Up Close from Court-side: Meet Reginald Thomas, Team Photographer for the Spurs

I always thought I knew what defined success in my field, but as I become even more immersed in this position and industry, I’m finding myself in a state of redefining my interpretation of what it truly looks like for me.

1.) What made you choose to pursue a career in the photo industry?

I remember back when I was just 19 years old and I begged my mother to buy me a camera. At that time, I already knew that photography was something I felt passionate about, and that was the basket I was ready to throw all my eggs into, so-to-speak.

And about three years after picking up that camera for the first time, I was positive that I wanted to follow that passion into the area of sports photography. I was blessed to be able to secure a position as the team photographer for the San Antonio Spurs, where I currently work. Having the opportunity to document one of the most storied franchises in sports is an experience I am incredibly grateful for.

2.) Break it down for us. What does a day in your position look like?

As a team photographer, my main focus is on game day. I will get up around 4 AM to work out before getting some of my personal work and road trip preparation out of the way. After that, I usually arrive at the arena about four to five hours before tip-off so that I have time for meetings, tie up any loose ends and get myself in the zone. Once the game begins, I spend the rest of the night shooting, and I make sure to file before leaving the arena to head home.

At this point, I have yet to define an endgame for myself.

3.) How do you define success in your field?

I always thought I knew what defined success in my field, but as I become even more immersed in this position and industry, I’m finding myself in a state of redefining my interpretation of what it truly looks like for me.

4.) What’s your endgame?

At this point, I have yet to define an endgame for myself. There are so many things I still want to do and experience and it is my hope that they will come in time as part of a long and prosperous career. The one thing I am sure of though, is that at some point I would love to run a photo and film program for kids back in my hometown.

5.) What’s one resource that you wish you had right now?

I wish I had a structured framework and a seasoned mentor to help guide me and assist in reimagining what my work should look like going forward. I feel like these two resources would help me discover and maximize opportunities as I work towards my goals, as well as open up access to a lot of capital.

I wish I had known more about the business side of the industry sooner. Now, I’m starting to get a grasp of things, but having that knowledge earlier would have improved my trajectory.

6.) What was your “aha” moment where you realized that you could actually work in the photo industry?

The moment that I knew I could work in the photo industry was when I cold emailed Jamel Shabazz and actually got a warm and welcoming response. We talked for a bit and he affirmed my ideas about where I was headed. The other “aha” moment for me was when I landed my first internship at Baltimore City Paper.

7.) What was something that you wish you would’ve known sooner?

I wish I had known more about the business side of the industry sooner. Now, I’m starting to get a grasp of things, but having that knowledge earlier would have improved my trajectory. But everything happens for a reason and I’m thankful for the path I have walked so far and I’m hopeful that my luck doesn’t run out.

Visit Reginald’s website at the link below:

https://www.reginaldthomasii.com/