Recruited by Creative Art Director Ryan Daoust

denis lockinvar sport photographer

“Hey guys, my name is Lockinvar Denis, but you can call me Lock. I took up photography back in 2014 with aspirations of being a live sports photographer. With some guidance and thought, I’ve changed my path. Now, my focus is on Commercial Sports/Fitness photography. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a product or themselves they are selling. Through a lot of trial and error, I have cultivated a style that I’m happy to call my own. My inspiration comes from other creatives in my field, such as Jim Reddin, James Woodley, and Matt Roy. Seeing their work pumps me up to create some dope content, just like what you will see in this article. Feel free to contact me if you’re ever interested in working together. IG: lock.photo.”

From Hoops to the Lens

So everything started back in high school when I would play basketball with friends. When my team would lose, I would take pictures/videos of my friends on the court with my phone. I eventually decided to buy a camera and then the journey started.

The hardest part is coordinating shoot dates. I prefer shooting either sunrise or 2 hours before sunset. For some people with jobs or other responsibilities, it can be hard to meet at those times.

The most famous person I’ve shot so far would have to be Doug E Fresh, known for his beatboxing in the 80s. Working with him was a great experience. I was able to provide content that pulled over 300k views on Essence Magazine’s Instagram page. It is now their most-watched video.

If I could shoot any athlete, dead or alive, it would honestly be Carmelo Anthony, mainly because he’s one of my favorite NBA players.

Style and Process

My photography style in three words is Edgy, Active, and Sweaty.

When shooting with athletes, I do a lot of research on them first. I look at their portfolio, see what they can do, and, most importantly, see what they already have done. The last thing I want is to create an image they already have. Once planning is done, I’m very open to new ideas on shoot days. I just prefer having a list of shots we can work on and knock out.

In one set, the athlete’s name is Tia Stackman, who was a former Dr. Huckles hurdler at Lincoln. She reached out to me online, looking to create content for her business as a fitness trainer. In the next set, we have Crystal Primm, a former Duke University Shooting Guard. A friend actually introduced us. She engages in basketball “play” training for adults and kids.

The top sporting event on my bucket list would be the NBA Finals. Hopefully, it would be a COVID-Free edition.

I currently have a surfer that I’m coordinating dates with, and I have some mock commercial videos I’m currently scripting.

If someone wanted to hire me as a photographer, you can reach out to my email at lockzonephotographer@gmail.comor send me a DM on Instagram @lock.photo.