How I Got My Press Pass to a U SPORTS Championship
Getting a press pass to a U SPORTS Championship did not begin with a famous photograph. It began with years of shooting Queen’s football, Golden Gaels athletics, university bands and campus events for Golden Gaels Photos. My relationship with the teams developed through familiar faces, repeated assignments and an archive that demonstrated I could cover live events properly.
The credential was the final step, not the starting point. On championship day, it opened doors, but it also brought rules, deadlines and responsibilities. The pass got me inside; preparation determined what I could do once I was there.
From sideline habit to university credential
At Queen’s, I started by photographing the people around the teams. Players warmed up, students attended games, bands performed and volunteers organised events that deserved more than a quick social post. Those assignments taught me how a small camera movement could alter an entire image.
Access to a championship venue usually followed a more formal route than simply arriving with a camera. My position improved when university communications could vouch for my work and assign me to a specific event.
| Access route | Main requirement | Typical outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Student volunteer | University identification and an assignment | Access limited to designated activities |
| University media team | A formal request from communications staff | Event accreditation and a media briefing |
| Independent photographer | A portfolio, outlet support and relevant experience | Approval may be event-specific |
| Accredited media member | Approved identification, credentials and agreed conduct | Access under published venue rules |
My path led through Queen’s communications and the university’s sports information work. Previous photographs mattered because they showed range and consistency, while contacts within athletics and student media gave the university someone dependable to assign.
The approval process behind the pass
I contacted Queen’s sports communications before the tournament schedule was finalised. The request included a concise portfolio, examples from football and athletics, details of my equipment and the kinds of assignments I could cover. That context mattered more than a long personal statement.
Approval followed several checks. The host venue needed names for its media list, while the championship organiser needed identification and agreement to media conditions. An event-specific credential was more likely than permanent access; every championship presented a new assignment with its own deadlines.
An Australian sports editor would recognise the process. Photographers applying for AFL, NRL or A-League coverage are similarly assessed on reliability, assignment value and conduct. In Sydney and Melbourne, a well-organised local portfolio can carry more weight than a celebrity endorsement.
Matchday behind the credential
The earliest call time was earlier than I initially expected. Accreditation had to be collected, equipment inspected and positions confirmed before the public arrived. I walked the route from the media entrance to the camera area so that delayed traffic or a locked gate would not disrupt the opening minutes.
The pass did not grant unrestricted movement. I remained within assigned areas, followed the photographer’s instructions and kept clear of restricted sidelines, locker rooms and interview zones. Those boundaries were not obstacles to the job; they made it possible for several media organisations to work safely in the same space.
Visibility also demanded attention. I had previously explored this at Queen’s in a foggy morning at Queen’s. That feature showed how mist could soften a landscape while still revealing layers of depth. At the championship, the same lesson applied: weather, roof shadows and artificial lighting could either obscure the play or create separation around a subject.
Finding the story in Canadian football
Australians use the word “football” for several codes, so I clarify that this story concerns Canadian university football, the gridiron game played by the Golden Gaels. The strategy, field dimensions and supporter traditions differ from Australian rules football, but the visual rhythm has similarities.
A Melbourne winter match can be just as cold and wet, while suburban grounds in Australia often produce the same family-filled atmosphere seen at Queen’s. The territorial noise when a home side enters the attacking half is familiar to supporters of Australian club competitions, even when the shape of the field is different.
The media market is different too. Australian audiences are accustomed to constant AFL, A-League and cricket coverage delivered through television networks, digital platforms and specialist publications. A U SPORTS audience may be smaller, but photographs can give it access to details that compressed broadcast coverage cannot preserve.
One frame and the wider archive
One photograph from the championship remains particularly important to me. It captured a defensive player reacting during a crucial scoring sequence, with the bench and spectators layered behind him. A wider view would have explained the field position, but the tighter frame recorded the tension on one face.
The decision came quickly. I chose a low camera position, kept enough space around the player and exposed for the afternoon light rather than the darker background. The resulting image became more than a record of the play; it connected the crowd, the team and the pressure of the moment.
Preserving that work requires more than saving a full-resolution file. I record the event, date, photographer and intended use, then decide where the image belongs within Golden Gaels Photos. Resources such as the Sinai travel photographs reinforce why provenance matters. Historical photographs document people and places, while a sports archive should preserve the people behind the teams with equal care.
Advice for earning your first credential
A useful portfolio does not need hundreds of unrelated images. A small collection of sharp, well-described photographs from assignments you understand is usually more persuasive than a large file of inconsistent work.
Early communication with media relations, athletics staff or a campus publication can turn an interest into a legitimate assignment. The request should identify what you can photograph, when you are available and which limits you already understand.
Recommendations for new sports photographers
- Build a focused portfolio around one sport, event type or photographic role.
- Contact university communications or team media relations before the event schedule is announced.
- Learn the venue’s photography positions, equipment restrictions and deadline procedures.
- Carry spare batteries, memory cards and weather protection suitable for Australian outdoor conditions.
- Respect access boundaries, athlete privacy and the instructions of event media officials.
The final point is the one I would repeat most often. Trust is the foundation of a press pass, and it grows when photographers use their access responsibly.
Keep the golden moments moving
Golden Gaels Photos began as a personal record of Queen’s sports, but it became a wider archive of university life. The photographs connect alumni with familiar faces, give students access to moments they missed and preserve details that would otherwise disappear with the season.
Visit Golden Gaels Photos, browse the football and athletics collections, and share the archive with family, former students and fellow sports supporters. Images are copyrighted and generally available for personal, non-commercial use when credited to Jeff Chan and Golden Gaels Photos, helping the collection continue documenting the people behind the teams.