Surviving a Chilly Day of Sports Photography: A Big Thanks to Marc and Lessons Learned

Let me start off by giving a BIG THANK YOU to Marc for loaning me his coat—I honestly don’t think I would’ve made it through the evening without it! You would think that by now, as a sports photographer, I’d have mastered the art of dressing appropriately for outdoor events. But when I left the house this morning, I was convinced I’d be too hot shooting the meet. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong! Hours into the event, I was absolutely freezing, and my fingers were numb, with my nails turning blue.

To make matters worse, I found myself sneaking off to the bathroom just to run my hands under warm water for a little relief. Let’s just say, today wasn’t my finest moment. I probably sounded like a broken record, telling everyone around me that I was cold—very cold. If you heard me say it once, you likely heard me say it a hundred times. I was pretty pathetic, but hey, we all have those days!

Today, I had the privilege of covering a full day of sporting events for Oral Roberts University. Despite the cold, it was an exciting event to shoot, with a lot of action and energy throughout the day. But I have to admit, by the time the final event wrapped up, I was more than ready to head home, warm up, and call it a day. Thankfully, I don’t have to shoot tomorrow, so I’m planning on using that time to do something a bit more relaxing and fun—probably indoors!

Reflecting on today’s experience, it’s a reminder of how unpredictable shooting outdoor sports can be. The weather can change in an instant, and as a photographer, you need to be prepared for anything. It’s one of the challenges that makes sports photography both rewarding and demanding. Next time, I’ll definitely be more prepared when it comes to layering up and staying warm!

So, once again, a huge thank you to Marc for saving the day with that coat. Without it, I’m not sure how I would’ve made it through the chilly evening. Now it’s time to warm up, recharge, and look forward to the next shoot!

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