Alright, this one is a big one and now we are getting into top 5, so they are all really big moments. I mean honestly, if you’ve read the last 5 moments, I had a lot of big events and moment occur this year. This was the best that had nothing to do with actually taking sports photos. Instead, this had to once again do with working with Pepsi, like I did when I got to meet Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez and Gary Sanchez.
I got an email asking if I was available to work an event being hosted at a restaurant in White Plains. An event that would include Aaron Judge. I think I read the email about 10 times to make sure I was right when I saw Aaron Judge was involved. I couldn’t grasp that concept, me in the same room as the current face of the Yankees.
It was a dinner type of event with a Q&A at the beginning, so photography wise, it was a simple event to work. I got my overall shots and then a photo with each guest and Aaron. Then, thats when the best part of the whole night began. After I took each photo, they told Aaron it was time to leave. He took it upon himself to say goodbye to each table and person that was still around. He was not told to do this, but he felt it was the right thing to do.
Now, getting to the best part. As we walked back to the back room, I kept thinking how I might ask him for a photo with him, if I should, was it appropriate, all of that was going through my mind in the 1 minute walk. Then, we got to the room and as I was placing my camera down and about to go on my computer for a moment, Aaron came up to me and asked if I wanted to a photo as well.
I think he could tell when we were out there that I wanted to ask him but never had the right chance. How nice of him to instead ask me and take that pressure off me. As a photographer, I do not know what type of line I might be crossing asking for a photo, since I am the one that is supposed to being taking the photos. It’s really hard, especially when it’s someone as big of a deal as Aaron Judge.
So, yes I got my photo with Aaron Judge and when I shook his hand, I told him my name was Erin too, just spelled with an E. So a great moment the entire time. That is a photo I will keep with me for the rest of my life and a moment I will never forget.
To meet such an amazing athlete and afterwards be able to say he is as nice as he is good at playing baseball, is surreal to me. Aaron Judge now has a fan for life and a bigger fan than I already was. I know everyone has his jersey and it’s probably the most seen around NY and the stadium, but I might need to jump on board and get one myself after this. Jeter is my all time favorite Yankee but Judge is making his way up the list. A class act.
Oh and to say my photos were used on Aaron Judges social media, yeah that's a resume and unforgettable moment.