Student Athlete Life

Playing sports in high school is a right of passage for most students, but becoming an athlete and playing sports at the next level is something not many get to do. Athletes in this era have opportunities to make a living off their Name, Image and Likeness (N.I.L.). Social media has made it possible for student athletes to make money while attending college, playing their sport and using the SAME products they would be using anyway........and getting PAID to post about it on their platforms. This isn't something that just happens overnight though, this is a culture, this is a lifestyle, this is a road that has to be traveled and worked just like their sport in order to be READY to start making money once they are able to. As a professional photographer and sports marketing rep, I take the photography side of this to a new level. Of course I offer team photography, team photos and typical photoshoots for respective sports. But I also offer game day photos (yes I come to a game and photograph and video your athlete playing their sport), I offer media days (these are content creation days for athletes combining special effects/behind the scenes footage and more), I offer media training and development (this is an online course where the athlete is given step by step info on how to start gaining their following and building their brand and their N.I.L.). By incorporating media days, media training and development along with information on social media management and college recruitment I am elevating high school athletes and arming them with the knowledge to be PREPARED to enter college and not only play their sport but have a feel for what that culture and life will look like (interviews, cameras, social media, magazine and newspaper articles, student/athlete lifestyle and how to handle ALL of these things professionally). Now of course this lifestyle depends on what level they choose to play their sport, however the opportunity to get paid for their N.I.L. is going to be there no matter WHERE they choose to attend college. Social media is different than being in a certain division of school, where the lower you are the less you are in the media. Social media and the ability to make money from it, just requires a following, a SOLID brand and the knowledge on how to KEEP it and I offer ALL of that by FIRST introducing the athlete to my camera. Getting them comfortable in front of a camera means they will be comfortable BEING an athlete when cameras are on them (which can be Mom and Dad's camera or the local news station camera). My goal with student athletes is to show them the opportunities they have to make a stream of revenue by doing something they already LOVE to do and letting the world SEE it via their social media platforms.