Rising Stars: Meet Asher Kerr

Today we’d like to introduce you to Asher Kerr.

Hi Asher, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I got into photography during my sophomore year of high school when I accidentally signed up for our Yearbook class. I was assigned to go photograph a varsity football game in September 2015. Halfway through the game, a player I knew, Jared Haggard, started flexing at me from the middle of the field. At the time, I thought this was the shot and took about 20 photos of him just standing there flexing at me. When the play was over, he ran straight up to me, asking to see the photo. They were horrible dark grainy photos but he loved them so much. He asked me to send him the photo and when the team overheard I was sending it to him, they all asked me to send them photos too. From that game on, it sparked a little fire in me that made me fall in love with sports photography. Through the next three years of high school, I spent almost all my time focusing on sports photography. I went to as many games as possible and by my Senior year of high school had made a name for myself as the school sports photographer.

In 2019 before I became a student at ASU, I was given the opportunity to photograph ASU football for the 942 Crew. They reached out asking if I could come to a few games and photograph the student section for them. As a lifelong ASU fan I was overjoyed to have the opportunity. They were a very welcoming group of people, and had given me numerous amazing friends along the way. I finally became a student at ASU in 2020, where I officially joined the design committee in 942 Crew where I helped work on all things graphics, photos, and giveaways. Slowly moving my way up this year, after 3 years with the 942 Crew, I became the head chair for the design committee. I thank William Kennedy and LB Silver every day for reaching out to me back in 2019. I’ve had the best 3 years with them, and I can’t wait for many more.

In 2020 I also became an intern for Sun Devil Athletics where I’ve come to learn all the hard work put into the athletic departments here on campus. I thank my Sun Devil Coordinator Katie for being an amazing mentor, and helping me further my skills as a sports photographer. As a lifelong ASU fan, it feels great getting to be a part of the manic that happens behind the camera at sporting events.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting to where I am was not a smooth road. I had a lot of challenges along the way that helped shape me into the sports photographer I am today. I am someone that has struggled with my mental health for most my life, and although I love sports photography sometimes my depression can become worse than my passion for it. After I had graduated high school, I did two years at Mesa Community College. In January of 2019, I had the worse depressive episode I’ve ever had. I stopped going to my classes, and was removed from the roster. I dropped working for the school newspaper, and I hadn’t touched a camera for 8 months. During those 8 months, I had become a couch potato glued to the corner of my bed and had no motivation to leave my room for almost anything. I had finally managed to break myself out of this 8-month long depressive episode when my little brother asked me to take photos of the high school marching band he was a part of at their first home game of the season. Similar to the feeling I had when I photographed that football game back in 2016, it was exactly what I needed to become motivated again.

From that point on, I prioritized my mental health even over my passion for sports photography so I wouldn’t burn myself out into another 8-month depressive episode. I make sure to tell myself that I don’t need to photograph everything and that what I’m able to do is good enough.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a sports photographer currently interning with Sun Devil Athletics, and the Design Chair for the 942 Crew. I would say I’m most known for the work I do with 942 Crew. I take the bulk of their atmosphere shots at games that students love post and share. I also create a lot of the giveaway designs that we hand out at the games to gain student attendance. I’m most proud of my hockey shirt I designed for our last season in the Ocean Side hockey rink, and our maroon monsoon long-sleeve shirt I did for football.

I believe what sets me apart from others is my preference to photograph the atmosphere at sporting events versus the action of the game. As much as the game is exciting to photograph, I believe sporting events can’t be what they are without the crowds. During Covid-19 when fans weren’t allowed in person at sporting events, you could tell the difference, and it just wasn’t the same. So once we were able to have fans back, I wanted to make sure I captured the moments where they go crazy at the game-winning shot at the buzzer or an 80-yard touchdown. Because moments like that are what make sporting events.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is getting to capture the moments of fans and athletes doing what they love at these sporting events. Nothing feels better than fans and athletes excited to have my photos of them doing what they love. It makes me feel good to know I gave them a snapshot of some of their happiest moments.

Pricing:

• Senior/Grad Portraits $100/hour

Contact Info:

• Website: Asherkerr.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: Asherkerr_photography