When I got a call from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about joining their team in the creative services department as a photo archivist, I was relieved. I had graduated college 3 months earlier, and my student loan payments were to begin 3 months later. I had stayed up all night with anxiety about how I would manage. Little did I know that this call would signal a massive change in my life leading to some incredible experiences, a new business, and ending with a wife.

Everyone who knows me already knows that I am not a huge sports buff. I love shooting sports. I love the challenge, I love the passion and energy. I just can’t get enough of putting my earbuds in, playing something fast, and shooting from the sidelines. However, if you ask me anything else about sports I am basically completely befuddled. I don’t follow stats or players or teams. I can appreciate the skill involved, but I only even really know the rules in so much as I need to to make good photos. So, it was a shock to everyone when I started this position, the least of which was me.

After a few weeks, I slowly transitioned into being primarily a photographer shooting the daily happenings of the team. I would cover things like draft day events; practice; bringing new players into the training facility and giving them a tour; traveling to public events with players, coaches, and cheerleaders; behind the scenes things; and so much more. During this time, my personal photography business was also growing and I was picking up weddings and assignments throughout Southwest Florida.

After a year on staff, I moved back home to pursue my business. When I was offered my old position back, I declined and instead added the Bucs as my first commercial client since incorporating my freelance work as a business. My reason for declining was, in no small part, because I had met my current wife, Sadie. Another year later and this chapter of my life would come to a close, but not after bringing Sadie on board to shoot weddings with me, accepting more freelance work, and getting engaged.

Below you can see a collection of my personal favorite images during my time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.