In the fast-paced arena of professional sports, every second holds the potential for a defining moment. The job of a sports photographer is to capture that split second—the celebration, the heartbreak, the grit, the triumph—and freeze it in time. This demanding yet rewarding profession requires not only technical precision but also a keen sense of anticipation, creativity, and adaptability. In this four-part series, we explore the dynamic world of sports photography through the experiences of two accomplished photographers: Ben Green, Team Photographer for the Buffalo Bills, and Ben Ludeman, Team Photographer for the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits.
This first part dives deep into their origins, the transition from casual interest to professional careers, and the personal stories that shaped their creative paths.
Discovering a Passion Through Uncertainty
For many creatives, the journey to a professional career in photography begins with uncertainty. Ben Ludeman’s story is emblematic of this. He entered college with no clear vision of what he wanted to do. A business major by default, he sought a path that would keep him close to the world of sports, which he had loved for years. The turning point came when he picked up a camera. Despite not knowing what he was doing at the time, something about photography felt right.
He described those early moments with refreshing honesty: “It just felt natural, and I was terrible, but I enjoyed it and it was a great way to get the best seats in the house.” The camera became a vehicle not just for creative expression, but also a front-row pass to the game he loved. Ludeman’s early experiences illustrate how exploration, even without immediate mastery, can guide individuals toward the career that fits them best.
Green’s Legacy and a Reawakening
Ben Green’s entry into photography carried the weight of family history. While his grandfather had worked for the Boston Globe and his father had spent years as a freelance photographer, these connections were more ancestral than practical. Cameras were around, yes, but the profession had largely skipped a generation. Still, the seed had been planted. It wasn’t until college, where Green was majoring in history and supplementing with courses in psychology and journalism, that he began to seriously consider photography as more than a hobby.
A class assignment encouraged him to build a portfolio, which he shared with a friend at the university’s student newspaper. Not long after, Green found himself on the sidelines of a University of Oregon football game—nervous, untrained, and excited. That first assignment, disorienting as it was, laid the groundwork for a career defined by boldness and a willingness to learn on the fly.
The Internship That Sparked a Career
One of the key themes that emerge from Ludeman’s story is how internships and early opportunities play a decisive role in shaping a photographer’s career. Before graduating, Ludeman interned with the Chesapeake Bayhawks, a professional lacrosse team. His assignment? Photographing a promotional event at a bar. That shoot led to more responsibility. He was soon photographing in-game signage, then action on the field. While other interns worked behind the scenes in press boxes, Ludeman was on the field, camera in hand, doing what he would later realize was his dream job.
That summer internship not only gave him experience but also validation. It revealed what was possible in sports photography and offered him a tangible path forward. For many aspiring photographers, such opportunities are rare but transformative.
The Value of Early Connections
Mentorship plays an indispensable role in the creative development of photographers, and both Green and Ludeman were quick to acknowledge the mentors who shaped their journey. Early in his career, Ludeman had the opportunity to assist Nat Butler, a veteran of NBA Entertainment. Tasks like running Ethernet lines or setting up remotes may seem tedious, but they provided a critical window into the rhythm of professional sports photography.
He also worked under the guidance of Brace Hemmelgarn and Brad Rempel during an internship with the Minnesota Twins and University of Minnesota. These mentors not only taught him about the technical aspects of shooting a game but also how to manage the intense pressures and logistical challenges of the role. Ludeman learned to handle the constant deadlines and overwhelming expectations, realizing that being mentally agile was just as important as being technically skilled.
For Green, mentorship came from working closely with industry professionals in structured environments. Whether freelancing under Brandon Magnus at the San Jose Sharks or working with Steve Sanders at the Kansas City Chiefs, Green paid close attention to how seasoned professionals managed teams, assigned tasks, and communicated expectations. These experiences helped him develop not only his photographic skill set but also his understanding of leadership and collaboration in high-pressure settings.
Building a Village of Influences
A powerful idea echoed by Green is that it takes a village to build a professional photographer. The industry isn’t shaped by solo journeys, but by interconnected learning across disciplines. Green emphasized that young photographers should seek guidance from experts in other genres—not just sports. Whether it's food photography, portraiture, weddings, or architecture, every specialty has techniques and principles that can inform sports photography. This cross-genre exposure helps photographers adapt quickly and think more creatively in the field.
It also opens doors to understanding composition, lighting, emotion, and storytelling in more nuanced ways. Learning from a diverse pool of influences allows sports photographers to bring a fresh, multidimensional approach to capturing their subjects, especially in an era where content is expected in real-time and for multiple platforms.
Embracing Change and Technological Evolution
Another element that emerged from their conversation was the evolution of photography technology and how it has transformed the industry. Ludeman referenced his time with Nat Butler, who had been photographing since the days of film and Hasselblads. Observing how Butler adapted to new tools and faster workflows gave Ludeman critical insight into the importance of being flexible.
In today’s sports photography environment, turnaround time is everything. Photographers not only need to capture iconic moments, but also deliver them to editors and social media teams within minutes. This has shifted how photographers prepare for and execute their assignments. They must be quick, accurate, and extremely well-organized, often working with multiple cameras, remotes, and wireless transmission systems.
Green and Ludeman both recognize that staying current with gear and software is as important as mastering shutter speeds and ISO settings. Whether it’s managing wireless workflows, editing on the fly, or syncing with a content team, they understand that today’s sports photographers are part of a high-speed, interconnected ecosystem.
Learning by Doing—and Trusting Instincts
As Green described his early days on the sidelines, one thing became clear: sometimes, you just have to dive in. He admitted to having no clue what he was doing at that first football game. But he went for it, made mistakes, and kept learning. That instinct to act, even in uncertainty, is crucial in a career like sports photography. Games move fast, and hesitation can mean missing the shot.
Both Green and Ludeman agree that being thrown into the deep end, at times, was the best way to grow. In moments of confusion or pressure, they leaned on prior experiences, instincts, and quick thinking. Over time, these challenges helped build confidence. They realized that every missed frame was a lesson, and every assignment was a step forward.
Photography Beyond the Field
One of the more profound realizations from both photographers is that taking the actual photos is only a fraction of the job. As Ludeman puts it, “So much of this job is not shooting the game.” Sports photographers are responsible for capturing assets for marketing, corporate sponsorships, community relations, and more. They take headshots, lifestyle portraits, stadium shots, crowd reactions, and branding elements. Every department within a sports organization relies on their work.
Green added that only about ten percent of his job is actually taking pictures during a game. The other ninety percent involves planning, communication, editing, logistics, and strategy. It’s a multi-faceted role that requires more than just an eye for action—it demands an understanding of organizational goals and how photography serves them.
The Game Day Grind – Behind the Lens When the Whistle Blows
For sports fans, game day is a time of excitement and anticipation. For team photographers like Ben Green and Ben Ludeman, it’s the culmination of hours of preparation and the beginning of an intense, high-stakes sprint. The workday begins long before kickoff and stretches far beyond the final buzzer. In this part of the series, we step into the high-pressure environment of game day through their lenses—literally and figuratively.
What does it take to cover a professional game from the sidelines? How do these photographers prepare, stay focused, and deliver world-class images under extreme time constraints? This section reveals the detailed choreography, intense mental focus, and the controlled chaos that defines game day photography.
Preparing for Battle: The Night Before and Morning Of
Contrary to what many assume, a sports photographer’s game day starts well before the players take the field. For Ludeman and Green, preparation begins at least a day in advance and ramps up quickly in the hours leading up to the game. They’re not just showing up with a camera; they’re walking in with a mental map, a strategy, and a clear understanding of the day’s objectives.
Ludeman typically spends the night before organizing his equipment: charging batteries, formatting memory cards, checking lenses, and cleaning gear. He ensures his remote cameras are prepped and his backups are functional. On the morning of a game, he goes through a final checklist. For him, gear prep is not just a routine—it’s a ritual that ensures mental clarity and minimizes distractions once the game begins.
Green takes a similar approach, layering his prep with communication. He connects with his team to finalize shot lists, schedules, and logistics. Game day assignments often go far beyond action shots. There may be specific marketing or sponsorship content that needs capturing, special guests to photograph, or behind-the-scenes moments requested by the team’s content department.
The Sideline Strategy
By the time fans begin arriving, Green and Ludeman are already at the stadium, cameras slung over their shoulders, working their way through a tight timeline. They’ll scout shooting locations, check lighting conditions, and, if using remotes, set up cameras in goalposts, rafters, or other strategic locations that will deliver unique angles during the game.
Each photographer approaches the sideline like a tactician. Where should they position themselves for a touchdown run? How will they pivot for defensive plays? What kind of background is ideal for hero shots? These decisions often come from a mix of experience, intuition, and knowledge of the team’s playing style.
Ludeman pointed out that positioning isn’t random—it’s choreographed. He studies the teams ahead of time and even tracks player habits to anticipate movements. For example, if he knows a particular player always celebrates toward the left corner of the end zone, he’ll adjust accordingly.
The Seconds That Matter Most
When the game begins, the pace shifts from planning to instinct. Green described the in-game environment as mentally intense, where the difference between a usable photo and a forgettable frame comes down to anticipation. You must not only watch the play unfold—you must predict it. That means tracking the quarterback’s eyes, watching a wide receiver’s body language, or reading the defensive alignment.
In these moments, Ludeman emphasized, muscle memory and focus take over. You’re not thinking about aperture or shutter speed—you’ve already set your exposure. Instead, your hands move automatically, your eyes scan the field, and your brain works a half-second ahead of the play.
Both photographers shoot with multiple cameras, each pre-set for different types of shots: a wide lens for overall action, a mid-range for plays, and a telephoto for close-up details. They often carry two or three bodies simultaneously and have to switch between them in seconds. Missing a key play isn’t just disappointing—it could mean failing a client or letting down a department counting on that content.
The Pressure of Real-Time Delivery
Perhaps one of the biggest changes in modern sports photography is the requirement for near-instant turnaround. Gone are the days when a photographer could review thousands of images after a game. Now, images are often needed during the first quarter. This has introduced an entirely new layer of urgency to the job.
Green and Ludeman both use wireless transmitters to send selected images directly to their editors, who are either on-site or working remotely. This process happens mid-game, while they’re still shooting. It demands not only attention to what’s happening on the field but also presence of mind to flag and send top shots as the action unfolds.
Green explained that the photographer’s role now intersects heavily with digital and social media. A great image has value, but a great image delivered five minutes too late might already be irrelevant. The pressure isn’t just to shoot well—it’s to shoot fast, edit faster, and stay in constant sync with a creative team that’s pushing content in real time.
Navigating Chaos With Calm
Even with years of experience, game day rarely goes perfectly. Weather, technical glitches, misplaced gear, or last-minute changes to schedules are just part of the reality. Green and Ludeman both emphasized that mental flexibility is essential. You can plan meticulously, but you must be ready to adapt in an instant.
Ludeman recalled instances where remotes malfunctioned or where he missed a key moment due to a blocked angle. It happens to every photographer. What separates professionals from amateurs is how they respond. Staying composed, moving quickly, and being solution-focused is a skill in itself.
Green shared a philosophy that guides his approach: control what you can, let go of what you can’t. This mindset allows him to stay focused even when things spiral out of plan. When shooting in a live sports environment, there are no do-overs. You either get the shot or you don’t—and learning to move forward quickly is a vital part of the job.
The Human Element: Storytelling Through Emotion
While action shots dominate sports photography, both photographers stressed that the most powerful images are often the ones that capture emotion. A player’s silent moment of reflection, a coach’s intense glare, or a fan’s wild celebration—these moments offer depth and context beyond the scoreboard.
Green makes it a priority to scan for these storytelling opportunities. He looks not just at the play but at what’s happening around it. Sometimes the best shot is on the bench, not the field. Sometimes it’s in the tunnel, not under the lights.
Ludeman echoed this idea, saying that what elevates a good sports photographer into a great one is the ability to humanize the sport. It’s not just about catching a touchdown—it’s about capturing what it meant to the people involved. This requires empathy, awareness, and patience.
Working as a Team Player
In the past, sports photography was often a solo endeavor. Today, it’s a team effort. Both Green and Ludeman work within tightly coordinated teams, where communication is key. On game days, they’re connected to editors, social media staff, designers, and even video teams. Everyone is working toward the same goal: to tell the story of the game in the most compelling, efficient way possible.
This collaborative dynamic means that Green and Ludeman must not only be technically strong photographers, but also excellent communicators. They need to understand what each department is looking for, how their content will be used, and how to deliver it in the right format and timeframe.
Green mentioned that developing trust with the team is essential. Editors rely on his judgment, and he trusts them to take his raw frames and turn them into impactful content. That mutual respect makes everything smoother—and elevates the final product.
Finding Joy in the Chaos
Despite the relentless pace and pressure of game day, both photographers find profound joy in what they do. For Ludeman, every game is a chance to challenge himself, to improve, and to document moments that fans will treasure forever. There’s a thrill in being close to the action, a satisfaction in delivering images that resonate, and a deep appreciation for the role he plays in preserving the history of a team.
Green shares a similar sentiment. While the stakes are high and the demands intense, the opportunity to be part of something bigger—to witness greatness up close, to share stories that inspire—is what keeps him coming back. He’s not just capturing plays; he’s archiving history.
Sustaining Creativity in a High-Pressure Profession
Shooting the same team, week after week, year after year, might seem like a formula for creative stagnation. Yet for photographers like Ben Green and Ben Ludeman, who operate in the nonstop world of professional sports, finding ways to keep their work fresh is not just a challenge—it’s a necessity. In this final part of the series, we explore how these visual storytellers avoid burnout, stay inspired, and continue evolving their craft in a job that demands both artistic consistency and relentless speed.
How do they maintain passion in a fast-paced environment where results are expected instantly? How do they keep pushing creative boundaries when the subject matter—the game itself—often remains the same? These are the questions that define longevity in sports photography.
The Risk of Creative Burnout
Creative fatigue is a silent threat in any high-output profession. For Ludeman and Green, the danger lies in repetition. With each season comes another round of home games, team huddles, touchdowns, locker room celebrations, and media day portraits. If not carefully managed, the routine can dull creative instincts.
Ludeman admits that burnout is real, especially during intense stretches of the season when travel, game days, and post-production overlap continuously. During these periods, the job can feel more like triage than art. But he’s learned to recognize the early signs: loss of excitement, impatience in post-processing, and shooting “just to shoot” without intention.
Green echoed this reality, noting that when creative energy runs low, it reflects in the work. Shots start to feel repetitive. You fall back on safe angles. You avoid trying something risky. In those moments, both photographers make conscious decisions to pause, reset, and refocus.
Injecting Creativity Through Challenges
One of the most effective ways both photographers stay creatively energized is by introducing new challenges into their workflow—even within the same environment. Green regularly tries out different lenses, unconventional framing, and altered angles. Sometimes he’ll switch shooting positions during a game or attempt backlit images he wouldn’t normally take.
Ludeman often sets small creative goals for a game, like capturing emotion on the sideline instead of focusing solely on action, or isolating one player’s journey throughout the contest. These self-imposed projects inject fresh purpose and give him something new to chase—even when the subject matter feels familiar.
Another trick they both employ is limiting gear. While it might sound counterintuitive, choosing only one or two lenses for a portion of the game forces them to see things differently. It becomes an exercise in restraint and problem-solving, both of which stimulate creative thinking.
Drawing Inspiration from Other Photographers
Staying creatively sharp also means looking beyond your own work. Both Green and Ludeman follow other photographers—inside and outside of sports—for fresh ideas and inspiration. Fashion, portraiture, documentary work, and fine art all influence their approach to composition, lighting, and emotion.
Ludeman especially draws from wedding and editorial photographers, admiring how they tell human stories in emotionally rich, visually striking ways. He often incorporates that sensibility into his pregame portrait work or player features.
Green spends time looking at long-form photo essays and photojournalism from outside the sports world. He believes the best sports photographers think like documentary shooters—always scanning for narrative, tension, and context. The more you study other styles, the more tools you have when the moment arises.
Knowing When to Step Away
Another crucial part of staying creative is knowing when not to shoot. Both photographers have learned to give themselves space away from the lens. During the offseason, Ludeman takes time to focus on personal projects that have nothing to do with football. Whether it’s landscape photography, travel, or photographing his family, this change in subject matter resets his creative brain.
Green also prioritizes downtime. As much as he loves the work, he recognizes that true creative clarity often comes when you’re not forcing it. Taking a break isn’t laziness—it’s a strategy for sustainability. The most inspired images, he says, usually follow moments of rest, not long stretches of exhaustion.
Embracing New Technology and Trends
To keep their work fresh and their audiences engaged, both photographers actively embrace new tools, trends, and platforms. This means learning new editing techniques, experimenting with mobile photography, shooting with drones, or creating content specifically for social formats like Instagram Reels or TikTok.
Green has embraced the trend of vertical shooting to align with mobile-first content strategies. It's forced him to rethink framing and storytelling, especially for motion-heavy plays that used to rely on horizontal compositions. While it took some getting used to, he now sees it as another creative puzzle to solve.
Ludeman has dived into video storytelling as well, capturing moments that still images can’t fully convey. For him, learning video was initially uncomfortable, but ultimately invigorating. It provided a new visual language to explore and gave him a more holistic perspective on storytelling.
Connecting with the Subject Matter
A powerful way to avoid creative burnout is to stay emotionally connected to the people behind the story. Green and Ludeman both emphasize the importance of building relationships with players, coaches, and staff. When you know someone’s backstory, struggles, or motivations, it becomes easier to photograph them with purpose and empathy.
Green tries to spend time with rookies, understanding their personalities, finding what makes them tick. That knowledge informs everything—from how he frames a photo to how he positions lighting during portraits. The more authentic the connection, the more meaningful the image.
Ludeman builds trust through consistency and presence. Over time, players begin to see him not just as a media person, but as a teammate—someone who’s part of the fabric of the organization. That trust opens doors to more vulnerable, real moments that can’t be manufactured.
Learning From Mistakes
No matter how experienced, every photographer has off days—missed shots, underwhelming galleries, failed concepts. Green and Ludeman have both learned to view those moments not as setbacks but as crucial learning opportunities. They regularly review their work not just to choose the best frames, but to analyze what went wrong and why.
Ludeman believes that humility is a creative superpower. You have to be willing to admit when you got lazy, when you overexposed a shot, or when your composition didn’t quite work. That level of honesty leads to growth.
Green takes a similar approach and often revisits old photos—not just to admire progress, but to identify patterns in his creativity. What ideas was he chasing back then? What techniques has he abandoned that might actually be worth revisiting? Reflection becomes fuel for reinvention.
Building a Career With Longevity
Creativity is only one part of the equation. To sustain a career in professional sports photography, you need endurance, professionalism, and adaptability. Green and Ludeman both recognize that this is a long game, and surviving in the industry requires more than good images—it requires consistency and collaboration.
Green advises younger photographers to stay curious and never become complacent. The moment you think you’ve “figured it out,” the industry will shift again. Stay open, stay generous with your knowledge, and never stop learning.
Ludeman encourages others to embrace the grind. There will be cold games, late nights, frustrating shoots. But if you love the work—truly love it—you’ll find beauty even in the chaos. Passion is the difference between lasting five years and building a lifetime in the field.
The Legacy of the Lens
At the core of everything Green and Ludeman do is a deep belief in the power of photography—not just to entertain, but to preserve, to honor, and to inspire. Every game they cover becomes part of a historical record. Every image they take could become the defining photo of a player’s career or the emblem of a team’s legacy.
That responsibility is never lost on them. It’s what keeps them sharp, what makes every play matter, and what drives them to keep evolving—even when they’re tired, even when the season drags on. Their images are more than content—they’re stories, moments, and memories that will outlive the game itself.
A Career of Purpose and Passion
As this three-part series concludes, one thing becomes clear: the work of a professional sports photographer is far more than clicking a shutter. It’s a relentless pursuit of excellence in a space where every second counts. It’s about being prepared, staying present, and never losing sight of why you started.
Ben Green and Ben Ludeman are proof that you can build a long, fulfilling career doing what you love—even in one of the most high-pressure creative industries in the world. Through adaptability, authenticity, and an unwavering commitment to the craft, they’ve turned fast-paced chaos into art—and moments into legacy.
Mentorship, Community, and the Next Generation of Sports Photographers
With years of experience and thousands of games under their belts, Ben Green and Ben Ludeman have reached a point in their careers where they’re no longer just documenting sports—they’re shaping the profession. In this fourth installment, we explore how these two photographers give back, mentor others, and foster community in a field that’s both fiercely competitive and deeply collaborative.
As more young creatives pursue sports photography, the value of mentorship, representation, and accessibility is growing. Green and Ludeman are not only aware of their positions in the industry—they’re intentional about using them to create space for the next generation.
The Importance of Giving Back
For both photographers, the drive to mentor and uplift others stems from their own paths into the industry. Ludeman recalls how difficult it was to break into sports photography, especially without formal connections. “I didn’t know where to start,” he says. “There wasn’t a clear roadmap.” That uncertainty shaped his desire to offer clarity to others. He frequently answers DMs, participates in Q&As, and shares detailed gear breakdowns and workflows on social media—not to flex, but to demystify.
Green shares a similar philosophy. Coming up as a young Black creative, he understood the importance of seeing someone like himself behind the camera. Representation in visual storytelling matters not just on the field, but on the sidelines too. Today, he makes an effort to connect with aspiring photographers from underrepresented communities and show them that there’s a place for them in professional sports photography.
For both, mentorship isn’t about creating carbon copies of themselves—it’s about giving people the tools, perspective, and confidence to develop their own voice.
Building Community in a Competitive Industry
Sports photography, like many creative industries, can be isolating. While photographers may work for the same leagues or shoot the same games, they’re often competing for coverage spots, contracts, and publication opportunities. But Green and Ludeman actively resist the idea that success is a zero-sum game.
They’ve both built strong networks of peers, often connecting through Instagram or industry events. These relationships are based not on rivalry, but mutual support. “It’s not just about who gets the best shot,” Green explains. “It’s about how we’re all telling the story together.” This sense of shared mission allows for collaboration—even when careers don’t directly overlap.
Ludeman adds that talking shop with other professionals is one of the best ways to grow. Comparing editing techniques, debating camera bodies, sharing Lightroom presets—these conversations build camaraderie and sharpen everyone’s skills. He views community as essential, not optional.
Navigating Social Media’s Double Edge
Social media plays a massive role in the lives of today’s sports photographers. It’s a place to showcase work, connect with peers, build a personal brand, and even attract clients. But it also presents challenges—particularly the pressure to constantly post, compete with trends, and chase engagement.
Green uses social media strategically. He shares polished galleries and behind-the-scenes glimpses, but he’s careful not to let the algorithm dictate his value. “If you’re only posting what gets likes, you lose your vision,” he warns. Instead, he encourages younger photographers to use social platforms as a tool—not a measure of self-worth.
Ludeman agrees. While he enjoys the connections social media offers, he’s seen how it can foster comparison and burnout. “You’ll always think someone else is doing it better,” he says. His advice: focus on consistency, not perfection. Your best work isn’t always your most viral post.
They both mentor others to approach social media with balance—share, engage, and connect, but never lose sight of the reason you started taking photos in the first place.
Mentorship in Action
Mentorship can take many forms. Sometimes it’s formal, like portfolio reviews or internships. Other times, it’s as simple as answering a question in a DM. Ludeman recalls helping a college student who reached out asking how to break into team photography. A few emails turned into phone calls, which eventually led to an introduction at an NFL team—and later, a job.
Green also shares stories of young photographers who shadowed him on game days, observed his process, and went on to pursue their own professional careers. He sees these moments as an investment in the future of the industry.
Both photographers emphasize that you don’t need to be a veteran to mentor others. Even those just starting out can pass along insights to peers or younger creatives. The goal isn’t to have all the answers—it’s to create a culture where questions are welcomed and growth is encouraged.
Representation and Opening Doors
One of the most significant aspects of Green’s mentorship approach is his focus on representation. In an industry historically dominated by white men, he recognizes the impact of simply being present—and visible—as a successful Black sports photographer.
He often talks to younger creatives about the importance of bringing their full identity into their work, rather than conforming to industry expectations. “There’s no one way to shoot a game,” he says. “Bring your culture, your eye, your story. That’s your power.”
This message resonates deeply in an era where conversations about equity, diversity, and inclusion are finally gaining traction in creative spaces. Green wants young photographers to know they can show up as themselves—and still thrive.
Ludeman, too, is committed to inclusion. He partners with creative organizations that elevate underrepresented voices, and he actively recommends diverse talent to teams, editors, and brands. “It’s not enough to succeed alone,” he says. “We have to pull others up with us.”
Teaching the Business Side
While creativity is at the heart of photography, Green and Ludeman also mentor others on the practical aspects of building a sustainable career. That includes teaching young photographers how to price their work, negotiate contracts, manage taxes, and understand licensing.
Ludeman stresses the importance of ownership. “You need to know your rights,” he says. “Who owns the image? Where can it be used? What’s it worth?” Too many creatives give away valuable work without realizing it. That’s why he’s transparent about how he structures deals and works with brands.
Green takes a similar approach and believes in empowering photographers with business literacy. He encourages young shooters to treat themselves like creative entrepreneurs. That means thinking long-term, diversifying income streams, and building relationships that go beyond one-off assignments.
Creating a Legacy
As their careers continue to evolve, both Green and Ludeman think about the legacy they want to leave behind—not just in terms of the images they've created, but the impact they’ve had on others.
Green hopes his career shows that there’s room to be excellent and generous at the same time. That you can work at the highest level, represent your community, and still hold the door open for others. He wants to be remembered not just for iconic photos, but for helping others believe they belonged in the room.
Ludeman wants to be known as someone who built connection. With players, with teams, with peers—and with the next wave of creatives. His advice to up-and-coming photographers? “Keep learning, stay kind, and always say yes to helping someone else.”
The Future of Sports Photography
The field of sports photography is evolving. With new tools, formats, and platforms, the job looks different than it did a decade ago—and it will continue to shift. But what won’t change is the need for visual storytellers who care. Who think deeply, shoot intentionally, and lead generously.
As the profession grows, leaders like Ben Green and Ben Ludeman are doing more than taking great photos. They’re redefining what it means to succeed: not just by the quality of your work, but by the strength of your community, your willingness to mentor, and your commitment to growth.
In them, the next generation doesn’t just see talent—they see possibility. And that may be their most important image of all.
Final Thoughts:
Professional sports photography is often seen as glamorous—sideline passes, travel, front-row seats to history. But behind every iconic image is a story of endurance, hustle, and heart. What Ben Green and Ben Ludeman have shown through their work, words, and mentorship is that this career is about far more than pointing a camera at action. It’s about showing up—consistently, creatively, and compassionately.
They’ve proven that great photography isn’t just technical—it’s human. It’s built on relationships, trust, and the ability to see moments most people miss. Whether it’s the quiet intensity of a player on the bench or the thunderous celebration after a game-winning play, these photographers turn fleeting seconds into permanent memory.
They’ve also shown that success in this field doesn’t have to be solitary. By investing in others, sharing knowledge freely, and advocating for diversity and representation, they’re creating a more open and inclusive path for those who follow. Their legacies won’t just be measured by the number of published covers or viral posts—but by the photographers they’ve inspired and the lives they’ve touched.
In the end, Green and Ludeman remind us that while cameras may capture the story, it’s the photographer’s heart, eye, and voice that bring it to life. And in a world where so much moves fast and gets forgotten, their work ensures that the moments worth remembering are not only seen—but felt.