It was an exciting day for Lake Oconee Academy’s photography class when the Atlanta Braves team photographer, Kevin Liles, visited to share his knowledge and experience as a photographer with the budding photography students.

Mr. Liles began his career as a small-town reporter in South Georgia. After covering local high school sports, Kevin discovered he had a growing interest in photography, especially when it came to sports. He went on to photograph hundreds of assignments for The New York Times, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2018, he found his home as the team photographer for The Atlanta Braves where he continues his work today.

Mr. Liles shared some of the amazing moments he has captured over the years with the photography students. While most of the photographs he shared were epic ones he has taken for The Braves, he also shared some amazing moments he’s been fortunate to capture outside of The Braves organization over the years - from a regal portrait of former President Jimmy Carter to a rare moment with University of Alabama Head Football Coach, Nick Saban. He even shared an unexpected moment he was fortunate to capture of a pastor praying with a police officer that landed on the front of The New York Times Sunday edition. His was the lead photograph of every photographer across the country covering this story. It was an incredible honor.

In addition, Mr. Liles shared great advice with the young photography students as they prepare for their futures in any area of study. Mr. Liles suggested, “It takes about ten years, in my experience, to be really good at anything…” He later stated, “I think a lot of kids come into photography and try to be great very, very quickly. They want to be shooting a Braves game next week and it doesn’t work that way.” His advice was to just put in the time to gain experience, suggesting that in order to grow in photography one needs good critiquing of his or her work to excel in the field.

Mr. Liles enjoyed bantering back and forth with ninth grade student, Ben Reber. He noticed Ben had a superior knowledge of the Braves stats and playfully tested his knowledge throughout. Ben later shared how much he enjoyed seeing Mr. Liles work from games he had attended or viewed on TV, recalling the moments from memory. Prior to this event, Jordynn Chafin, a tenth-grade student, was unsure if photography was a career path she was interested in, “I wanted to do something in the technology field, but I thought photography was kind of boring. Seeing his work made me realize there is more to it and technology can be fun if you make it,” said Jordyn. She emphasized, “He definitely made me give photography a second thought.” 

Being in the presence of such an accomplished photographer was a special experience for these young photography students. Before departing, Mr. Liles gave the students an opportunity to hold his official Braves World Series ring, an experience many of the students will never forget!

About Kevin D. Liles:

Kevin D. Liles is a documentary, commercial, and sports photographer based out of Atlanta, GA. He specializes in creating narrative, layered and powerful images. Kevin has photographed for The New York Times, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated and The Wall Street Journal. Other clients include Turner Studios, The Golfer’s Journal, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, ESPN, NBA and The Players’ Tribune. He is the co-founder of ATL Photo Night, a monthly artist talk founded in 2016 aimed at investigating the creative process. He is also past president of the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar - the longest continuously operating photojournalism conference in the U.S. To learn more about Kevin Liles, please visit: kevindliles.com