In 2022 I had the super fun job of doing photo & video for 2 sessions with CIBM Bank, featuring Coleman Hawkins from the Illinois men’s basketball team. This was my first shoot since the NIL (name-image-likeness) started, meaning that businesses and individuals can pay college athletes to be spokesmodels. This is a great way for the players to make money since their practice & school schedules don’t generally allow for them to have jobs.

Big thanks to my friend Mike Heiniger for coming along and helping me out with the first of the two sessions doing still photos while I shot video. Also thanks to Coleman for being so easy to work with!

AND since AI is the next big thing in 2023… I asked and AI service to write for me 5 tips on doing a brand shoot with an athlete. Here’s what it came up with — not too shabby!

• Research the athlete's style to ensure that you capture the right look and feel for the brand.

• Engage the athlete in conversation to build a rapport and make them feel comfortable during the shoot.

• Make sure to capture a variety of different shots, including close-ups, mid-shots and wide-shots, to give the brand more options when selecting photos.

• Utilize the athlete's natural talent or skills while shooting to create dynamic, unique images.

• Choose a location that will best capture the athlete's energy and the brand's message.