How to Build Your Preseason Photography Checklist | Atlanta sports photographer
Creating compelling visuals for your team doesn’t start the week before game day. Or last minute booking a media day. It starts with having a Preseason Photography Checklist in place at the start of the season. This ensures your team has the images needed for recruiting, social media, marketing, and school communications before the schedule gets busy. It puts you a step ahead from the start.
Whether you're a coach, athletic director, or parent in the Atlanta are: taking time to plan your visual content now will save time and create a more consistent presence all season long.
Build Your Preseason Photography Checklist Before Practices Begin: What You Need to Know
The best time to schedule photography is before competitions and travel fill everyone's calendars. Start by identifying the types of images your program will need throughout the season.
Think beyond team photos and consider:
Individual athlete portraits
Team and coach photos
Action coverage during games
Senior banners and graphics
Social media content
Recruiting and website images
Creating this list early helps ensure nothing gets overlooked.
Schedule Photography With Your Season Goals in Mind
Every team uses photography differently. Some programs prioritize recruiting content, while others focus on community engagement or showcasing athletes on social media. Knowing how you'll use your images makes it easier to determine what sessions to book and when.
Planning ahead also allows you to coordinate uniforms, locations, branding, and graphics, so everything feels cohesive throughout the season. Instead of scrambling to find photos halfway through the year, you'll already have a library of professional images ready to use.
It also allows you to design, order and distribute any merch or gear you want to use that will set you apart from the competition with elevated branding. Booking last minute makes it hard to have custom tee shirts, hats or other merch created.
Have a preseason photography checklist can really help! Scroll down to copy mine!
Here is my suggested preseason photography checklist! Feel free to screenshot and save for your team!
☐ Book your media day and communicate date to parents well in advance
☐ Schedule game day photography coverage for highly anticipated games
☐ Plan senior banners and senior night photos
☐ Order team apparel, coaches polos and branded gear
☐ Finalize uniforms and athlete roster for media day
☐ Update team website and social media branding
☐ Capture updated player and coach headshots
☐ Make a list of how you want to use the photos: Social Media posts, recruiting, website updates, athlete features, banners etc.
☐ Find printers for banners & custom branded props
☐ Update sponsor logos if they'll appear on graphics or banners
☐ Make sure parent and athlete photo permissions are completed if required by your school
Invest in Photography That Supports Your Program
Professional sports photography is more than documenting games. It's an investment in your program's reputation, your athletes' experience, and your ability to tell your team's story.
Working with me as an Atlanta sports photographer before the season begins gives you a clear plan for the visuals you'll need all year long.
A thoughtful Preseason Photography Checklist helps your team stay organized while creating images that celebrate your athletes and elevate your program from the first whistle to the final game.
