10/23/2026
# The Unseen Side of Professional Sports Photography
This isn't necessarily a complaint. It's more of a behind-the-scenes observation about professional sports photography. I've been photographing sports for six years, four of those professionally. I've had the privilege of covering rodeos, college football bowl games, college basketball and high school state championships. I thank the Creator and the publications that have given me these opportunities.
But lately, I've noticed more restrictions on how credentialed photographers can use their work. During the 50th Indian National Finals Rodeo, one condition stood out:
**"Photographers may only use photos they take for their media assignment and may not use them for personal use or personal social media."**
I understand that credentials come with conditions, and I respect that. But it raises an interesting question. **What happens to all the photographs that never get published?**
On championship Saturday at the INFR, I captured approximately 4,500 photographs. After reviewing them, I selected 700 worth keeping. Of those, I submitted about 50 to publications, and roughly 20 were published. That's less than half of 1% of everything I photographed.
Now, I don't expect publications to use everything I submit. Editors have deadlines, limited space and stories to tell. That's part of journalism. But what about the other 680 photographs that survived my selection process? Some are probably among my best work from that weekend. Yet because of credential restrictions, I can't simply share them on my photography page. The news cycle has moved on, and those photographs have nowhere to go.
**That's not a failure of photography. It's a limitation of how photography is distributed.**
This isn't unique to the INFR. I've photographed state championships at The Pit, including those Gallup and Kirtland Central matchups. I have hundreds of photographs capturing celebrations, heartbreak and championship moments that nobody has ever seen.
Which brings me to the photograph accompanying this post. What you're looking at is a collection of barrel racing photographs from the 50th INFR. Different riders, different horses and different moments. These photographs survived my selection process, but most will never be published individually.
And that's the irony. I'm showing you photographs that most people will never actually get to see. Eventually, many will be deleted. Not because they weren't good enough, but because there's nowhere for them to go. I'll continue covering these events. I'll probably photograph thousands more images at football games, bowl games and state championships. I'll select the best, submit what publications need and watch a small percentage make it into print.
For aspiring sports photographers, this is one reality of the profession worth understanding. You might capture one of the best photographs of your career, and nobody outside your editing room will ever see it. Not because the photograph failed, but because it never had an opportunity to be published.
Don't get me wrong. Having credentials to cover these events is an incredible privilege, and I don't take that for granted. I love photography and will continue pursuing those opportunities. But I also believe photographs have value beyond whether an editor chooses to publish them.
**Not every photography story is about success. Sometimes it's about the moments you captured that nobody ever got to see.**
There should be a content graveyard for all these photographs besides the recycle bin.
Until then, this photo might be the closest some of them ever get to having an audience.
