Meet Carrie Cleghorn

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carrie Cleghorn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carrie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Being a hockey Mom and a photographer culminated in my becoming a hockey-centric Photographer. I had struggled to figure out what my area of photography should be for years. When my daughter started playing I realized how much I love photographing this sport. I could pair my studio/portrait style of photography in the individual and team photos and bring in another aspect to my business, the action! Hockey is not a sport you can photograph easily, no cell phone is capable of freezing the action in that environment. I provide parents and players to opportunity to be fully engaged during the games, while I get those action shots. Allowing parents to be 100% present during a game, cheering…hanging onto the edge of their seats and I am there getting their players absolute LOVE of the game for them to have forever, that makes me incredibly happy! I decided to set up myself as Puck Yeah, your one stop shop for hockey related images. Providing individual and team coverage during a game/tournament while also giving the opportunity for your team/organization to have outstanding individual and team images is my main drive with Puck Yeah.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
There are few photographers that take on the Volume Photography work. It is challenging, chaotic and can be quite physically demanding. I pair Volume Sports Photography with Sports Photography specifically for hockey. Being a hockey mom, I know what it’s like in the hockey world…the lingo…the season…the way hockey takes over your life (in a good way). I can follow the game, anticipate where the best shots would take place and understand what images the players/parents really want to get.

Covering a tournament can be exceptionally grueling, very early morning starts…back to back games over 3 days. Standing on concrete holding onto a 7lb camera can seem like it’s nothing until the hours wear you down, but when you are doing something you love…that camera weighs less.

My photography journey has had many twists and turns to arrive at where I am today. I try all types of photography to see if it fits, hockey has been the one that I am fully invested. I have learned over the years the technical side of photography, the business of photography, post-processsing using different programs to achieve my style and developing my work-flow. The most challenging aspect of what I do is educating others on what being a professional photographer takes and why we charge what we charge. It can be frustrating to have all of your hard work boiled down to, “You must have an amazing camera” There is a mountain of work that happens before you see me and more so after I am done “pushing a button” I have spent years attending workshops, conferences and honing my skills in all aspects of photography to get where I am, I am a member of Professional Photographers of America, Professional Photographers of Colorado and Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs. I serve on the board in both, PPC and PPGCS, where our main objective is to provide educational opportunities to fellow photographers.

My brand is Puck Yeah, I absolutely LOVE hockey! Puck Yeah’s goal is to give parents/players physical reminders of their love of the best sport, hockey! Stick flexes, snow spray from skates, leaning on those edges, fighting for the puck, glove saves, top shelf goals all those things that make it the greatest game to play…that is why Puck Yeah exists.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to Garden of the Gods, the top of Pikes Peak, kayaking on Rampart Reservoir. Hit Outer Range Brewery in Frisco for amazing IPAs with a view. Catch an Avs game at Ball Arena.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs has been instrumental throughout my journey becoming a photographer. I have life-long friends from the Guild, mentors in the Guild that have helped me in many different ways. In the Sports/Volume world specifically, Lee Bernhard (Sports Volume) Rob Perrin (Volume) and Tim Skrastins (Sports Volume). I would not be where I am without those three mentors with Puck Yeah!

Website: https://www.coloradospringsportrait.com/puck-yeah/

Instagram: @pucksncoffee

Linkedin: Carrie Cleghorn

Facebook: Puck Yeah

Image Credits
Puck Yeah – Carrie Cleghorn Photographer