Caption This: How Student Photgraphers are Bringing Newfound Hype to Big Red Sports

          Fall sports are in full swing and the media, including independent student photographers, are all over the Big Red Sports team competitions. Instagram accounts like photosbyjuliettev, yk_flics, and shotbylincoln are covering the numerous campus sports teams as they take their leagues by storm. These accounts bring publicity to our varsity sports teams, with many students noticing a change in school spirit and pride since these accounts started posting. We at The Lawrence looked into how this added coverage is influencing our Big Red Athletics. 

          School President Bryce Langdon ’24 recently mentioned in a school meeting that this Fall 2023, more so than in previous years, has borne witness to vibrant energy and increased turnouts at games. There have been much bigger crowds at sporting events, with Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Soccer’s Under the Lights season opener serving as a prime example. Students have also noticed that promotion for varsity sports has never been higher, with much more attention being paid to reposts of these teams on social media. Images of the sports teams in action, with student fans taking it all in, are being shared not only through the athletes’ accounts but also through the student body and their families. This increased exposure makes our varsity teams look strong and our community more united, whilst also building hype for the school and athletes. Our student photographers are using their creativity and voice from behind the camera to capture and spread amazing moments that inspire us and visually bring alive our athletes' successes on the field. 

According to several varsity athletes, having student photographers boosts morale because they capture crucial moments in action. Whether someone is scoring a critical goal, or the entire team is huddled up before the game, we get to virtually participate in that sentiment and feel Big Red pride. Eli Lacey ’25, Varsity Football Athlete, states “Social media accounts create publicity for Lawrenceville athletics. Everything now is about social media and how you portray yourself. In the context of the photo accounts, I think they do a great job at making athletes look really good. Being able to portray your sports team in that way is like a feedback loop that boosts team morale and ultimately school spirit.”

          These student photographers have taken it upon themselves to promote our Big Red athletes, but this begs the question: Should these student photographers stay independent, or should they merge with existing campus coverage such as the Big Red Sports Network or L10? Many student-athletes believe that merging would allow them to build a larger base and have their photos be affiliated with our athletics program. However, others feel that conjoining would take away from the creativity and self-expression that the student photographers bring. “BRSN and L10 are pretty formal,” Eli Lacey said when asked his opinion on the issue. He believes that by staying independent “student photographers get to express themselves as much as they see fit”. For now, it seems the common sentiment is that student photographers should continue to remain self-affiliated so they can keep their unique perspectives as visual storytellers for our athletes.

          The Big Red community cannot wait for the next set of games, and thanks to an influx of student-led positivity, everyone is extremely excited. Let’s roll into it!