Why We Print: Sports Photographer John Glaser

My photography actually started when I was the video coordinator/coach for a large high school outside of Houston, Texas. While I was the video coordinator, one of my jobs was to create highlight videos after each week we won. I started using regular video cameras to shoot my videos but then started to use a DSLR after I got a 5D Mark II and a 70-200mm lens. I did video for several years but got burnt out with it and decided to go out and shoot a game with photos instead of video. I borrowed a Canon 5D Mark III and a 300mm lens from someone and I was hooked. I loved shooting photos and people immediately loved what I was shooting and wanted more. I spent my first year shooting photos doing high school sports and then got lucky and was brought into an organization that has people shoot college and pro sports. I started shooting local college and pro games (Texas A&M, U. of Houston, Rice, Houston Texans, Houston Astros, etc). Soon after I had the chance to start shooting college/pro sports, I was brought on to start shooting games for USA Today Sports Images. I was told when I started that I wouldn’t get a ton of games because there were 4 photographers in Houston but I started to get my fair share of games.

Meanwhile I feel in love with how people lit portraits, I got a speed light and started to play. The speedlight turned into an Alien Bee, then I discovered Interfit strobes and loved them. I was lucky to meet a guy named Jason Duchow, who is a photographer in Idaho who became a mentor to me teaching me about lighting photos. I had a lot to learn but couldn’t get enough of doing portrait/lit photos.

My specialty is sports and sports portraits. I am starting to also work on doing more commercial photography in the sports and fitness industry. I do a lot of a senior photos and specialize in senior athletes.

This is a difficult question because it depends on what we are talking about. If it is game day photos I would say one thing, if it is portrait it would be a totally different one.

For this, I will choose one of my favorites from a senior photos session.

Settings: Canon 5D Mark II, ISO 100, F16, 1/200

I used a single Interfit S1 with a large parabolic umbrella.

I do a lot of senior photos an office in my house that I use to reveal the senior photos that I take during my senior photo sessions. In the room, I have put a variety of sizes and style prints on the walls to show clients for sale. All of the metal prints on the walls were printed by Printique and I use Printique to fulfill all print orders for my senior photo portrait clients.

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 7D Mark II

Canon 16-35mm f2.8

Canon 24-105mm f4

Canon 70-200mm f2.8

Canon 70-200 f4

Canon 300mm f2.8

Canon Speed Flash

(3) Pocket Wizard III

Strobes:

(3) Interfit S1

(3) Interfit Honey Badgers

Interfit Remote