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Why Disc Golf Needs Photos – and How Everyone Benefits

06/05/2025

Imagine this: a top-tier disc golf event, the best players on the course, a crowd following along, the atmosphere almost tangible. Then you open social media. The first thing you see is a blurry phone snap, half a throwing motion visible, and a portable toilet in the background. That kind of image doesn't impress anyone - not new fans, not sponsors, not the audience.

Disc golf isn't just a hobby anymore. It's a growing sport with a global audience, multiple tours, and a significant role in local events. But what happens if all that's left from these events are out-of-focus photos that only half-capture the best moments - or worse, no photos at all?

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The Power of an Image

A high-quality photo isn't just about aesthetics. It's a message. It shows that the sport is taken seriously. It tells people your event is professionally organized. It brings visibility to players, the media, and partners. And sometimes, it's the deciding factor in whether your event gets its next sponsor.

When photos are high-quality and tell a story, they build the sport's image and support the entire disc golf community. Photos aren't just eye candy - they're part of your strategy. Images have power. They capture the atmosphere, the story, and the value. A professionally taken photo doesn't just look good - it communicates trust, quality, and passion. Just as a course sign guides a player, a good photo guides the viewer to understand what the sport, the event, or that captured moment is all about.

Concrete Benefits

Players

  • Get quality photos of themselves to share on social media, use with sponsors, or keep as memories.
  • Visual visibility and activity on social media support personal branding and influence.

Event Organizers

  • Get materials to market the event before and after it happens.
  • Photos help build the annual event's brand and convince new partners.
  • Post-event marketing becomes much easier: photos for news, social media posts, reports, and more.

Sponsors and Partners

  • Receive photos they can use in their own marketing.
  • Visibility through photos becomes tangible - logos, banners, player partnerships are shown credibly and professionally.

Media

  • Need good photos for news, social media, articles, video thumbnails, and more.
  • Ready-to-use photos save time and allow for quicker publishing.

Cities and Municipalities

  • High-quality visual documentation of the event serves local marketing: "Look what's happening here!"
  • Photos can be used in tourism marketing, brochures, websites, and social media.
  • Showcases the area's appeal and vibrancy-not just from a sports perspective, but also from a sense of community.

A Good Photo Doesn't Happen by Accident - What Happens Behind the Camera?

If you thought a photographer just snaps a few pictures and heads home, think again. For example, my own event week often looks like this:

  • Day -0: I study the course map. Go through the player list. Plan shooting locations in advance.
  • Day 0: I talk with key event organizers. Confirm event details. Walk the course, take course photos, edit and publish.
  • Day 1: I photograph every player on one hole. Edit and publish.
  • Day 2: A full day of shooting and editing, then publishing.
  • Day 3: Shooting the lead cards, final hole moments, editing, and publishing.

A photographer's work is more than just pressing buttons - it's a tightly scheduled process where every moment counts. There's no room for error in the workflow. If the most important photos aren't published on time, it has a huge impact.

Image Rights - Don't Assume, Agree

Too often, photos end up being used without permission because people think that if it's online, it's free game. (And this applies to all photos everywhere.) That's not the case. The photographer always owns the copyright unless otherwise agreed. That's why event organizers should make a clear agreement about photo usage rights: Can players share the photos? Can sponsors use them in marketing? Is it only for non-commercial use? Let's agree together - clearly and fairly. For example, the images in this blog don't include people or photos from specific events.

It's important to have a written agreement that defines:

  • Who can use the photos?
  • In which channels can the photos be used?
  • To what extent can the photos be used?
  • Is the use commercial or not?
  • Can the photos be passed on to others?
  • What rights does the photographer retain?

Where and How to Get Disc Golf Photos?

You have three main options:

  1. Hire a Photographer – Best quality and flexibility, but requires a budget. The top solution for quality event photos. Customizes to your event and its unique features.

  2. Buy Stock Photos – A cost-effective way to get quality material easily. Archive images that aren't tied to a specific event. Works well for general marketing.

  3. Take Photos Yourself – Works if you have the equipment and skills, but takes time.

If you're looking for ready-made images for event advertising, your club's social media, or your own content production, check out my Adobe Stock gallery. 

Disc golf -themed collections:

A Photo is an Investment

A photo is like a course sign: it points the viewer in the right direction. It creates a first impression, a feeling, and a memory. Disc golf is already a professional sport. Let's show it visually, too. A quality photo can make the difference between a good event and an unforgettable one.

If you need photos, want to ask more, or need a photographer for your event, get in touch:

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