Photographing a Charity Golf Scramble for the Boy Scouts of America
Some assignments feel like work. Others feel like the reason you got into this business. Thursday's charity golf scramble in Metro Detroit was the second kind.
As a professional motorsport photographer, I spend much of the year at racetracks. So when the chance came to photograph a Boy Scouts of America fundraiser, supported by Ford Motor Company, in the heart of Metro Detroit at Beacon Hill Golf Club, I jumped at it. It combined creating great images with meeting the automotive business leaders who support causes like this, which is exactly the kind of room I want to be working in.
What Is a Golf Scramble, and Why Is It Great for Event Photography?
A scramble is a team format where every player hits, the team picks the best shot, and everyone plays from there. It's social and forgiving, and it's a favorite for charity golf outings because people talk, laugh, and mingle between shots. For an event photographer, that means constant candid moments: teams celebrating a great drive, sponsors chatting on the cart path, and volunteers keeping things running.
Why I Shot the 70-200mm Sigma Sport Lens
Golf is a sport where you're usually farther from the action, and you can't walk into someone's backswing. I was also moving between several holes, so I needed a setup that let me:
Keep my distance so players could focus on their shot
Stay unobtrusive and capture natural expressions instead of posed smiles
Move quickly from hole to hole without swapping gear
My Sigma 70-200mm Sport was the answer. The telephoto compression isolates players from the background, and the reach let me shoot from the edge of the action. The result is candid, clean event photography without disrupting anyone's game.
Shooting for a Cause
Nonprofit event photography carries extra weight. The images from a day like this do real work afterward. They help the organization thank sponsors, promote next year's outing, and show donors what their support made possible. Every frame I shoot at a fundraiser is meant to serve that mission, so I'm always thinking about the sponsor moment, the team photo, and the emotional, human detail that tells the story.
Networking as a Photographer
Being invited into an event supported by a company as significant as Ford in Metro Detroit is a privilege, and it's also where relationships start. Meeting business leaders in a relaxed setting, where I'm contributing value with my camera, is one of the best ways to grow a photography business. It's a warm introduction, not a cold pitch.
This was the culmination of my real automotive experience coming together with other photographic work I enjoy, like product photography, events, and other commercial work with brands. The subjects in front of me were instantly hooked with “I’m a motorsports and event photographer”, which is very helpful.
See the Full Gallery
📸 https://biographyphotography.pixieset.com/bsafordgolfouting/
Need an Event Photographer in Metro Detroit?
Planning a charity golf outing, tournament, or corporate event? I'm a Michigan-based professional photographer serving Metro Detroit, Genesee County, and beyond. Contact me to talk about coverage for your next event.
This was an exciting weekend for photography; read more about it HERE. Dive in to read about the next day at a bowling fundraiser, or Saturday back at the track with multiple clients.
