Meet the unofficial ‘official’ photographer of the O’Gorman Knights

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

Michelle Brunz is no stranger to Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

Her son Blake graduated from O’Gorman High School in 2019. Her son Josh followed in 2021. Daughters Cecily and Kendra are a senior and a sophomore, respectively.

Over the years, she has become a familiar face on the sideline of every activity. And that’s not an exaggeration. It’s every activity.

She has been a soccer mom, baseball mom, track mom, gymnastics mom, volleyball mom, cheer mom, tennis mom, dance mom, wrestling mom, football mom and a swim team mom.

And, at every stop, she also has been a mom with a camera.

It started as a hobby at her kids’ wrestling, basketball, cheer and dance competitions, and then she began freeing up nearly every night to spend with the Knights.

Brunz has snapped thousands of beautiful photos of O’Gorman High School students throughout the years and graciously shares her work with the families, staff and administration. No matter the event, she is sure to be there with a smile on her face and an eye behind the lens, dedicating countless hours to capturing a frame-worthy moment from a child’s time in high school sports.

And this year, she got a special thank-you for it. Brunz was awarded the Woody Drey Award, voted on by volunteers behind the Bob Burns Dakota Bowl, for her outstanding dedication and volunteerism. She took home the prize honoring her undeniable support and impact Sept. 3 at the Bob Burns Dakota Bowl XLIV.

In between all of the activities, she also made time to chat with us about life behind the lens.

Tell us about your first introduction to photography.

Photography has been a hobby for me since junior high. I was a multisport athlete and enjoyed taking pictures of my teammates and friends at practice and at competitions. I also loved taking pictures of friends, family and pets. Of course, back then I had to wait about a week until the pictures were developed. I remember taking my film into Harold’s Photo on Wednesdays for free double prints.  

What inspired you to take photos of every sport?

In the fall of 2020 when school went back to in-person learning, I asked permission to be on the football field for the game. At the time, my nephew was a junior on the team. Everything was so uncertain, and I thought it would be nice to take pictures of him playing just in case that was the first and only sporting event of the whole school year. We just didn’t know if sports would be able to continue if COVID-19 cases spiked.

I had so much fun at that game that I continued taking photos at more football games and with my own kids in cheer, basketball and wrestling. My kids’ friends were asking me to take pictures of them too. It just snowballed from there. At that point, it became a personal challenge for me to get an awesome picture of each athlete. I have learned a lot these past couple years and have had some great local mentors in the sports photography community. This has become a very time-consuming hobby, and I love it. Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband who supports what I do.

What is the most challenging part of taking sports photos?

Each sport has its own set of challenges. Getting a clear shot of athletes moving as fast as they do takes a lot of practice and patience. I’ve spent hours learning how to adjust my camera specifically for light in a school gym or on a field for a night game. The color of the walls in the gym, the bleachers and the court all have an effect on how my pictures turn out. If I take 1,500 pictures at one game, I’m lucky if 80 of them are good enough to use. Often, I think I’ve gotten an awesome shot only to realize a referee or another athlete was in the way.

What sport do you find the most challenging to shoot? Why?

When shooting football, basketball and volleyball games, there are so many people on the field or court. It’s challenging to focus in on one person or to follow one play and get a good shot without someone else in the way.

What sport do you find the most interesting/fun to shoot? Why?

Honestly, I enjoy taking pictures of every sport. I love them all because I love to watch the kids out there doing what they love. I enjoy capturing their personal and team highlights and even some of their struggles. Recently, I’ve taken pictures of practices, time in the weight room and even in the locker room during the coach’s pep talks. It’s given parents a sneak peek into all the prep that happens before these kids take it to the field or court.

Do you think you will continue to take photos after your kids graduate? 

With four kids in the Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, we’ve met some wonderful people and their families. These connections do make it fun for me to take pictures and share with the kids and their families. When the last of the Brunz kids graduates from O’Gorman High School in 2024, you will still see me taking pictures of O’Gorman sports. I have grown to truly love this community. Taking pictures is a really fun way for me to stay involved with the school.

Growing up in the Sioux Falls area and having kids in many different sports, I’ve made a lot of connections with people from many different schools. I have been asked to take pictures of other kids already, and I have considered the idea of turning this into a business. Lately, I’ve been researching how to make hype videos. I’d love to try and incorporate some videography with my photography.

What did being awarded the Woody Drey Award mean to you?

I am truly honored to have been chosen for the Woody Drey Award. Generally, I like to be behind the lens and celebrate those students in front of my camera. It really brings me so much joy to see the kids enjoying pictures of themselves doing something they love. To be recognized for my photography by the Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools family was an unexpected surprise.

Being on the field, on the court or in the locker room has really given me a unique perspective of our athletes and coaches. At the end of the day, these kids are students first. They put so much time and hard work into school and then go out and do the same for their sport. It makes me happy to see that someone has taken one of my pictures and made it their Instagram or Twitter cover photo. I love to see which pictures are their favorites because it shows me what they’re proud of.

As a mom, and knowing so many of the athletes here, I try really hard to get a couple of pictures of each athlete, especially the ones who maybe don’t get as much game time. Last year, I shared a picture with a parent whose son didn’t get as much game time. After seeing the picture of himself, he said, “Mom, this makes me feel relevant.” That comment right there makes it all worth it for me. Because everyone out there is a part of the team and they matter. My hope is that one day these kids will look back at these pictures and have wonderful memories of their days at O’Gorman High School.

Michelle Brunz holds a special place in the hearts of the Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools family. We are thankful for all her time, energy and support that she has given us and our students over the years. We look forward to seeing her at many more games in the future!