Working with Bay FC has let me combine two things I enjoy: graphic design and photography. Most fans see the finished graphics or game photos, but there is a lot that happens before those are ready to share. There are people giving feedback, designs being changed, and photos being sorted through after a match. These photos show my experience being part of that process, starting with the people I work with and ending with the community our work is for.
Bay FC is a professional women’s soccer team in the Bay Area. I’m part of the creative team as a graphic designer and photographer. This photo shows me with my managers, who help guide my work and give me feedback.
Even when I’m making something on my own, other people are involved. I might have an idea for a graphic, but getting another person’s opinion can help me see what needs fixing. Working with my managers gives me a chance to learn while contributing to the team. They are a big part of my experience, so I wanted to start with this photo.
This is what my job looks like during a match. I’m on the sideline with my camera, watching the game and trying to get photos of the action. Being that close to the field is exciting, but I also have to stay focused.
A lot can happen quickly. I have to follow the players and be ready to take a photo before the moment passes. I’m thinking about where to point my camera, what’s in the frame, and when to press the shutter. This photo shows what I’m doing before anyone sees the pictures I took.
Photography is one part of my work with Bay FC. I also spend time at my computer making graphics for the club. Here, I’m working on a design before it is finished.
I move things around, try different layouts, and figure out which photos fit best. Sometimes I like an idea at first, then change it once I see everything together. I also make revisions based on feedback from the team. There isn’t always one quick way to get the design right. This photo shows the part fans usually don’t see when they come across a graphic online.
04 / My finished Bay FC vs. Kansas City graphic.Bay FC Posting My Final Graphic On All Socials!Getting Revisions After A Draft Has Been Made From My Manager.Getting Another Set Revisions After Another Draft Has Been Made From My Manager.Prevision/Planning On How I Want The Graphic To Look Like.
04A page from my journal
The Finished Graphic
This is the finished result of that work. Having it right after the photo of me designing lets people see the process and the outcome next to each other.
By this point, I’ve worked through the layout and made the changes it needed. I want the graphic to look good, but the information also needs to be easy to read. Small things like spacing and photo placement can take time to figure out. It feels good to finish something knowing I helped create a piece of content for the team. Fans get to see the final version, while I remember everything that went into making it.
05 / An action photo from the sideline.Photo: James Trance
05A page from my journal
Getting the Shot
This photo connects back to the earlier picture of me on the sideline. It shows the result of watching the game and being ready with my camera.
One thing I enjoy about sports photography is that I can’t ask someone to repeat a moment. I have to work with what happens in front of me. That makes getting a photo I’m happy with feel rewarding. A player’s movement or expression can make a big difference in the image. When I choose photos afterward, I look for ones that show something about the game and are worth sharing with fans.
06 / Cristiana Girelli celebrating her first goal for Bay FC.Photo: James Trance
06A page from my journal
Beyond the Action
Following the action is only part of photographing a game. After a goal, I have to keep my camera ready because there are still reactions to capture.
In this photo, Bay FC forward Cristiana Girelli is celebrating her first goal for the club. What stands out to me is her excitement. You don’t need to know who she is or follow the team to understand what that moment means to her.
These are some of my favorite moments to photograph. I’m focused on getting the action, but I also want to capture how the game feels. This photo shows that other side of my work by paying attention to what happens after the play and catching a reaction before it passes.
07 / Reviewing and editing the photos after a match.
07A page from my journal
After the Game
Once the game ends, I look through the photos I took at home. I choose the strongest images and edit them before they are ready to use. There can be photos of similar moments, so I have to decide which one works best.
This part is much quieter than photographing the match. I’m back at my laptop, paying attention to the details and reviewing what I captured. It takes time, even though the game itself is already over. I wanted to include this photo because editing is part of the job too, and it helps explain how the pictures get from my camera to the finished collection.
08 / Me and My Intern Group On The Last Day Of The Internship
08A page from my journal
The People I Shared It With
This photo shows me with the other interns who were there throughout my time at Bay FC. Along with the projects and games, the people I shared that experience with are a big part of what I’ll remember.
Before Bay FC offered me a contract role, I was an intern learning from the team and getting more experience with design and photography. Looking back at this photo reminds me of that part of my journey and the people who were there with me.
I wanted to end with this photo because it feels personal. The graphics and game photos show the work I did, but this one shows the people I got to share that time with.
