Philadelphia Union – The Inspiring Power of Sports
Hello! My name is Joshua Crellin, I’m currently a senior in advertising with a track in account management. This fall I have an internship with the Philadelphia Union as their Photography Intern. During the course of a few months, I took photos of both Union teams, Union main team and Union II, at their home stadium, Subaru Park. I worked closely with the digital creative team to create social media content for both teams.
During this internship, I learned many valuable skills about working a camera, especially when it came to shooting sports. I learned specifics on ISO, shutter speed, and more when trying to take the perfect sports photo. I also learned skills on Lightroom Classic on how to edit and crop my photos. But I learned much more from this internship than just photography and how a social media team works at the professional level. I learned how powerful and inspiring sports can be for everyone involved.
It was an amazing experience getting to see the behind the scenes of a professional sports team, getting insights on everything that goes down to make the magic happen. What truly inspired me during this internship was seeing the smiles the Philadelphia Union brought kids and families going to the games. The first game I worked was Kick Childhood Cancer Night where kids diagnosed with cancer were honored at the game. Seeing their smiles being on the field and talking to the players was an amazing sight to see. This team truly brought the community together, many families brought their kids to the game so they could be inspired by the professional athletes on the Union. Before each home game the Union had events where kids could get involved playing games, and a bar named Union Yards where friends and families could go to connect before the match. Each game was really a unique experience getting to see how the community interacted with the team and it’s events.
The Philadelphia Union truly put a smile on everyone’s faces in the crowd, win or lose. The team was very interactive with the fans before, during and after the games. After the games each player spent time signing autographs for the fans and talking with them. The players families were on the field, with some of their kids running around. The club felt like a family that genuinely appreciated each and every fan that came to watch them play. Sports can leave a long lasting impact on those watching, especially kids with dreams to play professional soccer one day. The Union players and organization made sure to make the experience special for each and every kid in attendance.
This experience will leave me feeling very inspired. It felt great to be a part of an organization that brings happiness to the community. I enjoyed taking photos of smiling fans and players who work hard to inspire their community. I also enjoyed the people I was surrounded by at the Union, they showed me what it takes to work in sports along with enhancing my skills in photography. Working in sports in something special that makes you really appreciate the joy and power that sports has on all of those involved.
