Q & A with Rangers Photog Kelly Gavin

Spokane, WA - Kelly Gavin might just have the coolest job in the world. The native of Hanover, Massachusetts has been the team photographer for the Texas Rangers since the beginning of 2013 where she gets to capture the best moments of former Spokane Indians in the big leagues every day. Before joining the Rangers, she also worked for the Miami Marlins, Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, and Miami Heat making her a true five-tool talent behind the lens.

Kelly recently took the time out from her hectic schedule to talk about what it takes to be a photographer in the pros, her favorite player to photograph, and what our former players are like now that they are major leaguers.

Spokane Indians (SI): How did you end up in sports photography? Is it something you always wanted to do?

Kelly Gavin (KG): When I was about 8 years old, I was watching a Red Sox game with my dad. One of the photographers got hit with a foul ball and I told my dad, 'That's going to be me someday, Dad!' Fast forward to 2009, I was sitting in that exact spot shooting at Fenway for the (Florida) Marlins. It was pretty surreal! Baseball has always been a passion. I grew up with a father who coached and two older brothers who played, so I was forced to spend a lot of time watching them play over the years. In the beginning, I didn't love it so much, but I grew to love it. Now, I can't get enough of the game!

SI: Is it harder to shoot baseball or football?

KG: I think it's harder to shoot football, but I've heard other shooters with differing opinions. The toughest part about football was trying to get decent shots of all of the lineman; they're generally just so buried in the middle of the action. 

SI: Advice to aspiring sports shutterbugs?

KG: Practice! Get out and shoot little league, high school, your college team if you're a student, whatever you can. Practice will only make you better, and you have to be willing put in the work. Also, the more you know the game and the more you love the game, the better you'll be at covering it. If your serious about getting into sports photography, make use of social media; it's a great marketing tool when used the right way! I spent my first year and a half in college searching for internships with different baseball teams before finding one with the team photographer of the Miami Marlins, Dolphins and Heat. In this line of work, you basically have to be willing to move across the country for the job. If not, you could be waiting more than twenty years before the perfect job becomes available. 

SI: What is your favorite part of your job?

KG: My favorite part of the job is the challenge of nailing the big plays, the big moments in a game. If I think the runner is going, I'm on our catcher waiting for the throw down to second, and then I make a quick swing to second base to try and get the tag. The same goes for an outfield assist or a double play… it all happens so fast, but if I'm able to get all aspects of the play, I'm pleased! I'm probably my toughest critic though, so I beat myself up when I miss a money shot!

SI: Who is your favorite player to photograph?

KG: On this team, my favorite player to photograph is probably Rougned Odor. He plays with so much heart and never gives up on a play. I can generally count on him for a strong reaction after a big play. Cole Hamels was on the mound when we clinched last year, and he doesn't show a whole lot of emotion… so I quickly panned over to Rougie just in time for a big fist pump and a scream. Really knowing your players and their tendencies can only help improve the photos. He's also really acrobatic, so those double play shots can be pretty cool when he's involved! 

SI: Lots of former Indians (Odor, Ryan Rua, Hanser Alberto, Nick Martinez, etc.) are playing with the Rangers now. What can you tell us about working with them and their personalities now that they are in the big leagues?

KG: 2016 marks my eleventh season shooting for an MLB team and this is by far, the best group of guys I've worked with as a whole. It's a true testament to the tone that our veteran players set, along with the scouting, coaching and player development staff throughout the organization. The players listed above are all from completely different backgrounds, but have been able to come together to win ballgames, which is part of why this game is so great. 

As a general rule, the rookies are pretty quiet when they first arrive… they need to feel things out and see how everyone fits in their respective role. I take that back…I don't think Hanser [Alberto] has ever been quiet in his life! That being said, he's a fun loving, happy go lucky guy who is a joy to work with. He has the unique ability to brighten anyone's day and he never stops cheering on his teammates whether he's in the lineup that night, or not. I tell people all the time how fortunate I feel to work with this group of men… and that's not always the case when you're working with high profile athletes! 

SI: Is this the year the Rangers win the World Series?

KG I'm not superstitious or anything, but I'm going to plead the fifth. It took 10 seasons before I was able to shoot my first postseason run; some shooters never get that opportunity, so I consider myself very lucky! The night we clinched the division and that first trip to Toronto were some of the greatest experiences of my life.

About the Indians
 
The Indians are the Short Season Class "A" affiliate for the Texas Rangers. For more information, please visit www.spokaneindians.com or call (509) 343-6886 (OTTO).