Which teams benefit most from CSP's Team Picture Day experiences

When Creative Sports Photography started, one of my goals was to reinvent the whole team picture day experience.

This grew out of my own time as a player, a coach, and a parent.

Team Picture Day over the years had grown stale, worn out, and to be honest, almost unnecessary.

As a parent, I felt like I was overpaying for pictures with the same old vibe, the same old poses, as my parents bought when I was an athlete in the 80s and 90s.

Team picture day was overdue for an overhaul.

Often, I would have to hand over money before I even saw a single picture. How would I know if the quality was any good?

As a coach, I saw just how much of a drag team picture days had become. The kids certainly didn't feel excited about it. And many of the parents seem to just spend their money and buy pictures because, well, isn't that what we're supposed to do?

To me, it all added up to one conclusion - the whole team picture day experience needed to be demolished and rebuilt from the ground up.

What makes CSP's team picture day experience different

It's more than just the fancy lighting and eye-popping images CSP delivers to team picture day clients.

I mean, yeah sure, that's a part of it. I never ever wanna deliver something that's forgettable.

I want the images to reflect what this time means to your child or teenager because their playing days don't last forever. Once they're gone, they're gone for good.

At the heart of the experience, though, is this guiding principle - the service must be player/team/parent-centric. Every player, no matter his or her age, must feel heard, seen, and respected.

Every team, every player, deserves maximum effort from its team photographer.

Every player, every team, deserves maximum effort.

And every team picture day should feel like a celebration or a moment to lift up what makes each player unique and each team special.

That begins with me and my team. It's the tone we set when you arrive for team picture day, the way we interact with players and coaches, and a mindset that's critical to CSP's success - this isn't about CSP, it's about the players and the team community.

Which teams benefit the most from CSP's service?

The truth is CSP's team picture day experiences are catered to specific teams. I wish this could be for everyone, but during the years, I've learned which teams get the most of out the service.

Clubs with 20 teams or less

Creative Sports Photography is a solo operation. One image maker who is also CEO, CIO, CFO, and CMO of the business.

I wish so badly I could service sport clubs with more than 20 teams, but I have found that for purposes of scheduling, timing, customer satisfaction, responsiveness, balancing the needs of other clients, and so on, working with clubs that have no more than 20 teams is best.

This includes school-based teams too. I've worked with schools to provide junior high, junior varsity, and varsity team pictures.

Travel, select or elite clubs

Many clubs have both rec league teams and elite travel teams.

The kind of service, high end products, and pricing offered by Creative Sports Photography makes a lot of sense for the elite travel teams.

High performing, elite clubs match well with CSP's team picture day experiences.

Why? For several reasons. But chief among them is this - parents and players are deeply invested emotionally and financially in the journey/success of the child or teenager.

Travel/elite/select clubs are, more often than not, exclusive. Not everyone who tries out makes the team. Those who do perform and compete at an elevated level.

CSP seeks to elevate it's level of image making performance to match that of travel/elite/select clubs. Players are expected to give the best of themselves each at every practice and game, and you'd be right to expect the same level of effort from your team photographer.

Also, clubs that offer elite travel team options can promote the fact that for those players and families who join, they will receive a premium team picture day experience.

Teams that achieve a milestone or something special

Sometimes, even before the start of a season, you just know a team is gonna be another level.

Or that team went a journey that ended in a remarkable, emotional, unforgettable way.

And you want to celebrate.

You also know that the team and the community of parents around it deserve something better than run-of-the-mill, boring team pictures.

That's a prime reason to bring Creative Sports Photography in and help elevate the whole experience. Save the memories for all time and go with an image making service that you get excited about.

Teams unsatisfied with other team picture day services

Every season, it happens. A team that's part of a large club or school finds itself dissatisfied with the photography service the club or school provides.

You walk away underwhelmed. All you really want is to say "Wow!" because the images and the experiences are worthy of you and your player.

It's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. This team is made up of your kids, after all, and you want the best for them.

Just reach out to CSP.

Have more questions about CSP's team picture day experience? I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me right here with anything you'd like to discuss.

Dave Pidgeon is the chief image maker and owner of Creative Sports Photography, an elite photographer service for competitors of all ages and activities. CSP is based in Lancaster, Pa. and available anywhere. You can contact Dave by email at dave@creativesportsphotography.com.