(Warning…. Grab a tissue, or two.)

Hey friends,

If you’ve ever been to a final game of the season – whether you’re a player, a parent, or a photographer on the sidelines – you know there’s something different in the air that day.

It hits different. Feels different. Means more.

And as someone who’s been photographing sports for years now, I can tell you: the last game of the season is always the most emotional one to shoot.

Let me tell you why.

The Seniors Who Know It’s Over

The hardest part of photographing the last game? Watching the seniors.

Because they know. They know this is it. The last time they’ll wear that jersey. The last time they’ll take that field with their teammates. The last time they’ll hear the crowd cheer their name.

I’ve watched seniors cry before the game even starts. I’ve seen them soak in every single moment – the warm-ups, the national anthem, the coin toss – like they’re trying to memorize it all.

And my job is to capture that. The bittersweet joy. The pride mixed with sadness. The celebration of what was and the grief of what’s ending.

It’s heavy, y’all. Really heavy.

The Parents in the Stands

Then there are the parents.

I see them in the stands, and I know what they’re feeling because I’ve been there too. This is the last time they’ll watch their kid play this sport. The last time they’ll make the drive to the field. The last time they’ll sit in these bleachers and cheer until their voice is hoarse.

They’re watching their baby’s childhood end in real-time.

I’ve seen moms cry through the entire game. I’ve seen dads get choked up during senior recognition. I’ve watched parents hold each other, knowing that this chapter is closing.

And I make sure to capture them too. Because years from now, that senior is going to want to see how much their parents cared. How much it meant to them. How they were there, every single game, cheering them on.

The Teammates Who Are Losing Their Leader

For the underclassmen, the last game hits different too.

They’re losing their leaders. The seniors who showed them the ropes, who pushed them to be better, who became like family over the course of the season.

I watch the younger players hug the seniors after the game, and you can see it on their faces – they know next year won’t be the same. The team is changing. An era is ending.

And those hugs? Those tears? Those moments of pure emotion between teammates? Those are some of the most powerful photos I take all season.

Win or Lose, It Hurts

Here’s the thing about the last game: it’s emotional whether you win or lose.

If you lose, it’s over. Done. No more chances. The season ends with a loss, and that stings in a way that’s hard to describe.

But even if you win – even if you’re celebrating a championship – there’s still that undercurrent of sadness. Because it’s still over. The season still ends. The seniors still have to say goodbye.

I’ve photographed teams celebrating championships with tears streaming down their faces. Happy tears, yes. But also sad tears. Because even in victory, there’s loss.

The Coaches Who’ve Watched Them Grow

The coaches feel it too.

I’ve watched coaches who’ve had these kids since they were freshmen – watched them grow up, taught them the game, pushed them to be better – have to say goodbye.

I’ve seen coaches break down after the final whistle. I’ve captured moments of coaches hugging their seniors, both of them crying, both of them knowing this is the end of something special.

Those moments remind me that sports aren’t just about the game. They’re about relationships. Mentorship. Love.

The Weight of “Last”

There’s something about the word “last” that makes everything feel heavier.

Last game. Last practice. Last time in this uniform. Last time with this team.

Every moment becomes significant. Every play matters more. Every second feels precious because you know you’ll never get it back.

And as the photographer, I feel that weight too. Because I know these photos are going to matter more than any others I’ve taken all season.

These are the photos they’ll look at years from now when they’re remembering what it felt like to be part of this team. These are the ones they’ll show their kids someday.

So I make sure I get them right.

The Moments After the Final Whistle

Some of my most powerful photos come from the moments right after the game ends.

The senior who takes off their helmet for the last time and just stands there, taking it all in.

The player who falls to their knees, overwhelmed by emotion.

The team huddled together, crying and laughing and holding onto each other.

The parent who rushes onto the field to hug their kid, both of them in tears.

These aren’t posed. These aren’t planned. These are raw, real, honest moments of emotion. And they’re beautiful.

Why I Always Shoot the Last Game

No matter how busy my schedule is, no matter what else is going on, I always make sure I’m there for the last game of the season.

Because I know how much it matters. I know these photos will be treasured. I know that years from now, these players will look back at these images and remember exactly how they felt in that moment.

I know the parents will frame these photos. The coaches will keep them. The teammates will share them.

These photos become part of the story of this team, this season, this moment in time.

The Senior Recognition Ceremony

If your school does senior recognition before the last game, that’s always incredibly emotional to photograph.

Watching the seniors walk out with their parents, hearing their accomplishments read aloud, seeing the pride on everyone’s faces – it’s beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.

I make sure to capture every senior with their parents. Every hug. Every tear. Every proud smile.

Because these are the photos that will hang in their homes forever. These are the ones that grandparents will treasure. These are the moments that matter most.

The Locker Room After

I don’t usually photograph in the locker room, but I’ve heard stories from players about what happens after that last game.

The tears. The speeches. The hugs. The seniors saying goodbye to a space that’s been theirs for four years.

Some teams do special traditions – passing down jerseys, giving out awards, sharing memories. And while I’m not there to capture those moments, I know they’re happening.

And I hope someone is taking photos. Because those moments matter too.

What the Photos Mean Later

Here’s what I’ve learned from photographing last games year after year: these photos become more meaningful with time.

Right after the game, they’re emotional. They capture a moment of transition, of ending, of change.

But years later? They become something else entirely.

They become proof of what you accomplished. Evidence of the friendships you made. A reminder of who you were and what you were capable of.

They become a time capsule of a moment that shaped you.

To the Seniors

If you’re a senior playing your last game this season, I want you to know something:

Soak it in. Every single moment. The smell of the grass. The feel of your uniform. The sound of the crowd. The faces of your teammates.

Let yourself feel all the emotions. The joy, the sadness, the pride, the fear. All of it.

And know that even though this chapter is ending, what you built here – the friendships, the memories, the lessons – that stays with you forever.

To the Parents

I see you. I see the tears you’re trying to hold back. I see the pride bursting out of you. I see the bittersweet joy of watching your kid reach the end of something they’ve worked so hard for.

Let yourself cry. Let yourself feel it all. You’ve earned these emotions.

You’ve been there for every practice, every game, every win and loss. You’ve sacrificed time and money and energy to support your kid’s dreams.

This moment is yours too.

To the Photographers

If you’re photographing the last game of the season, here’s my advice:

Shoot everything. The big moments and the small ones. The action and the emotion. The players and the parents and the coaches.

Don’t just focus on the game itself. Capture the moments before and after. The hugs. The tears. The celebrations and the heartbreak.

Because those are the photos that will matter most.

The Beauty in the Ending

There’s something beautiful about endings, even when they’re sad.

The last game of the season marks the end of something, yes. But it also honors everything that came before it. All the hard work. All the dedication. All the love.

It’s a celebration of what was accomplished and who these players became along the way.

And that’s worth capturing. That’s worth remembering. That’s worth feeling, even when it hurts.

Why I Love What I Do

Moments like these – the emotional, raw, real moments of the last game – remind me why I love sports photography.

It’s not just about capturing the action. It’s about capturing the heart. The emotion. The humanity.

It’s about preserving moments that matter to people. Moments they’ll want to remember forever.

And there’s no moment quite like the last game of the season.

One Last Thing

If you’re heading into your last game soon – whether you’re playing, coaching, or cheering from the stands – I hope you’ll let yourself be present for it.

Put down your phone (except for a few photos, of course). Stop worrying about what comes next. Just be there.

Feel it all. Remember it all. Hold onto it all.

Because this moment – this last game – it only happens once.

And it’s worth savoring.

What’s your most emotional last game memory? I’d love to hear your stories.

Until next time, Alisha, The Camera Lady 📸

To every senior playing their last game this season: thank you for letting me capture your story. It’s been an honor.