Oceanside High School girls Flag Football: Bringing Media Day Energy to the Pirates

There is something special happening in girls flag football right now—and I absolutely love getting to photograph it.

I recently had the opportunity to work with the Oceanside High School Girls Flag Football team, and this session is a perfect example of why I created Sports Rock Media.

These girls are athletes. They are strong, competitive, confident and full of personality, and I wanted their photographs to reflect that.

Girls Flag Football players on field at Oceanside High School

More Than a Traditional Sports Photo

When I photograph athletes, my goal isn't simply to take a nice picture of them standing in their uniform.

I want to create something that makes that athlete stop when she sees it.

Something that feels powerful.

Something she wants to post.

And something her parents are going to want to keep long after her high school playing days are over.

For the Oceanside Pirates, we created dramatic individual portraits using professional lighting, poses and effects designed to give the images that high-energy Media Day look you see from college and professional sports programs.

But one of my favorite parts is seeing each athlete's personality come through.

Some athletes walk in knowing exactly what they want to do. Others aren't quite sure what to do in front of the camera—and that's completely fine. I have been photographing kids and teens for more than 20 years, and helping them relax, pose and have fun is a huge part of what I do.

By the end, we usually have some pretty big personalities coming out!

Flag Football player leaping with the football

Girls Flag Football Is Having a Moment

Girls flag football has exploded in popularity, and it is exciting to see these athletes getting the attention they deserve.

The speed, athleticism and energy of the sport make it incredibly fun to photograph. More importantly, these girls deserve the same kind of sports portraits and Media Day experience that athletes see at the collegiate and professional level.

That is exactly what I want to bring to high school and youth sports programs throughout San Diego and Southern California.

One of My Favorite Things About Photographing Teams

There is a moment I get to see over and over again.

An athlete comes over to look at the back of my camera.

At first, she's curious.

Then she sees herself.

And suddenly there's a huge smile.

"Wait...that's ME?"

That's the reaction I'm looking for.

Because these sessions aren't just about creating cool sports pictures. They are about giving young athletes an opportunity to see themselves the way everyone else sees them—strong, capable and confident.

And yes...we definitely make them look pretty cool too.

Thank You, Oceanside Pirates

A huge thank you to the Oceanside High School Girls Flag Football program for allowing me to photograph these athletes.

I have had the opportunity to work with several Oceanside High School sports programs, and I always enjoy being back on campus working with the Pirates.

I'm looking forward to seeing what these girls do this season—and hopefully getting many more of them in front of my camera.

Want a Sports Rock Media Day for Your Team?

Sports Rock Media creates dramatic sports portraits and custom Media Day experiences for high school teams, youth leagues, clubs and individual athletes throughout North San Diego County, San Diego and Southern California.

I bring the studio to you—including professional lighting and backgrounds—and handle the photography, parent communication, online ordering and image delivery so the process is easy for coaches and team organizers.

If you're a coach, athletic director, booster club member or team parent and would like to bring a Sports Rock Media Day to your athletes, I'd love to talk with you.

Let's create something your athletes can't wait to share.

Sports Rock Media
Carlsbad, California
Serving North San Diego County and Southern California
Instagram: @SportsRockMedia