Roles undertaken within Loughborough Sport
Matchday photographer Men's Au Football
Tell us a little about yourself (E.g. hobbies, interests and background)
Sport has always been a major part of my life. From playing to working in it at the collegiate and professional levels in the US, I've loved being around the industry. I moved to the UK to work on the global sport stage, and throughout my career I've had the chance to capture photo and video content, work in broadcast production, and manage social media across cricket, American football, baseball, football and volleyball. Outside of work, I love travelling and going to the theatre.
How did you first get involved in volunteering within sport at Loughborough?
I wanted to make the most of my time at Loughborough and, as an international student, found it difficult to find hands-on experience, especially in content creation. I wanted to build my portfolio before graduating, so I looked for opportunities on the main campus through the CVA portal. I saw AU Football was looking for matchday photographers, applied, and was accepted. It was challenging at first coming from the London campus, but I soon found my feet.
During your years at Loughborough what have you got involved in through volunteering within sport?
Despite my time at Loughborough being quite short as a postgrad student, I got involved in as much as I could. Beyond my experience with LSMFC, I volunteered with Volleyball England and, through Future Space, joined a group of London students volunteering at the London Marathon. Given the time I had, I came away with far more experience and connections than I'd have had without those opportunities.
What has your experience volunteering been like whilst at Loughborough?
Volunteering with AU men's football has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at Loughborough, especially when I became the 5s official photog. It gave me a purpose and was something I looked forward to every week. At the end of the season, the team (5s) gave me a photobook, each player had written a note next to their favourite photo I'd taken of them. I was so touched. Moments like that stick with me way more than any camera settings or gear.
How has being involved with Loughborough Sport helped you develop and progress (personally and professionally)?
While I've been fortunate to have quite a bit of professional experience, volunteering pushed me to develop in different ways. Shooting football, a sport I'd never captured before, meant learning to adapt quickly and read a new game on the fly. It strengthened my ability to prioritise and work within tight deadlines, turning shots around fast for the team and club. It also let me build my portfolio of match content, since past roles often had me on social media rather than shooting.
What’s the best advice you could give to a Loughborough student looking to get involved in volunteering & gain the most out of their university experiences?
My advice is simple: just do it. As a student from the London campus, volunteering gave me a much stronger connection to the wider university and helped me build my experience. It wasn’t always easy logistically, but I wouldn’t change any of it.
Finally, what do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I enjoyed the community the most. The entire club really welcomed me into their community. I got to share in their celebrations and disappointments, and while I may not have been on the pitch, I felt every one of their wins and losses.