Photographer and Owner Barb Casteel
I wasn't the best sports mom.
My name is Barb and I live in Camas Valley, Oregon and I'm a boy mom. I have three amazing sons who all love sports. I'll readily confess to not having been the best sports mom until the fall of my oldest son's Junior year of high school. That's when I ordered my Nikon D3400, now affectionately referred to as my gateway camera. The first game after it arrived, Camas Valley played Butte Falls at Crater High school (2018) and I've been haunting the sidelines, capturing games ever since...
01. Football
Their first love. The sport they've played since flag football ages without missing a season. This makes it the sport that I have the most experience photographing. I've been on the sidelines, behind the lens since fall 2018 without missing a season, and only missing the occasional game when I had to work. I have experience photographing and editing full daylight to several different types of Friday night lights. I've also put together an umbrella and clamp set that allows me to not miss capturing a game for rain.
02. Track and Field
I'll admit, keeping track of which athlete is where is a challenge at a track meet but I approach them with a schedule in hand and a list of the team and their main interests. I have captured meets since spring of 2019. Being outside during daylight hours makes this a fun sport to photograph.
03. Volleyball
Capturing action at the net since fall of 2021. Would you believe that lighting for volleyball and basketball is nearly the same as outside under the lights for football? This makes freezing volleyball moments a fun challenge.
04. Wrestling
I've been found at the edge of the mat since winter 2021. I love the intesity and focus that I can capture on the athletes faces in addition to the near acrobatics of some of the takedowns and reversals.
05. Basketball
I started photographing basketball sitting in the stands the start of the winter 2018-2019 season. I wish that I could say that those early photos were as inspiring as my early football photos but alas, our football games used to be mid afternoon under a bright wide open sky. The little gateway camera and kit lens just couldn't do what I was asking of it and created the most amazing challenge...how to get a crisp, well exposed images inside, under fluorescent lighting, and the quest for better gear began. I can now be found sitting on the floor in the corners near the net with fast lenses and faster cameras.
06. Baseball/Softball
I caught a couple of Babe Ruth baseball games and maybe a couple of softball games in the spring of 2022 but didn't begin my baseball journey in earnest until spring of 2023. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite sport to photograph but these would be in the running. Played outside in generally good weather with great light and predictable paths of action, my biggest challenge has been the reach of the lens.
07. Offroad Drag Races
One of my early loves for the challenge of how to show the motion in the image. "Freezing" the vehicle would leave it looking like it's just parked out on the track. Figuring out how to show that it is moving and fast while keeping the details crisp is ever so fun. I've been taking the camera to the track every summer and fall since 2019.
08. 4x4 Obstacle Courses
I love watching what these vehicles can drive over and out of. The obstacle course is another event offered at our local track every summer and fall. The enthusiasm of the fans and drivers is contagious. Playing with the camera on the obstacle course since 2019.
09. 4x4 Mud Bog
The flying mud, the revving engines, the rare vehicle that can make it all the way through? I very much love making it look like the mud is about to fly off the photo. I've been carefully cleaning the dust and debris off the camera after these since 2019 as well.
FAQ
Are the travel expenses included in your packages or covered additionally?
Travel is covered up to 3 hours driving time from the studio for the allstar package. Requests for game/event attendance greater than 1 hour from the studio without the all star package booking will be evaluated on a case by case basis and expenses reviewed with client prior photographer attendance.
What does social media size mean?
Images sized for social media are decreased from the full file size so as to not be adversely affected by compression. Simply put, they are smaller than the original. They will print very well up to 8x12 photos.
How long does it take to recieve images following event?
Current editing and post processing turnaround times are between 2 and 4 weeks. Images will be delivered in digital format.
What if only a single client pays for the Allstar Package?
The photographer's sole focus will be that athlete for the duration of the event. Should more clients divide the price of the allstar package between them, then focus of the photographer will be divided between the athletes of the paying clients. If payment is divided equally amongst the team, then photographer will focus on the team as a whole.
