From the Classroom to the Sideline: Kevin Boller on the 2027 Sports Photography Workshop
A hands-on workshop led by Insight Image Studio photographer Kevin Boller will give participants classroom instruction, live sideline coaching and credentialed access to the National Scouting Combine College All-Star Game.
Sports photography leaves little room for a second chance. The light changes, the play keeps moving, and the photographer has only a moment to recognize what is unfolding and be ready to capture it.
That fast-moving challenge first drew Kevin Boller to the camera at age 12. His uncle, a commercial photographer covering USAC and open-wheel racing, brought him to the track and handed him his first 35mm camera. Following his uncle taught him how to work with clients and deadlines—and how to anticipate the action.
“Great sports photographs come from anticipation, not luck,” Boller said.
Today, Boller is a professional photographer and educator at Insight Image Studio in Southwest Florida. His work has appeared in more than 30 magazines worldwide, and he photographs college athletics and works with organizations including the FSCAA, NJCAA and National Scouting Combine. He also brings an analytical perspective shaped by nearly 19 years in data analytics at Comcast.
On Thursday, January 7, Boller will lead the National Scouting Combine’s Sports Photography Workshop at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples. Presented in partnership with Think Tank Photo, the workshop will take participants from classroom instruction to credentialed, field-level access during warmups and the NSC College All-Star Game at FC Naples Stadium.
Learn the decisions behind the shot
The workshop is designed for photographers who already understand manual exposure and want to build their sports photography skills in a live football setting. Classroom instruction will cover camera settings for stadium lighting, autofocus for fast action, sideline positioning, play anticipation and safety.
Then participants will take those lessons onto the field. Boller plans to coach alongside the group throughout warmups and game action, helping photographers adjust their approach as the conditions and plays change. With only 15 spots available, participants will have room for direct instruction and feedback.
“Most workshops stop at theory or use a practice or staged setting,” Boller said. “Here, you learn a concept in the afternoon and use it a few hours later in a game, with an instructor standing next to you.”
That immediate connection between learning and doing is central to Boller’s teaching approach. Participants can try a technique, get feedback and apply the adjustment on the next play.
A rare opportunity to build a portfolio
The College All-Star Game brings together athletes from across the country pursuing professional opportunities. For workshop participants, the live game offers more than a chance to practice camera settings: it’s an opportunity to work from the sideline and create images in a credentialed game environment.
“Sideline access is the hardest thing to get in sports photography,” Boller said. Participants’ images will become part of the official NSC game coverage with photo credit, giving them portfolio experience that can be difficult to secure without prior credentials.
Think Tank Photo, the workshop’s presenting sponsor, will also provide gear for participant giveaways. Boller uses Think Tank bags himself and says the company understands the practical demands of working photographers on the sideline.
Who should attend?
Boller welcomes hobbyists ready for a next step, parents who photograph their children’s games, photographers looking to add sports to their work and anyone building a sports portfolio. He hopes participants leave with a repeatable process for shooting fast action, more confidence working on a sideline and images they’re proud to share.
“Someone took the time to show me the ropes when I was 12, and I want to do the same for the next photographer,” he said. “My favorite moment in any workshop is when it clicks.”
The Sports Photography Workshop takes place Thursday, January 7, 2027, at Paradise Coast Sports Complex. Registration is $125, with a 50% discount for currently enrolled college students. Space is limited to 15 photographers.
Learn more and register: www.nationalscoutingcombine.com/photoworkshop
