NORTHERN MICHIGAN · BY SONDRA LARAY

Built for
game day.

Cinematic, bold-lit sports portraits for school districts, youth programs and senior athletes. We bring the lights, the smoke and the splash to your field, court, rink or pool.

BOOK A SENIOR SESSION SCHOOLS & TEAMS

WATCH THE REEL

AS FEATURED ON ESPN SPORTSCENTER HOUSE OF HIGHLIGHTS + PHOTOGRAPHY PUBLICATIONS

Not your average picture day.

Smoke, water, dirt and dramatic off-camera light. Every look is built on location and tailored to the athlete, so families get images that feel like a magazine cover, not a yearbook proof.

Light it. Frame it. Own it.

Pick your roster.

Three ways to work together, from a full district season to one athlete's legacy shoot.

Kalkaska basketball player spinning a ball in a smoke-filled gym

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Picture day, upgraded.

Team and individual portraits for every sport, every season
On-site setup in your gym, field, rink or pool
Full gallery, banners and prints delivered in under 2 weeks

PLAN YOUR SEASON →

Youth hockey player skating toward the camera with ice spray

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Make them feel like pros.

Leagues, travel teams, clubs and dance studios
Organized flow built for big rosters
Bold looks kids actually want to show off

BOOK YOUR TEAM →

Senior football player number 55 holding a football surrounded by flames

SENIOR ATHLETES

Your legacy season.

One-on-one creative session built around your sport
Custom concepts: smoke, water, dirt, fire-lit and more
Starting at [YOUR PRICE]

BOOK A SENIOR SESSION →

WATCH THE REEL

Behind the lights.

See how a Great Lakes session comes together, from the first setup to the final frame.

The highlight reel.

VIEW FULL GALLERY

Softball catcher snagging a pitch in a burst of dirt

Overhead view of a basketball player dunking through orange smoke

Swimmer framed by a wing of splashing water

Hockey player with braids holding a stick across her shoulders in red light

Baseball player sliding headfirst into home plate

Football lineman in a three-point stance under falling water

Softball player diving into a base in a spray of dirt

Black and white dancer leaping through beams of light

Black and white youth football player draped in chains with smoke

Softball batter making contact at sunset

Youth football player kneeling with a ball under a dramatic sky

Young girl in a blue dress surrounded by sparkling water

Softball player with a bat across her shoulders in smoke

Four Kingsley football players on a bench in front of fire and smoke

Football player number 55 in chains with flames behind him

Baseball batter making contact through smoke at sunset

Swimmer reaching toward the camera through a spray of water

Volleyball player with a sparkling ball in blue light

Basketball player going up for a dunk below the rim

Youth baseball player pointing his bat at the camera

Youth football player in chains giving a shush gesture

Powerlifter holding her first-place medals in golden dust

Baseball catcher reaching for a pitch as dirt flies

Basketball player sitting on gym bleachers with a ball

Softball catcher on a bucket surrounded by softballs

Kalkaska football player number 18 at sunset

Cross country runner on a wooded trail with spikes over her shoulder

Black and white young dancer twirling in falling water

Baseball player resting in the dugout with his bat

The game plan.

Call the play

Tell us your sport, your roster and your vision. We'll map out the looks, the location and the schedule.

Game day

We bring the lights, smoke, water and energy to your venue, and coach every athlete into their best pose.

The highlight

Your full gallery, banners and prints are delivered in less than 2 weeks, ready to post, hang and frame.

Award-winning

MEET YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Hi, I'm Sondra.

I'm an award-winning sports and wedding photographer, educator and speaker based in Northern Michigan, and the creator of Great Lakes Sports Portraits. My style is bold light and cinematic storytelling, built to make every athlete feel like the main event.

My work has been featured by ESPN, SportsCenter and House of Highlights, along with multiple photography publications. When I'm not on the sidelines, I'm teaching other photographers how to create intentional, high-impact images, and that same hands-on energy goes into every session.

WORK WITH ME WEDDINGS & PORTRAITS

FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shooting Your Shot

Join Sondra's free photography education group for lighting tips, behind-the-scenes setups and a community that pushes creative boundaries.

JOIN THE GROUP →

NOW BOOKING [SEASON / YEAR]

Your season.
Your story.

Schools, teams and senior athletes: dates fill fast before every season. Let's lock in yours.

BOOK YOUR SESSION

231-394-0356 hello@sondralaraysphotography.com

Built forgame day.