Individual sports photos are the pictures your athlete will actually keep: the game-day pose, the uniform, the confident grin. A team photo shows the whole roster, but an individual photo shows your player. At Thumb Sports Photography, we photograph athletes and teams for families in Reese, Saginaw County and across Michigan, and one product families ask about all the time is the Memory Mate.
This guide explains what individual sports photos are, what a Memory Mate is, how picture day works from start to finish, and how to get your athlete ready.
What Are Individual Sports Photos?
An individual sports photo is a portrait of one athlete in their uniform with their gear, whether that is a glove, a ball, a stick or a bat. We build every session around the athlete and the sport, not a rushed line of kids in front of a plain wall. Backgrounds are sport-themed, and we personalize every photo with the team logo and year, from the biggest poster to the smallest wallet size.
Browse real examples in our Individual Photos & Memory Mates gallery.
What Is a Memory Mate?
A Memory Mate pairs your athlete’s individual photo with the team photo on a single keepsake print. Your athlete stands front and center, and the whole team is right there beside them. It works as a keepsake because it answers two questions at once: what did my athlete look like this season, and who were they playing alongside?
After picture day, your team’s PhotoDay gallery shows exactly what is available. If you are not sure which format fits, ask us when you book.
Individual Photos, Team Photos or Memory Mates?
Each option does a different job, so they work well together.
Individual Photos
One athlete, one portrait. A great fit for the player’s room, grandparents and social media. See individual photos.
Team Photos
The full roster in uniform. Ideal for coaches, leagues, and school or travel organizations. See team photos.
Memory Mates
The athlete and the team together on one print, so you keep both the player and the season in a single picture.
The best rec league photos I have ever seen! I love how you took them all individually and pieced them together. I highly recommend Thumb Sports Photography!
Kimberly Melloan
How Picture Day Works
Picture day is easier for families than it sounds, because most of the work happens before your athlete steps up to the camera.
- Book the session. Coaches, league directors and team managers start on our Get Started page. Then we help you schedule photo day in the most efficient way, with flexible dates and times.
- We come to you. Because Thumb Sports is a mobile sports photography business, we bring picture day to your field, gym or practice location whenever possible.
- Athletes step up to the camera. Next, each athlete gets individual photos in uniform with their gear, along with the team photo.
- Families view and order online. After picture day, families enter their team’s code at PhotoDay on a computer or smartphone to view photos and place orders. There are no paper order forms and no cash or checks.
- Orders ship to your door. Finally, packages can mix different poses from one athlete or several, and we ship orders directly to your home.
Digital downloads are final sale, so review your choices before you check out. Also, our FAQ page covers combining several athletes in one gallery and other ordering questions.
How to Get Your Athlete Ready
A few small details make the photos look better. They also keep picture day moving:
- Dress game-day ready: a clean sports uniform and any necessary gear.
- Be mindful of what you wear underneath the uniform.
- Arrive clean and ready to be photographed: clean skin, neat hair, and no temporary tattoos or chipped nail polish.
- Skip the eye black. If your athlete wears it, we cannot remove it after the session.
A Michigan Sports Photographer Close to Home
Lara Wagner proudly runs Thumb Sports Photography from Reese, Michigan. Our focus is the Reese area and Saginaw County, and because we are mobile, we can travel to teams and leagues around the state. Sports photography is all we do, so we have the staff and equipment to handle anything from a single team to 100 teams or more.
Learn more on our Michigan Sports Photographer page, or see how we work with recreational leagues, travel teams and school sports. If you coach high school athletes, the Michigan High School Athletic Association lists schedules and season information that can help you plan. Looking for school photos? They are coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Sports Photos
A Memory Mate is a keepsake print that pairs an athlete’s individual photo with the team photo.
After picture day, go to my.photoday.com on a computer or smartphone, enter your team’s code and place your order online. Orders ship to your home, and digital downloads are final sale.
Yes. Thumb Sports is a mobile sports photography business focused on the Reese area, and we can travel to teams and leagues around Michigan. Contact us to check availability for your location.
A clean game-day uniform and any necessary gear. Please skip eye black, because we cannot remove it after the session.
School photos are coming soon. Contact us and we will keep you posted.
Ready to Book Picture Day?
Tell us about your team, league or athlete and we will help you pick a date.
Or browse the work first: Individual Photos & Memory Mates | Team Photos