From Friday Night Lights to Fireside Chats: Photographing Amy Griffin’s Amarillo Events

Last Thursday, I got one of those calls that makes you pause for a second.

Amy Griffin’s team in New York City reached out and asked if I could photograph her time in Amarillo. It included a private dinner and a public event tied to her book The Tell.

If you know my work, you probably know me as the sports guy with a camera on the sidelines. So yes, this was a little different.

The request came in about a week before the events. My schedule was already packed. I moved things around to make it work. I was grateful they trusted a local photographer to capture local memories.

The public event: a packed room and a powerful conversation

The public event was a fireside chat at the Amarillo Civic Center. It was hosted by the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC).

The Grand Plaza was full. Around 800 people came out to hear Amy Griffin interviewed by Barbara Bush.

It was one of those Amarillo nights that reminds you why I love working here. People show up. They listen. They support each other.

Event photography is not that different from sports

On paper, sports photography and corporate event photography look like two different worlds.

In real life, the skills overlap more than you would think.

1) You are still chasing candid moments

In sports, you track action and reactions. You look for the split-second stuff.

At an event like this, it is the same idea. The moments are just quieter.

I watch for things like:

• A speaker leaning in when the room goes silent
• A real laugh on stage
• A meaningful expression from someone in the audience
• Small interactions before and after the program

Candid photos are what make an event feel real later. They are also what businesses use most. They work for press, social media, recap posts, and next year’s promotions.

2) Low light is still low light

If you have ever shot a high school gym, you already know. Lighting is rarely perfect.

Event venues can be the same. The lighting is set for the experience in the room, not for cameras. It can be dim. It can be mixed. It can change quickly when you move from one space to another.

This event had natural low-light challenges. The stage lighting looked great to the crowd. But it meant I had to stay on top of settings the whole time.

Then there was the behind-the-scenes part. When we moved back to the green room, it was even darker. To get clean photos, I used on-camera flash and bounced it so the light stayed soft and natural. That is the kind of adjustment you make in real time when the lighting changes and the moment still matters.

3) Professionalism matters more than the camera

The biggest difference between sports and a private dinner or a formal program is the room.

When you photograph a private dinner or a conversation about something personal, you need to be present and invisible at the same time.

That means:

• Showing up early and prepared
• Moving only when it helps the story
• Reading the room
• Getting what is needed without interrupting what is happening

That part matters to me. People are trusting me with moments that matter.

Fast turnaround: images delivered within an hour

One thing I am proud of from this job is the turnaround.

We delivered images to Amy’s media team within the hour of the event ending.

That is not an accident. It is a workflow.

For businesses and organizations, speed matters. When you host an event, you often need photos right away. You may need them for media requests, social posts, sponsor thank-yous, internal recaps, or next-day press.

My goal is to make that easy. You get great photos. You get them quickly. Your team can use them right away.

Why I am sharing this (and who I can help)

I am sharing this one because it is a good example of what I love about being a photographer in Amarillo. Local events can have national reach. The people behind them deserve strong visuals.

If you are a business, nonprofit, or organization hosting an event in Amarillo, I would love to help you document it. That can be a keynote, fundraiser, panel, grand opening, conference, or private dinner.

You will get:

• Candid storytelling photos, not just posed shots
• Coverage that is professional and unobtrusive
• A fast turnaround option when you need images quickly
• A local photographer who knows the community and shows up prepared

Photo gallery

I am adding a gallery below so you can see highlights from the night.

If you are planning an event and want to talk photography coverage, reach out. I am happy to share availability and help you think through what you will need.