From Sporting Clays to a Bronze Toilet Bowl | A Weekend of Michigan Fundraisers, Community & Great People
One of my favorite things about being a professional event photographer is getting to witness how much good work quietly happens throughout Michigan every single week.
Between race tracks, nonprofit organizations, fundraisers, golf outings, and community events, there are constantly groups of people coming together to support causes bigger than themselves. This past week gave me the opportunity to photograph two of those events once again, and honestly, both reminded me why I love this side of photography just as much as motorsports.
Even better? This marked my third year photographing both events.
As a photographer, there’s probably no bigger compliment than organizations continuing to trust you year after year to help tell their story.
Thursday: Scouting America Sporting Clays Fundraiser in Brighton, Michigan
The week started in Brighton with a sporting clays fundraiser for Scouting America, bringing together companies and supporters from across the Metro Detroit area for a full day outdoors.
Michigan gave us absolutely perfect weather for the event, which made the entire day feel even more enjoyable from the start. There’s just something about spring and summer nonprofit events in Michigan where everybody seems genuinely happy to be outside reconnecting with people after another long Midwest winter.
Throughout the course of the event, teams moved through the sporting clays course while sponsors, businesses, volunteers, and supporters spent the day networking, laughing, and raising money for an organization that continues impacting young people across the country.
One of the major highlights of the day included the presentation of the Distinguished Citizen Award, recognizing leadership and community impact connected to the organization’s mission. Events like that always remind me these fundraisers are about much more than activities or entertainment. They’re about celebrating people who actively help strengthen communities.
By the end of the day, the event had raised over $30,000 to support Scouting America programming and initiatives.
As a photographer, sporting clays events are always fun to document because they naturally create a mix of action, candid reactions, business networking, and outdoor atmosphere all in one event. One moment you’re photographing competitors tracking targets against the sky, and the next you’re capturing conversations between sponsors and community leaders back at the clubhouse.
Monday: VIP Golf Outing in Flint, Michigan
To wrap up the work week, I headed to Flint for another fundraiser event with the incredible team at Vocational Independence Program, commonly known as VIP.
Like the sporting clays event, this was also my third year photographing the outing, and every single year it ends up being one of the most enjoyable events on my calendar.
VIP has been serving adults with disabilities and barriers to employment since 1954, helping individuals develop work skills, employment opportunities, community inclusion, and greater independence throughout Mid-Michigan. (Vocational Independence Program - VIP)
Events like this golf outing play a huge role in helping organizations like VIP continue creating opportunities and support systems for the people they serve.
The outing itself had everything you want from a Michigan summer golf fundraiser: great weather, local businesses supporting a great cause, teams having fun all over the course, sponsor interaction, and plenty of laughs throughout the day.
One of the things I appreciate most about VIP events is how genuinely welcoming everyone involved always is. The staff, volunteers, sponsors, golfers, and community partners all create an atmosphere that feels relaxed, supportive, and genuinely fun to be around.
And honestly, I think my favorite tradition from the outing might still be the infamous last-place trophy: a bronze toilet bowl.
That thing absolutely kills me every year.
There’s something hilarious and perfect about a charity golf outing fully embracing the fun side of competition while still supporting an important mission in the community. It’s details like that which make events memorable and help create the kind of authentic atmosphere people actually want to come back to every year.
Why These Events Matter
As much as I love photographing motorsports, weekends like this are a reminder that event photography is really about people first.
It’s about capturing community connections, business relationships, fundraising success stories, candid moments, laughter, teamwork, and the atmosphere organizations work so hard to create.
These events also reinforce something I never take for granted: repeat trust.
The fact that organizations continue bringing me back year after year means everything to me as a photographer and business owner. Building those relationships over time is one of the most rewarding parts of this career.
Huge thanks to everyone involved with both events for continuing to trust Biography Photography to help document and preserve these moments.
If your business, nonprofit, golf outing, fundraiser, corporate event, or community organization is looking for professional event photography coverage anywhere in Michigan or throughout the Midwest, Biography Photography is currently booking summer and fall events throughout the 2026 season.
Read more about this past weekend!
