Prep Photo Day

Three times a year the Sports Department invites metro-area high school coaches to bring themselves and their players into The Oklahoman’s offices for picture day. We catalogue the pictures for use in our Prep Grid every week or when players achieve something outstanding in their sport. Then we use the pictures in the paper or on NewsOK.com. For nearly four years of working here, I’ve somehow managed to miss this assignment. Wednesday afternoon, though, I loaded up lights, background, light stands and background stands, extension cords and cameras and hauled them to the banquet hall of our offices in Oklahoma City for Prep Photo Day.

Several participants accurately described the process as they walked toward the “X” I had marked on the carpet. “mug shots…like in jail.” Exactly. With nearly 400 people showing up to have their pictures taken, we need a way to elimiate mistakes. Each person holds a piece of paper with their name, high school and sport written on it. That way, when I write the cutlines, the chances of getting the names wrong goes down drastically.