Los Angeles Event Photography - Roller Derby Season Champs

Even though I've been going to LA's roller derby games for years now, I went to more this season than ever before and was lucky enough to get to take pictures at many of the games. I can't think of a better way to wrap up an amazing season than watching the championships where my favorite team, The Tough Cookies, played against The Swarm. As always, much love to Gori Spelling for asking me to be her photographer!

 After a few ejections and much deliberation by the refs the final score was 148 to 106, with the Tough Cookies maintaining their champ title for three years running. Congratulations on an amazing season, Cookies and Gori! 

The LA Ri-Ettes vs. TRD - Los Angeles Roller Derby Photography

Thanks to the amazing Gori Spelling for giving Matt and I some tickets to watch the All-Star derby team LA Ri-Ettes play against Tucson Roller Derby team Iron Curtain. TRD usually skates flat track so the Ri-Ettes definitely had a home-field advantage, but it was a good game nonetheless.  Gori said I could skip taking pictures if I would rather just watch, but come on, if I hadn't brought my camera I would've missed out on all of these shots!

LA Ri-ettes win - final score 184 to 71!

Tough Cookies Win! - Los Angeles Roller Derby Photographer

I have been to my fair share of roller derby games, but I have to say the Tough Cookies vs. Sirens game last weekend may have been the best one. It literally came down to the last 15 seconds but the Tough Cookies scored the winning points in the last jam to win 135 to 130. It was pretty intense.

As with the other games I've photographed, the amazing and wonderful diva jammer Gori Spelling let me be her guest photographer. It was the first game I had a flash for, so I got to experiment with some motion blurs and try out my new lens. It was also Skatum O'Neal's birthday, so I'm glad I got to see her and give her a birthday mustache necklace. I had such a great time and can't wait for the next game. Here are a few highlights, with the rest of the set up on flickr.

Los Angeles Derby Dolls

Anyone who knows me well could easily tell you that I am not into sports. I am completely uncoordinated when it comes to playing sports and just not interested when it comes to watching sports. The one exception to this is Roller Derby. I went to my first LA Derby Dolls game a few years ago and was instantly hooked. The games are fast and action-packed, the players are charismatic, and the fans are really into it. Matt and I and some of our other friends have been going ever since. Along the way, I became friends with lovely and talented Gori Spelling, one of the jammers for the 2008 and 2009 champions, the Tough Cookies. For awhile now I've wanted to take photos of a derby bout, but cameras aren't allowed in for the general audience. Gori was nice enough to let me be her family photographer for a recent game and I was really excited to take pictures for the first time.

Because of how fast the skaters are going and the low light of the arena, some of the pictures are a little dark and grainy, but I was pretty happy with how enough of them turned out. I'm hoping I'll be able to take more in the future and will keep getting better with practice.

Here are a few of my favorite shots, but there are a lot more to check out here.