schools where the Athletic Director will make the decision and contract a photographer to do all of the Athlete & Team Portrait shoots for all of their Sports Team for the year. I have also come across some schools who make recommendations but ultimately leave the decision up to the individual Sports Coaches.
I am curious as to how your school handles this?
I am going to share with you some information on how I go about an Athlete & Team Photo Shoot
Location:
I shoot Athlete & Team Portraits on your home field and natural setting of your sport.
The Athlete Portrait:
I encourage the athletes to do what they would like for their portrait. This includes their particular area of expertise and contribution to the team and sport. Examples would be: the pitcher having their portrait done on the pitching mound; a solid hitter having their portrait done up to bat; a discus throwing having their portrait done in the discus circle with the discus; a pole vaulter having their portrait done in the pole vaulting pit with the pole; or a good putter having their portrait done on the green with their putter & flag.
It has been surprisingly amazing that when an athlete has the opportunity to do what they want for a portrait, they really like their portraits more and are more willing to have their portraits done. A photo shoot also tends to go a little bit faster! Track may be the only exception to this considering there is such a large range of events that could be involved. However, I always attempt to limit the amount of time I take an athlete from practicing their sport.
My Objective as a Sports Photographer:
Throughout many years of being a parent of an athlete, I have learned what parents and athletes are looking for in a good Athlete & Team Portrait and Memory Mate. In my opinion, one of the main objectives a portrait photographer should have is to capture the true contribution, dedication and expertise an athlete brings to a team and sport. An Athlete & Team Photo Shoot should not be about me and what I perceive as the perfect pose but instead what the athlete, team and coach perceives as the perfect pose.
I will bring suggestions and guidelines to help an athlete and team portray what they are aiming for.
It is my belief that the athletes and teams should have ownership in their portraits. This would be the foundation of Photography by Char. It would be a great pleasure to be able to photograph your school’s athletes and teams.
MY PHOTOGRAPHS & WORDS 