Kevin Jairaj has been the Official Photographer for the College Football Playoff National Championship since its inception in 2015 and has become sought after for sports, weddings, and events in London; Trinidad and Tobago; the Bahamas; the USA; and, especially, his home state of Texas. Kevin has covered multiple Super Bowls and the Olympics. He shares why double exposures aren't artful, why panning skill is essential, and which standard piece of gear is "obsolete."
What Must-Carry Items Are Always in Your Bag?
I carry a 100-300mm f/2.8, a 10-20mm f/4, a 24-105mm f/4, a 1.4x teleconverter, an EL1 Speedlight, and extra batteries. This kit handles nearly any assignment that comes my way.
When Do You Shoot in an Automated Mode, and Which Mode?
I primarily shoot in manual mode, but for outdoor football or baseball games with patchy clouds and shifting sunlight, I switch to Av mode (aperture priority) to adapt to changing light and shadows during specific plays.
What Technique Do You Use Most Often?
I love panning with a slow shutter speed to capture unique photos and angles.
How Do You Know When a Photo Is a Success?
A photo succeeds when it delivers impact and conveys a story. Whether capturing a deeply emotional moment or intense action, it must resonate powerfully with the viewer.
What Commonly Valued Photo Skill Is Overrated?
This may be a hot take, but I find most double exposures look tacky and contrived nowadays. While they can be effective when executed skillfully, about 80 percent of the ones I come across feel forced and cheesy.
Do You Work With a Team? If So, How Did You Find Team Members? How Did You Know They Were Right For the Team. How Would You Advise Someone to Go About Building Their Own Team?
As the Official Photographer for the College Football Playoff, I oversee staffing for all 11 playoff games, including the National Championship game every year. When hiring a photographer, I first look at their work to see if they might be a fit for what our team needs. I’ll look at their website and social media and then ask photographers that I know well to see if they can vouch for them. It is very important for my team to all work seamlessly together and create amazing images!
What Does Success Mean to You? Are Artistic Success and Financial Success Related, or Independent of One Another?
To me, success means achieving both artistic recognition and financial rewards. I’m blessed and grateful to have earned numerous awards over the years while also making a great living doing what I love through various photographic income streams.
When You Look Back on Earlier Work, What Are Your Thoughts?
My thoughts are that my early work was terrible! It’s funny and humbling to look back, but everyone has to start somewhere. In fact, I like to show my early work when giving seminars to show my students that my work wasn’t always like it is now, and it took a lot of practice and learning to get better.
What Acclaimed Photo Skill Turns Out to Be Useless?
I have never used a light meter and probably never will. I think cameras today are so advanced that light meters are pretty much obsolete.
What Do You Do to Refine Your Skills?
I am constantly trying to learn new things every day. Technology changes all the time, and if you are not keeping up, you will get left behind. It is also a lot of fun using new camera and lighting tools to try new things!
Kevin Jairaj, recognized by Canon as an Explorer of Light, is one of only a few people worldwide to hold the Triple Master Title from WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) as well as a Master of Photography from PPA (Professional Photographers of America). His work has been published in countless newspapers, books, and magazines. You can see him in a recurring role on the Discovery Channel show "Fast N Loud." Kevin covered the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang for USA Today. He has covered Super Bowls and has been the Official Photographer for the College Football Playoff National Championship since its inception in 2015.
All photos by permission of Kevin Jairaj
No comments yet