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…
Sometimes while photographing a sports game, I will get a little sidetracked and photograph something other than the game! I usually try to make it something challenging like a juxtaposition which is “the act of placing things side by side, especially for the purpose of comparison or contrast.”
One way I have found to capture a juxtaposition during a basketball game (actually during warm ups) is to capture the basketball as it comes thru the hoop and net. For me it is more of a comparison of technique, focus, position and timing. The shear timing alone can be extremely tricky but always such a delight when I capture that perfect moment in time!
Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition
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
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 