You’ve probably seen junior Seyni Reed crouching on the sidelines at basketball games trying to get the perfect angle. Reed has stepped into the role of Photographer for the Boys’ Basketball team and is excited to channel his love for basketball into film.
- How has your relationship with the players changed now that you’re the one documenting their season?
I used to play on the varsity basketball team as a sophomore, but now that I’m not on the team, I see the players a little less. Whenever I see them, it’s “chill,” and I just go to the games, take videos, and take pictures. It’s always just a chill vibe, and the players are respectful of each other. I miss being on the team a little and the environment.
- Do the players ever ask you for specific photos throughout the game? How does your presence affect the energy in the gym?
Right when I get home from the game, I have dozens of texts on my phone from players asking for clips. Sometimes I feel like my presence in the gym causes flashier plays because when the players know there’s a camera, they want to do something extra and get a clip for their Instagram.
- You often have to post clips shortly after the game. Walk me through your speed editing process to get a highlight reel while the hype is still high.
After the game, I go home, put my SD card into my computer, and download all the clips. After I’m done downloading everything, I look through everything super fast and try to see who scored and the contents of the clips. Then I upload everything to Lightroom and edit the videos, putting clips together and blending audio. Lastly, I find a picture that matches the post, post it, and it’s “barbecue chicken” from there. The whole process usually takes me about 30 minutes to an hour.
- Has running this page changed your career goals? Are you looking at sports photography or social media management as a professional path?
At first, I was just thinking about it as a side hobby for fun and to be involved in the basketball scene, but the more I do it, the more fun I have with it, and I have grown to enjoy it. I started thinking that maybe I could do it as a side hustle in college or later in life.
- What is one photo or video you’ve taken this season that you feel defines Salem basketball?
In my Salem vs. Kempsville post, I posted a picture and video of the team during warmup, and everyone was gathered around dancing in a circle. I feel like the video of the basketball team being one unit defines Salem culture and was a really accurate representation of Salem sports.
- When you’re looking through the lens during a fast-paced game, what specific moments are you trying to capture?
The majority of the time, I’m recording points being scored on our end, but I like to include some defensive clips because there are a lot of great defenders on the team. I want to make sure I capture the hard work being put in on both sides of the ball. I also try to catch crowd and bench reactions because those are also important parts of the game. Mostly, I try to capture major court moments, but I try to sidetrack and capture the little moments to create a story that encapsulates the entire game.
If you catch him in the halls, don’t be shy to reach out to get sports pictures for yourself! Help Reed broaden his horizons and grow his passion for photography, and show support by checking out his photography Instagram: @shotbysey.
