A little back story.  When I visited D.C. in 2011, I was looking forward to shooting Ashley and a number of other Redskins Cheerleaders, but I was to be disappointed in that she was not on the sidelines for the game.  She did dance in the pregame performance and I was able to snap a few photos, which you see here, but that was little compensation for not being able to shoot one of the most special cheerleaders during the game.

Ashley W. – the one that got away.

Perhaps one day I will return to D.C. and photograph the Redskins Cheerleaders again.  That would be great because they have some of the hottest cheerleaders in professional sports and they wear some of the sexiest uniforms in the NFL…and that’s a positive when it is your job to photograph cheerleaders.

We begin with two Captains, Lauren O. and Marissa.

Lauren was a four year member of the Charger Girls, the last two as Captain.  For two years, she had the good fortune to dance with her sister Jennifer, who is currently a 49ers Gold Rush cheerleader.

Marissa was a three year veteran Charger Girl and her story remains one of the most inspirational that I’ve come across.  She tried out nine times before making the squad and I guess perseverance pays off because she eventually became a Captain and then the Charger’s Pro Bowl representative.

Lauren P. was a member of the Clippers Spirit Dance Team before becoming a Charger Girl and she was a pleasure to shoot because she was very photogenic.  She was a three year member of the Charger Girls.

Starkesha, another three year member of the Charger Girls, was a former Detroit Automotion Dancer who made the move from Michigan to sunny California.  Michigan’s loss and our gain.

Amanda was a two year member of the Charger Girls and she had the distinction of being a top 30 finalist on the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”.  And those of us who watched her on Sundays, knows she can!

Alexis Ann was on the squad for two years, but in 2012 she did not perform during the regular season. She only was on the sidelines for the two preseason games then suddenly disappeared. Our loss because she was very striking.

And know we turn our attention to some one year wonders, whom I hope may make a return appearance in the future.

This is Rachel and she was a Charger Girl for only one season.  And this is unfortunate because I was looking forward to shooting her again this season. She was on the end of her line and as such I didn’t get to photograph her as much as I wanted, but fret not.  Rachel auditioned for and made the 2013 New England Patriots Cheerleaders.

Good for her, bad for us.  And while it will be below freezing in December in Boston, it’ll be a sunny 70 degrees in San Diego.  Perhaps those cold New England winters will induce her to move back to sunny San Diego.

Another one year wonder was Nicole. She was another girl that I didn’t get enough photos of her because she was also near the end of the line. We sometimes think we have more time with these girls, but unfortunately, they are only on the team for a relatively brief time.

Katie was another one who was only on the squad for the one year.  Tall, leggy and blonde. Everything you could want in a Charger Girl.

I don’t think she tried out again this year, but hopefully she will do so again in the future because I would love to photograph her again.

Allizon, another one year wonder, is working on her PhD in history and hopes one day to teach on the university level. What a coincidence, I was a history major in college…European history.  Care to discuss the impact of Napoleon Bonaparte on modern Europe? Oui, oui?

Erin was a former member of the Washington Wizard Girls and I first met her a couple of years ago at the PRO Convention in Atlanta. When I saw that she made the 2012 Charger Girls, I was pleasantly surprised because the PRO Convention attracts the very best professional cheerleaders each year.  Erin was a great addition to the Charger Girls.

I think its really neat that girls like Erin, Starkesha, and Lauren P., who have cheered professionally for other teams, auditioned and then joined the Charger Girls. It’s really quite refreshing to see them in a Charger Girl uniform.

Well that’s concludes our look back at the “retiring” 2012 Charger Girls. I hope some of them make it back to the squad in the future, but if not, I want to wish them well in their future endeavors. The girls have a saying, “once a Charger Girl, always a Charger Girl”. Let’s hope their time in the uniform was enjoyable and provided them with memories that will last a lifetime.

In a pageant style final audition, there really isn’t a lot of down time.  It is pretty much a show, so the girls are all business for the most part.  They come in.  They get their hair and make up done.  They have a brief run through.  And then the show goes on and there is little time in between performances.

So that’s all for the 2013 St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders Final Auditions.

Though they might not get as much attention as some of their more famous cheerleading sisters, the St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders are one of the most beautiful and glamorous squads in the NFL.  The girls are absolutely beautiful.  They wear Angela King designed uniforms, which in the opinion of this reporter, are both sexy and classy.  And they put on one fabulous final auditions show.

This past Tuesday, I was fortunate to be present for the 2013 St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders final auditions, a pageant style affair.  It was an exciting evening of entertainment, consisting of an interview segment, a swimsuit portion, and a final dance audition.  Just the thing for the most ardent cheerleader fan.

People started lining up a little after 3:30 pm to ensure that when the doors opened an hour and half later, they would have a prime seat for the start of the festivities.  I was lucky.  I had a media credential that allowed me all access to the event, so no waiting for me!

Well, that’s not quite true.  I misunderstood the show time and arrived inauspiciously early, but that wasn’t all bad as I was able to photograph the pre-event preparations.  The girls began arriving a little after 3:00 pm to get their hair and make up done.  With 49 finalists, this would be a huge logistical undertaking.  Around 4:00 pm, the retiring veterans and 2013 Captains arrived to rehearse their dance performance which would kick off the night’s events.

During the down time, I seized the opportunity and snapped a few posed photographs of the Rams Cheerleaders.  I don’t think they minded too much.  After all, posing for photos is one of the primary responsibilities of an NFL cheerleader and I am sure that they this was nothing new to them.  For the retiring veterans, it was one last time to pose in the uniform.

The 2012 retiring veterans and the 2013 Line Captains

Shortly after 6:30 pm, the curtain was pulled back and Master of Ceremonies Tim Tialdo, host of the RamsNation broadcast, introduced the retiring St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders and the 2013 Captains for their opening performance.

After the performance, the hopefuls were lined up on the stage for the interview portion of the final audition.

The finalists were escorted to the microphone by several members of the United States Marine Corps and they were asked a variety of questions.  Some of the more interesting were, “who would you like to have dinner with, living or deceased?” and “if you could exchange places with someone for a day, would would that be?”.   All of the girls were articulate and didn’t hesitate at the microphone.  Some answers were very entertaining and a couple were rather brief, but all of the finalists proved that they could handle a public speaking appearance.

When the last finalist had spoken, the curtain was closed.  The stage was reset, the microphone removed and the risers moved to the rear.  After a brief moment, the finalists returned for the swimsuit portion of the final auditions.  As they were called to the front of the stage, they were escorted by Rampage, the Rams official mascot.

On a side note, I chatted with Clin…uh, er…”Rampage” before the night began and he was nice enough to give me an autographed Rampage bobble head for a friend of mine.  I am told the bobble head is one of only a few hundred and very collectable.  Thank you, Rampage.

And here are some of the finalists in their swimsuit finery.

As the last swimsuit finalist exited the stage, they queued up the first set of girls for the dance portion.  There was literally no stoppage of time between the two phases of the auditions.  There was so little time in between, I did not have time to change out the four double “A” batteries in my flash before the first pair began their performance, that is how quickly things progressed.

Finalists were brought up in pairs and introduced to the crowd.  They performed a two minute dance routine that was scored by the judges. The points earned tonight for all three phases would account for 40% of their total audition score.

At the conclusion of the dance portion, the house ran a video of the making of the 2013 Rams Cheerleaders while the judges scores were tabulated.  Ten minutes later, the results were in.  The lucky girls were escorted to the front of the stage by Rampage and given a warm up jacket, the symbol for making the squad.

After the last name was called, the girls were gathered together at center stage and the 2013 Rams Cheerleaders were introduced to the audience.

The spirit of St. Louis, the 2013 Rams Cheerleaders.

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I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Keely Fimbres, Director of Special Events, and the St. Louis Rams for allowing me to cover their cheerleader auditions.  I had a wonderful time and hope to be back next year.

I don’t do that.  I just focus on the girls because the people that visit UltimateCheerleaders.com want to see “real” audition photos of real girls, not some stylized vision or conceptualized photo.  They want to see the real deal.

I take a lot of photos because you never know what image is going to tell the story you are trying to write.  So I have a lot of of photos that are redundant or don’t help visualize the story.  They are interesting photos, but didn’t make the article for one reason or another.  And I like to post those left overs here because they are worthy of your consideration.

I am going to begin with the girls who I thought were special.  So here are some photos of those that stood out to me.

I don’t know what it was, but most of the returning veterans tended to stay in the background when they were rehearsing the final audition routine.  I had to ask a few to stay in the foreground to get some shots of them.  I mean by the time they had arrived later in the day, I had gotten plenty of photos of the new girls trying out.  I needed to get some shots of the veterans to round out my coverage.

I also noticed that the same girls tend to float forward and that some girls tend to stay in the rear or periphery.  Hmmm.  I wonder.

This next girl looks kind of plain Jane, but I can see the potential in her if she glammed it up a bit and wore a more sexy outfit.  If she did and honed her dance technique, she would stand out.   She could very well be a diamond in the rough.

There were two girls from Japan at the audition.   This has been kind of a trend over the past several years, girls from Japan coming over here to tryout for a professional dance team.  One wasn’t very good, but this girl, who studied at ASU, was very good.

This next girl was on the training group and I remembered her from last year.  I think she came prepared for the auditions and generally stood out to me, but I don’t think she made the final 32.  And that was surprising because I think she had right combination of good looks and dance ability.

This is returning veteran Amanda.  I always get some very compelling images of her.

This next girl was perhaps the most photogenic.  She had a great smile and kind of drew your attention her way.

This is Kristen.  She was a Cardinals cheerleader a few years back and was returning to give it a try again.  I remember her from my first two years covering the auditions and I think she has a very good chance of making the squad.

Sometimes it is hard for a girl to come back, but there were at least two former Cardinals cheerleaders that I thought had an excellent chance to make it on the 2013 squad.  Kristen was one.

This next girl stood out from the crowd.  She’s former MLB manager Bob Brenly’s daughter in law and in my opinion a shoe in for the 2013 squad.

And this is Carla M., a former Phoenix Suns Dancer whom I have photographs several times.  She’s a great dancer and another girl who simply stands out from the crowd for all the right reasons.  She’s another one that I thought was a shoe in.

Carla is something special.

And speaking for something special, the next two returning veterans are special indeed.  Blonde Chelsey and brunette Tessa have always stood out in the auditions I have covered.   They’re both gorgeous and they both great dancers.

Well that’s all for now.

We should know soon!

UPDATE: Wow, seconds after I posted this article, the Chargers website was updated with the official announcement.  Yep this is the 2013 squad!

This past weekend I was in Phoenix, not to enjoy the flora, but to cover the 2013 Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders auditions.  It too, is a wondrous site to behold with over a hundred beautiful women trying out for a handful of spots on the Cardinals cheerleading squad.

This is my fifth year covering the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders auditions and I have enjoyed my time in Phoenix.  Director Heather Karberg and her staff are very friendly, the girls are gorgeous, and I always do some of my best work in the Valley of the Sun.

Once again, the auditions were held at the historic Arizona Biltmore Hotel and over the course of two days, the myriad of candidates would be whittled down to 32 finalists.

I arrived a little before noon on Saturday to get set up and there were several girls in line at the registration area.  The auditions weren’t supposed to start until 1:00 pm, so I knew this was going to be a good day for the Cardinals with people queuing up this early.

I spoke with Vanessa, the Cardinals 2013 PRO Bowl representative, and noted that only 17 veterans were returning this year and this meant that there would be at least 10 open spots available to newcomers.  Vanessa’s own spot on the 2013 squad was secured with her PRO Bowl honor.

At noon, registration opened and the staff began to process the applicants.

2012 PRO Bowl Representative Allie was there selling audition attire, false eyelashes, and Peavey pantyhose to those girls who needed last minute accessories.   Apparently, she was doing a fair amount of business.  You know, you never want to show up at an audition without the proper attire to make yourself stand out.

Last year, I was made aware of a group of special young women with the potential to become an Arizona Cardinal Cheerleader.  The training group has been in place for some years, but I only noticed them last year because so many of them made the 2012 squad.  This is the current training group and I am curious to see who makes it on to the 2013 squad.

A little before 1:00 p.m, retiring veteran Nicole and her staff led the group in a series of stretches and warm up routines.

After the warm up session, Heather Karberg welcomed the attendees and let them know what was in store for them on this day.

There would be three audition phases this day.  For the first phase, the candidates would be taught an across the floor routine and cuts would be made.  The second phase would include a dance routine with a freestyle and choreographed portion in front of a panel of judges.  And in the final phase, the remaining candidates would learn the audition routine that would be judged on Sunday.

At this point, Heather turned over the festivities to Nicole, who demonstrated the across the floor routine to the candidates.

The across the floor routine consisted of a series of spins, kicks, and a jazz walk portion.  It is used to determine which girls have the ability and skill to perform the most basic dance movements and to eliminate those candidates whose physical fitness was not up to the standards of an NFL cheerleader.

Those girls who made the cut were given a ticket to the next round and queued up to turn in their paperwork and receive their audition number.  The first round was over.  Now the auditions would begin in earnest.

When the girls reassembled in the audition area, the number of girls did not appear to be appreciably less.  It was still packed.  I guess that is a testament to the caliber of girls that the Cardinals attract to their auditions, that the number of girls eliminated after the across the floor routine was few.

The second round began with the staff taking the dance floor once again, this time to teach a dance routine that consisted of two counts of freestyle followed by several counts of choreographed movements.

The candidates were able to rehearse the routines several times before the panel of judges entered the audition area.  At 2:30 pm, the judges arrived and the girls were called up groups of three to perform the dance.

After the group had performed, the judges retired to deliberate over the candidates. A half hour later, Heather returned with the results.  Prior to revealing the candidates who would make to the final round, Heather encouraged those that would be cut to contact her in the near future to receive feedback on their performance and she hoped that they would try out next year.

Over 90 girls started this round of the competition, when Heather came back with the results around 70 girls remained and they would be joined by the 17 returning veterans.

There would be no more cuts for the day, but the remaining candidates and the returning veterans would spend the next couple of hours learning the final audition routine.  Heather has a tradition where she performs the final audition routine and demonstrates it for the finalists.  Last year, Heather was unable to do so, having given birth to her daughter just two weeks prior, but this year she once again took to the dance floor.

Now Heather is an amazing dancer and she’s a great choreographer.  Her movements choreograph quite nicely to the musical selection and it truly is a harmonious blend of sights and sounds for those watching.  And that is not hyperbole.  That she is is a great dancer should not be a surprise because back in the day, Heather was a San Diego Charger Girl.  Our regular readers may know that I have been a Charger season ticket holder for some years and I have been going to games back to the time when she performed.  And as much as it is a tradition for Heather to perform the final audition routine, I also have a tradition.  So here’s my photo of Heather when she was a Charger Girl.

Heather really is quite an exceptional dancer and I joked to one of her assistants that if these candidates want to make this team, they’d better dance at least as good as their Director.

With the veterans warmed up and ready to go, Heather began the process of teaching the final audition routine in individual eight count segments.

After several run throughs, the girls were dismissed for the day.  Several of them stayed a while longer and rehearsed the routine to the music.  This lasted for about and hour and I would later find out that most of them would rehearse throughout the night.  There was an early call for Sunday and I wanted to start downloading my images, so I left around 6:00 pm to retire to my hotel.

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SUNDAY

It would be a busy day for the remaining candidates.  A final dance routine performed in front of a panel of judges followed by interviews for those who made the cut.  With an 8:30 am call time, I wanted to get their early to get set up.  When I arrived, I discovered several girls were already in the lobby area, going over the routine.  I guess they had the advantage of staying overnight on site, as opposed to myself, who had to schlepp all the way across town from Glendale, Arizona to the Biltmore.

At 8:30 am, the girls began to warm up and stretch.

After the warm up session, the girls began to rehearse the final dance routine on their own.  At 9:30 am, the judges arrived and were seated.  Before the final dance audition began, Heather once again demonstrated the final routine before the panel of judges, so that they knew what to look for.

At one point, Heather slipped on the floor and fell.  I would later find out that she fractured her elbow, but she got up and continued the dance…and remained all through out the day’s events.  What a trooper!

The candidates were lined up in ascending numerical order.  The girls would once again be called up in groups of three, but Heather’s staff had organized the groups so that there would be a mix of new candidates and veterans.  I think this was done to see how the new girls would blend in with the returning veterans, to get a idea of who belongs and how they would look together.  And then it began, the final dance audition.

It was a little after 11:00 am by the time all the candidates had performed.  It would be almost noon when Heather returned with the results.

73 new girls and 17 returning veterans started this round and by the time the judges results were announced, 32 girls would make it to the interview round.  Two veterans were cut during this phase, but the remaining 32 girls were all worthy candidates.  No doubt there will be some familiar faces on the 2013 Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders and there will be some new faces.   In my personal opinion, judging from the candidates that made it through the finals, this is going to be a great looking squad.

Like I said in the beginning, spring time in Arizona is beautiful…and in the desert, a bloom.

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At this point, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Heather Karberg and the Arizona Cardinals for allowing me the opportunity to cover their 2013 preliminary auditions.  I had a wonderful time and look forwarding to visiting the Cardinals again in the near future.

And I would like to thank Vanessa, Andrea, Nicole, Wendy and Samantha for making me feel so welcome.  Good luck in your future endeavors.

And here’s one final look at the 2012 returning veterans.

Here’s a couple of photos of Rachel from last year.

Is it just me?  I think Rachel automatically becomes the hottest cheerleader on New England’s squad.  I guess there IS something special about California girls!

We, Californians, are so blessed to have the Charger Girls…arguably the hottest looking dance team in the NFL.  Can’t wait for the new season.

So in my book, she’s special and Katie is more than a little photogenic, which for me is key to standing out from all the other “merely beautiful” Charger Girls.

Two Time Charger Girl of the Day

2009

2010

2011

Alas, Katie retired after the 2011 season.  But as with all exceptional organizations, the Charger Girls adapted and welcomed a new crop of girls to replace veterans like Katie.

The 2012 season was a return to normalcy after the labor strife of 2011.  There was not the threat of losing games or other dramatic “business” distractions that afflict the NFL every 7 to 10 years.  No, it was back to usual in for NFL.

For the Chargers, there were several questions from 2011 that needed answering, the most glaring was whether Philip Rivers would regain his MVP level form or continue a downward spiral into mediocrity.  For a team that so heavily depends on the consistent, high level productivity of it’s signal caller, this was a year to watch River’s performance closely.  A return to the elite level would mean for the Chargers, a return to the pantheon of NFL teams.  A continuance of mediocrity would mean an off-season of change.

Well at least one thing was certain, that the Charger Girls would continue their tradition of excellence and remain the hottest dance team in the NFL.

I must say, I have been blessed.  Over the past few years, the Charger Girls have stepped up their “hotness” by selecting the most beautiful and talent girls in Southern California.  Simply put, the Charger Girls are amongst the hottest dance teams in professional sports.  And being able to select a squad of 28 girls from over 500 candidates each year, helps maintain that edge.

So, let’s begin our retrospective with our first 2012 Charger Girl of the Day, Amanda.

CGOTD Amanda

Amanda took a year off and returned to the squad in 2012 and for me, I was thankful because she’s a great dancer, has beautiful blue eyes and is wonderful to photograph.

Our next 2012 CGOTD is one of my all time favorite Charger Girls to photograph.  She’s a model and with her red hair, she’s very alluring to photograph.  At 5’8″ or so tall, she’s very statuesque and an amazing dancer…introducing Anjelica.

CGOTD Anjelica

Our third CGOTD of 2012 is Katelyn, another amazing Charger Girl.  In week two, the Charger Girls used white pom poms, but I forgot what was the occasion.  It seems like every game day, the organization is celebrating one thing or another.  This week, it was Katelyn who stood out with several memorable images.

CGOTD Katelyn

Our fourth CGOTD of 2012 is Angela.  If you have read my regular game day articles and my top 10 photographs of 2012 feature, you know that I have a fondness for Angela because of the number of exceptional images that I get from her.  We have a special mojo going on.  A photographic mojo.  And for the uninitiated, to have a compelling image you must have a connection between the photographer and the subject, a connection that is visible in your finished product.  And in 2012, I got many of these shots from her.

There’s a difference between being beautiful and being photogenic.  Angela is both.

CGOTD Angela

And that is the difference these past two years in my CGOTD selection process.  When I started this award a few years ago, it was for my favorite Charger Girl photograph of the day.  But because the caliber of Charger Girl has gone up in recent years, it really is now an award that recognizes a series of exceptional photographs because I get good, memorable images from every Charger Girl.  Now, it takes a series of exceptional photographs to earn the distinction. The Charger Girls…they’re just that competitive.

And our next 2012 CGOTD consistently gave me great photos…that’s why each and every year, she’s a contender.  She also happens to be a Line Captain…introducing Natalie.

CGOTD Natalie

Our sixth CGOTD was formerly a member of the 49ers Gold Rush who made the move to San Diego in 2012.  And I am glad she did because she is an amazing dancer and just demands your attention.  Introducing Meridith.

CGOTD Meridith

In selecting an honoree I had a dilemma whether to allow repeat winners or not and in the spirit of this award, I must be truthful and award it to the Charger Girl that gave the best series of images.  And for this week, the Charger Girl that gave me the best images was Angela.  So, she is our first multi-week CGOTD of 2012.

Two Time CGOTD Angela

For week 13, we recognized two Charger Girls with the CGOTD award.  Both honorees were close a second in prior weeks and were worthy candidates for week 13.  I couldn’t say one was better than the other, so in all fairness both Hope and Marissa earned the title of CGOTD.

CGOTD Hope

CGOTD Marissa

One of my favorite games to photograph is the Christmas game.  The Charger Girls wear these sexy blue velvet uniforms and there is a more festive environment because the holidays are near.  Once again, the Charger Girl that gave me the most memorable series of images was a prior honoree, so for the second time this year, the CGOTD award went to Anjelica.

Two Time CGOTD Anjelica

I just love the way her hair falls on her face and the contrast between Anjelica’s red hair and the deep blue of her uniform.

Due to a prior commitment, I missed the Raiders game and the season ended for the Chargers.  Poorly.  Our questions were answered and conclusions were made.  The head coach and the long time general manager were fired as the team moved in the wrong direction and a change was needed.  Hopefully, the new management will take the necessary steps to return the Chargers to the elite of the NFL.

As for the Charger Girls, the 2012 season reaffirmed their “hotness” as this was another great year for the squad.  I mean what else can you say…they’re cheerleaders and what your want out of a squad is that they look hot, dance great, and are respectable representatives of your organization.  And the 2012 Charger Girls were all that and more.

So as we end our look back to the 2012 Charger Girls of the Day, I am excited to see what 2013 brings for The Hottest Dance Team in the NFL!

Let me say, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to see the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team.  They really are fun to be around and I get to shoot them in fun settings.   It’s not often I get to take some posed photos of cheerleaders because I mostly shoot them performing.  But when I get a chance to take some posed photos, I like to change things up a bit.  So, here are some posed photos.

And when there was some downtime during the quarter, I took the opportunity to pull the girls aside, one by one, and shot them free styling next to a big black curtain.

And of course, I got some extra photos of the girls performing on the field.

And here are a couple of miscellaneous photos of the girls.

Well that’s all for now. I hope you have enjoyed these photos of the lovely Anaheim Bolts Dance Team. See you girls next season!

The Anaheim Bolts play in the Professional Arena Soccer League.  Indoor arena soccer is a fast pace game with lots of scoring action.   That the Bolts have a dance team adds to the entertainment value of going to a game.  It’s a great way to spend a Saturday evening.

Game day starts early for the dance team as they have a rehearsal on the field prior to the game.  I got to the arena as the girls were finishing up practice.  Soon after, they retired to their locker room freshen up and change into their uniforms.  They would only have a few minutes before their first official function of the evening.

About 45 minutes prior to kick off, the dance team made their way to the foyer of the arena to meet and greet the crowd.  Several fans took photos with the girls and I took the opportunity to snap a few posed photos of the dance team members.   That’s one of the things I love about coming to Bolts game…I get to shoot the girls in all sorts of fun ways.

After the meet and greet, it was time for the player introductions.  Like most dance teams, the girls run onto the field and line up for the introductions and the national anthem.  Now I want to point out for our boot loving friends that the dance team wore their spiked heeled boots for player introductions and I want to commend them because I’ve been on that field and the turf (or more properly the padding) can be a little uneven.  It’s a hot look with their uniforms, but unfortunately those killer boots are not danceable on that surface…but I digress.

After player introductions and the national anthem, the girls returned to their locker room to change into more practical footwear, namely white sneakers.  They would be performing three dance routines as well as a couple of on field promotions.

Prior to their to their first quarter break performance, the girls rehearsed their routine in the hallway.  As you well know, practice makes perfect.

Then it was time for their first on field performance.

I must say the lighting in the Anaheim Convention Center arena poses a challenge, but I think I did okay.  I took some videos with my iPhone and you can see how the quality of the light changes in the videos.

Last year, the arena pretty much played music nonstop during game play and the dance team shimmied all during that time.  This year, they only played music after a score.  So when the Bolts scored, I took some photos of the girls dancing to the music of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration”.

A few minutes before halftime, the girls once again made their way to the concourse to rehearse their halftime routine.

And then it was showtime.

After halftime, the girls retired to the locker room to freshen up and get ready for the second half.  There would be one more performance at the third quarter break.  As was usual, the girls rehearsed the routine a few minutes before the break to nail down the routine.  Then it was back to the field for show time.

After the game, the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team signs autographs and takes photos with the crowd.  And let me say that they are quite popular with the young girls and boys that were in attendance…and they’re quite popular with me too!  They are one of the few dance teams that you can get up close and personal.  They are all quite nice and well spoken…perfect ambassadors for the game.

Let me just say that I love covering the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team.  The soccer is fast paced and entertaining.  The dance team is absolutely gorgeous and they look very sexy in their The Line Up uniforms.  All in all it’s great entertainment value and very fan friendly.  So, if you like soccer or just want to check out some of the hottest cheerleaders in Southern California, come on down to Anaheim to check out the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team.

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I want to express my gratitude to Bernie Lilavois, Lynae de Leon, and the Anaheim Bolts organization for allowing me to cover their dance team once again.   I had a wonderful time.  And many thanks to the dance team members for letting me share in your game day experience.

So, here are my observations and tips for aspiring NFL or NBA cheerleaders.

1. Auditions are like job interviews, so you want to take this seriously and do what you would do when applying for a job…namely preparing, showing up on time, and dressing the part.  Follow the audition guidelines…if you don’t, it sends a message that you can’t.  So, if audition packets says to dress in a form fitting, two piece outfit and flesh colored tights…wear a form fitting, two piece outfit and flesh colored tights.

The judges want to see how you will look in the uniform and how you will perform.  Help them make a decision in your favor. Do what you need to do to have them envision you as a professional cheerleader.

2. Game day ready hair and make up.  Once again, you want to help the judges buy into the fact that you are cheerleader material.  So look the part.  Don’t show up looking like you are going to workout or a dance clinic.  Cheerleaders are glamorous and so should you be when auditioning.

3. Wear an outfit that makes you stand out.  Judges will evaluate several candidates over the course of the auditions.  Wear something that makes you memorable and identifiable.  Leave a lasting impression, a positive one.

4. Go to the audition clinics.  During the actual audition, the time to learn the routine is all too brief.  So, any advance preparation that you can do is an advantage.  At some clinics, the audition routine is taught.  If practice makes perfect, then avail yourself to the opportunity provided to learn and prepare.

What separates those who make it to the next level from those who don’t, is the ability to learn a routine quickly and to perform it flawlessly in the short amount of time given.  This leads us to our next tip…

5. Get some dance training.  There are many girls that can dance and may do so well.  But few are trained dancers, who have a framework for learning technique in a structure manner.  Those girls who have had dance training stand out in two important ways: 1) they are more technical and 2) they are able to learn a new routine faster.

6. Bring water and snacks.  All the auditions that I have been to, have been long and rigorous affairs.  You will burn a lot of energy and sweat a lot, so refuel and rehydrate yourself at every opportunity.  Keeping up your energy level is important, particularly when you are in front of the judges…which is usually at the end of the day.

7. Be articulate.  At some point, you will be interviewed and asked some questions about yourself and why you want to be on the squad.  You’d better have an answer.  Think about the questions they’ll likely ask you and prepare for them.  Be insightful, be professional, and be articulate.

8. Go big or go home.  In all the auditions that I have been to, those dancers that stood out had big moves…precise moves…fast moves..powerful moves.  One of best dancers I have ever seen is Amy Toliver formerly from the Arizona Cardinals.  Her moves are big, powerful and precise.  She stands out.  When you are in front judges, your moves better have some pop, else you’ll be viewed as a the dance equivalent of a wall flower.

I am sure there are many more tips out there and if we have any current or former professional cheerleaders reading this, please leave a comment with your audition advice.

Good luck!

So here are a few photos that didn’t make the audition article.

So why is it that when you want to take a serious photograph of the girls, they want to take a goofy one?  I don’t know…girls will be girls, I guess.

Need more evidence?

And more.

There ain’t any move a cheerleader can do, that I can’t shoot.  Notice the photo bombers in the background?

Fun with props.

And some more posed photos.

Yes it’s true.  The Inland Empire 66ers Dance Team just wanna have some fun…and they do!

Registration was at 9:30 a.m. and by the time I arrived, there was already a crowd of twenty or more girls filling out their paper work.  At 10:00 a.m. the girls were led down to the 66ers locker room where the auditions would be held.  The locker room was a rather small space for holding the auditions, but it was probably the largest room in the stadium.  Once the girls got settled, Dance Team Director Danielle Alcantar gather the girls together.  Byron Marquez, the Director Business Operations and the main man behind the Inland Empire 66ers Dance Team, gave an overview of the organization and what was expected of each dance team member.  This is a yearlong commitment and there are a lot of public appearances throughout the year, so Byron emphasized the commitment it would be and encouraged those who could not dedicate themselves to organization to reconsider their decision to audition.  The 66ers were looking for a few good girls, but one that could meet the expectations and time commitment to be on the dance team.

After staff introductions, the auditions began.  There were six returning 66ers dancers in attendance, fully attired in their new Angela King designed uniforms.  They were there to assist in the auditions and one of them, Isabelle led the girls in the warm  up and stretching portion of the auditions.

After the warm up period, the girls were led through an across the floor portion, which included a jazz walk, spin and turn, and kick and leap sections.

There were no cuts after the across the floor portion and the girls were introduced to Maria B., a former San Diego Charger Girl who would be demonstrating their audition routine.

The audition routine consisted of eight 8-count segments and some of the returning 66ers dance team members were there to assist in the demonstration of the routine.

The candidates were allowed to rehearse the routine for several minutes before the judging would begin.

By 11:30 p.m., the first of two rounds of judging commenced.  Girls were brought up in groups of two and three to perform before the judges, who scrutinized their every move and made notations regarding their physical fitness and appearance.

After the dance team performed, it was time for the promo girls to demonstrate their personality and showmanship.

After their performances Byron and the judges excused the girls and deliberated over their selections.   More than a few minutes passed before the decisions were made and when the deliberations were over, the girls were shepherded back into the locker room to await the results.

At the end of the day, three dancers made it onto the squad as well as four promo girls.

No rest for the weary.  Byron let the girls know what was ahead for the girls that made it.  The next week would be busy, an orientation and uniform fitting, an appearance or two on behalf of the Ontario Reign Hockey Team and then a promotional event for the Super Bowl.  It’s a good thing that these girls were excited for the opportunity at hand.  These girls were going to hit the ground running.

*               *               *               *               *

I would like to thank Byron Marquez, Danielle Alcantar and the Inland Empire 66ers Dance Team for allowing me to cover their 2013 auditions.  I had a wonderful time and look forward to visiting you during the the season.

My results were mixed and that was not to be unexpected, when trying out new gear.  I needed to get consistent results…consistently good or consistently bad…to be able to set a baseline from which I could make some adjustments and fine tune my technique.  And I will do so, but for now I wanted to share a couple shots that went well.

My thanks to Lynae and the Anaheim Bolts organization for allowing me the opportunity to test my gear in a game setting.  If you’ve never been to a PASL game, you should check it out because it is literally fast break indoor soccer and the action is fast and furious.  And the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team is absolutely worth the price of admission.

Now, I have to go back and analyze those “consistently bad” photos and see what I did wrong.  In the mean time, let these “good” photos entice you to stay tuned for my official visit to the Anaheim Bolts in February.

Through my association with UltimateCheerleaders.com, I have been to a number of professional cheerleading events in 2012, from auditions to the premier professional cheerleader convention in the United States.  And over the past year, I have literally taken thousands upon thousands of photographs and in this article, I am going to highlight my favorite cheerleader photographs of 2012.

Over the next few days, I will be counting down my top 10 cheerleader photographs of 2012.  So let’s begin.

10.  Charlotte Lady Cat Lacey at the 2012 PRO Convention

Featuring the finest cheerleaders and dancers from professional sports, The PRO Convention is the premier professional cheerleader convention in the world.  This year, there were over 250 cheerleaders and dancers in attendance and I was fortunate to be able to cover the event on behalf of UltimateCheerleaders.com.

The Charlotte Lady Cats, managed by Brandii McCoy, were by far, the hottest dance team in attendance.  Top to bottom, the Lady Cats were the most beautiful and physically fit squad at PRO and one Lady Cat caught my attention.  Her name is Lacey and she had a myriad of interesting expressions throughout the instruction portion of the event.

See more photos of Lacey and the Charlotte Lady Cats at the 2012 PRO Convention here.

9.  Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader Tessa

One of my favorite events of the year to cover is the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader auditions.  The trip out to Phoenix is wonderful.  The ACC staff is warm and friendly.  The girls are absolutely gorgeous.  And I always get some great shots.

Heather Karberg and her staff do a great job and I always feel welcome when I cover their event.  It’s a great gig.  And last year, I noticed that the veterans were on the top of their game.  Heather has a phrase that pretty much sums up the attitude that she expects of her squad.  “Full out or get out!”.  And one girl that turned it up a notch was Tessa, whose second round performance stood out…as you can see from the photo above.

8.  Anaheim Bolts Dance Team Member Elizabeth

So last year I attended an Anaheim Bolts game to shoot their dance team and let me say I was impressed by the girls.  They had some gorgeous girls, great dancers and and they wore some sexy uniforms.  What’s not to like.  And the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team pretty much dance all game long, which is an added bonus.

Under the direction of Lynae de Leon, a former Clippers Spirit Dancer, the squad exhibits a high degree of professionalism and brings the NBA dance team experience to professional soccer.  Amongst the many great shots I got at the game, one stands out.  It’s a photo of dancer Elizabeth, who if memory serves correct, graduated from Yale University.  Brains and beauty!

Believe me when I say, I coming back again this year to experience PASL soccer and the Anaheim Bolts Dance Team.  Can’t wait.

7.  Minnesota Viking Cheerleader Blair at the PRO Convention

One of the great things about the PRO Convention is that I get to see a bunch of wonderful dancers from squads throughout the country…squads that I might never get to visit in my normal travels.

One squad that has consistently gained my attention is the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders.  They have the great sense to bring their game day uniforms and being able to shoot the girls in their sideline outfits is a bonus because they are sexy and glamorous.   And it kind of make sense that if you are going to a convention where you are going to learn several routines that you might want to wear your game day uniforms to see that nothing falls out or rides up…if you catch my drift.

Anyway, there were several beautiful Viking Cheerleaders, but there was one that caught my eye…a photogenic blonde who looked drop dead gorgeous in her purple uniform.  Her name is Blair and she is in one of my favorite photographs of the year.

D-D-G.  Drop.  Dead.  Gorgeous.

6.  St. Louis Rams Cheerleader Taylor

The St. Louis Rams were my favorite NFL team when I was growing up in Los Angeles.  Unfortunately, they moved to St. Louis in the mid-90′s, but I still have a special place in my heart for the Rams.  So last year when I was thinking about some new cheerleading squads to shoot for UltimateCheerleaders.com, I immediately thought of the Rams.  And I was fortunate to be able to cover their final auditions last year.  It was pageant style and a blast to shoot.

Now I did my research and one of the reasons why I picked the Rams to cover was because they have some very beautiful cheerleaders and I was not disappointed.  And one girl that caught my attention was Taylor, a former Miss Oklahoma Teen USA.  There were many beautiful girls at the auditions, but I got more “keeper” shots from Taylor than the others…see just that photogenic.

You can see more photos of Taylor and the rest of the 2012 Rams Cheerleader hopefuls here.

5.  Laker Girl Brilane

The NBA D-League is a great opportunity to see some up and coming basketball talent as they hone their game before being called up to the “big leagues”.  Its also a great place to watch some hot cheerleaders, in this case the Laker Girls.

Most D-League teams have dance teams, but the Los Angeles Dfenders have the added bonus of having the Laker Girls as their dance team.  So coming out to the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo is a great opportunity to see the iconic dance team up close and personal.  And on this occasion, a couple of girls stood out and in this posting, I will highlight the talents of Laker Girl Brilane.  Her vivacious smile, model good looks, and exceptional dance ability left a lasting impression and I was fortunate to be able to get this beautiful photograph of her. one of my top photos of 2012.

See more photos of Brilane and the Laker Girls here.

4.  Tennessee Titans Cheerleader Anne P. at the PRO Convention

I have often thought that the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders have some of the most beautiful cheerleaders in the NFL.  Their Director, Stacie Kinder, is a featured instructor at PRO, so you know they are going to bring a lot of girls and they did.

As is usual at one of these events, I tend to pick out a couple of girls that catch my eye for their beauty or dance ability or that something special quality that makes them stand out.  And one of the Titans Cheerleaders that did was Anne P., who gave me one of the most memorable photos of 2012.

I hope one day I get to go out to Nashville to shoot them in a game situation because they really do have some beautiful girls and sexy uniforms.  But until then, these photos will have to suffice.

3.  Arizona Cardinals Cheerleader Megan

I have been going to the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders auditions for several years now.  In fact, the Cardinals were my first audition that I attended on behalf of UltimateCheerleaders.com and I have loved every minute of it.  It’s a wonderful event to shoot.  The girls are beautiful.  The ACC staff is nice.  Director Heather Karberg, a former San Diego Chargers Cheerleader, makes me feel welcome and at home.  And I always seem to do some of my best work at their auditions.  I am truly blessed.

Last year, the auditions were held at the historic Arizona Biltmore Hotel and I met some wonderful girls.  If you didn’t know it, Arizonans are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet…this coming from a Californian.  They also have a reputation for attracting some of the most beautiful girls…must be the hot weather.  Well, I did spy one lovely hopeful, who’s big smile and even bigger personality showed through at auditions.  Her name is Megan and she stood out amongst a bevy of beautiful girls.

2.  Laker Girl Jessica

If you are a regular reader of UltimateCheerleaders.com you might remember our top photos of 2012, which ran the week after Christmas.  The contributors were asked by our publisher to submit our top photos of the year.  And frankly, I was surprised by some of the choices submitted because they didn’t seem to be to be all that remarkable compared to some of the other photos I’ve seen them take.  But to each his own.

Well, I selected a photo that I thought was special and one that showed off my skill as a photographer.  It’s a photo of Laker Girl Jessica and the reason why I chose it was because it’s a photo of one of the most beautiful cheerleaders I’ve ever photographed, who happened to be a member of one the most iconic dance teams in professional sports.  And though this image was shown on UltimateCheerleaders.com as one of my top photos of 2012, it’s only #2 here because I saved my favorite for readers of this blog.

1. Charger Girl Angela

The Charger Girls are, to me, one of the best looking dance teams in all of professional sports.  Hey, it’s California and we have the best looking girls in the country.  And those we don’t grow at home, we import because there are a lot of beautiful girls who come here to partake of all that California offers.

Look at the roster of past few years and you’ll see girls from other parts of the country, some who have cheered for other professional dance teams…we had a girl that came all the way from Australia to be on this squad.  With more than 450 girls that tryout every year, the Charger Girls get the pick of the litter when selecting their squad.

So you can say I am truly blessed that I have such a beautiful team to shoot, right here in own my backyard.  And though there are many beautiful and sexy Charger Girls to photograph, I seem to have a special connection with one…Angela.  Over the past two years, I have gotten many outstanding images from her.  She’s amazingly beautiful.  She’s a wonderful dancer.  And she’s incredibly photogenic while performing, a rare quality indeed.

There were a number of photographs of Angela that would have been the top photo of the year, but I selected the one above because she looks amazing while performing.  I love her expression, a soft smile.  I love the sense of movement this photo conveys.  And I love the exposure.  It all makes for a wonderful image of a beautiful girl.

So my top image of 2012 goes to Charger Girl Angela.

*               *                *               *               *

In 2012, I didn’t go to as many events as in 2011 and going forward, I think I want to cut down my attendance even more.  Some people might think that photographing professional cheerleaders is a dream come true…and it is.  But it is also a grind…at least to do so the way I do.

I treat these gigs like they were a job where I am on deadline, so I try to get out articles within a day or two, more if it is a multi-day audition or convention.  But to do these articles and post process these photos like I think they should be done, it’s a very time consuming process and becoming more and more of a grind.  I guess I am getting old because it’s becoming grueling.  Yeah…photographing some of the most beautiful cheerleaders in the world is grueling.  It is if you are doing it the right way.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the top photos of 2012.  I hope that 2013 will be as good as 2012 was.

Congratulations to Captain Marissa for being selected as the Charger Girls’ 2013 PRO Bowl representative.

Marissa is truly an inspiration, having tried out for several years (nine, I think) before making the team.  She began a rookie, became a veteran and then a Line Captain and now, she’s their PRO Bowl representative.

Congratulations Marissa, job well done!

And to all of you, Happy Holidays!

So with the loss, the Chargers fall to 5 – 9 on the season.  Any hopes of the playoffs were long gone and it seemed like the team has given up on coach Norv Turner and his staff.  And as if to emphasize this point, the Chargers gained a paltry 164 total net yards on the day.  To quote Charles Barkley, “Bad team, man.  Bad *expletive* team, man.”  There is no other way to say it.

Well, the highlight of the day was the return of the Charger Girls in their Blue Velvet Christmas uniforms!

So you want to know what my favorite stocking stuffer is?  Legs!  BAM!  Okay it’s a stupid quip, but…hey…I like dumb quips.  Actually I wanted try this material out on the Chargers Girls in the Bud Light Power Party last Sunday, but I forgot…so I get to torture you readers instead.   It’s the price for looking at these photos.

But on a serious note, I really do like these Blue Velvet uniforms that the Charger Girls wear every year.  They’re sexy and flattering to the feminine form, but they are a tad short in the back…but I’m not complaining mind you because the Charger Girls were the highlight of the day.  Really.

But the bad thing about the Chargers only scoring once (and late in the fourth quarter at that) is that the Charger Girls really didn’t dance all that much.  And that was a disappointment.  I mean they have a couple of sideline routines for time outs, but some of my best shots come when the girls are performing after a score…and, unfortunately, the Chargers only scored that one time.

I think the Panthers fumbled on purpose and let them score just to keep the Chargers engaged in the game.  Because as god only knows, many of us in the stands were already disengaged.  By the time the Chargers finally scored, the stadium must have be a quarter full…by the time the game ended and I got to my car, I drove straight out of the stadium, the parking lot being bereft of cars.  That’s how bad it was.

Oh well…let’s get on to the good stuff…THE CHARGER GIRLS!  So we begin with the Captains: Kara, Lauren O., Natalie, and Marissa.

This week’s Charger Girl of the Day has always been a fan favorite since her first day in the uniform.  She’s a fiery red head who happens to be a three year veteran Charger Girl…introducing Anjelica.

Okay, let’s begin our festive coverage of the Charger Girls in their sexy Blue Velvet uniforms with Alexa, Tawnie, Alexis L., Starkesha, Allizon, and Rachel.

We continue this week’s coverage with Amanda, Paige, Andrea, Nicole, Angela, and Meridith.

Up next…CGOTD Anjelica, Lauren P., Ariel, Kylie, Clarisse, and Kayla.

We conclude this week’s coverage with Courtney, Katie, Erin, Katelyn, and Hope.

Well folks…that’s all for me for this year.  Like the Chargers, my season is done!  Due to a prior commitment, I will not be able to attend the Raiders game in Qualcomm.  If you want to be a cheerleader photographer for a day, you can buy my seats at NFL TicketExchange…I’ve put them up for sale….front row seats.  Section Lower Field (LF) 40.  They’re amongst the worst to watch the action on the field, but they are THE best seats to watch the Charger Girls.  And as an added plus, you get on jumbotron a lot.

Since this is the end, I want to thank the Charger Girls for a wonderful season of photographs and the great looks you’ve given me.  And I would like to recognize the efforts of Charger Girl Director Lisa Simmons and her staff for putting together another amazing group of Charger Girls.

See you next year and have a Merry Christmas!

On a serious note, I will be handing out disks of the images that I took throughout the season, for each and every Charger Girl.  This is my way of thanking each and every one of you for giving me so much pleasure in photographing your performances throughout this season.

If your line is not appearing in the Bud Light Power Party this Sunday, please note that I will give your disks to one of the Captains in attendance (the last one to make an appearance there).  So make sure you check with them, to get yours.

And Kara,  I will have a disk of 2011 photos for you along with this year’s disk.

Merry Christmas, Charger Girls!

It was a dull game, a sleepy game, if I am quite honest.  Even though the score in the first half swung back and forth, the game lack a bit of excitement in the second half as both teams found it difficult to move the ball with any consistency.  The whole third quarter was an exercise in mistakes and incomplete passes.  But when the fourth quarter arrived, Bengal quarterback Andy Dalton engineered a 14 play touchdown drive that consumed 7:42 minutes.  With the score, the Bengals led 17 – 13.  The ensuing Charger possession ended inauspiciously with a Philip Rivers fumble that was recovered by the Bengals, who would score a field goal four plays later.  Down seven points and with less than three minutes left in the game, Rivers drove the Chargers down the field to the Bengal 17 yard line.  And wouldn’t you know it, on fourth down Rivers threw an interception that ended the game.

Final Score: Bengals – 20  Chargers – 13.

What more can you say.  The Bengals are a good team.  The Chargers…not so much.

Since the beginning of last season, no player has turned the ball over more than Philip Rivers.  That’s it in a nutshell.   With the loss, the Chargers fall to 4 – 8 and fans are desperately looking for something to cling on to, but all hope is lost for this season.  Only the prospects of a new coaching staff and a new general manager can breathe new life into this organization. Change that you can believe in.  Yeah right…that didn’t work out so well…but I digress.

Well…there is one thing I believe in…THE HOTTEST DANCE TEAM IN THE NFL, YOUR CHARGER GIRLS!

Okay…let’s focus on something positive.  Let’s begin this week’s coverage of the AB FAB Charger Girls with the Captains:  Marissa, Natalie, Lauren O., and Kara.

Our next segment highlights the Charger Girl of the Day, the cheerleader who gave me the best images of the day.  This week we are honoring two worthy candidates.  Our first honoree was born and raised in Dana Point, California and is pursuing a degree in Public Relations at SDSU…introducing Hope.

Our second honoree is a Line Captain who hails from a military family…introducing Marissa…who was rocking the big, sexy hair on Sunday.

So, I was watching the movie Sucker Punch as I put together this article because I like the Director Zach Snyder…and I like scantily clad girls.  As you may know, Zach Snyder directed 300, one of my favorites and a visually stunning movie…anyway, getting back to Sucker Punch…what the heck is that storyline about?  I mean the dream sequences are cool, with a graphic novel look reminiscent of 300 and of course some cute, scantily clad girls who dance…dance and fight…dance and fight gigantic samurai warriors, nazi zombies, and dragons.  But that story…too convoluted.  Next time, I’ll go back to listening to music when I put together an article.  But I digress…

We begin our regular coverage of Charger Girls with Alexa, Tawnie, Alexis L., Starkesha, Allizon, and Rachel.

Up next…Amanda, Paige, Andrea, Nicole, Angela, and Meridith.

We continue our parade of Charger Girls with Anjelica, Lauren P., Ariel, Kylie, Clarisse, and Kayla.

We conclude this week’s coverage with Courtney, Katie, Erin, Katelyn, and CGOTD Hope.

So one of the neat things about going to a Charger game is that occasionally a former Charger Girl will come back and watch their former team from the stands.  This week Melissa came back to cheer on her former teammates.  Melissa is truly an inspiration, overcoming a severe hearing impairment to become a Charger Girl.

And one of my all time favorite Charger Girls (#3 to be precise) came back and served as a coordinator for one of the Charger Girl lines…Kylette.

Kylette was only on the squad for two years and I always regretted not being able to get more shots of her…she was on the end of the lines both her years and that’s always a difficult position for me to shoot.  I remember talking to her at the Bud Light Power Party and her telling me that she didn’t know anyone in San Diego when she came out from New Mexico to tryout for the Charger Girls.  Making the squad would mean a whole new life.  That impressed me.  Still one of my all time favorites to shoot!

Here’s one of my favorite photos of Kylette.

Oh well…back to reality.

There are so many things wrong with the Chargers…so many positions of need..so much that needs to change, one can not imagine that the current staff can make the necessary changes to be competitive again.  Let us remember that the Chargers fired a coach, Marty Shottenheimer, who went 14-2 his last season.  14 wins and 2 losses…and he gets fired.  I mean…who fires a coach that goes 14 and 2?   We fired a 14-2 coach to hire a coach that is 4-8.  WTF?

There’s always next year.

The Ravens scored 10 points over the last seven minutes to tie the game and then the Chargers gave up the winning field goal with less than two minutes to play in overtime.  Particularly indicative of the Chargers’ ineptitude was the fourth and 29 yards to go play, where a short pass to Raven’s RB Ray Rice turned into a momentum changing first down.  It was an exercise in bad tackling.  Forget the fact that the referees missed an obvious block in the back on Chargers safety Eric Weddle, which sent him to the sidelines for the remainder of the day.  That play was a back breaker.  With new life, the Ravens proceeded to march down the field to score a game tying field goal with three seconds left on the clock in regulation.  The rest was history.

Edgar Allen Poes – 16  Chargers – 13

With the loss, the Chargers continued a free fall into oblivion.  A new coach and a new general manager are on the horizon and Charger fans are already looking forward to new leadership…Andy Reid, Bill Cowher, or perhaps Oregon coach Chip Kelly.  Anything.  Anyone.  Someone.  HELP!

Well, if the Chargers are in a free fall, the Charger Girls are riding high.

These late November games are a challenge to shoot, at least from where I sit.  Qualcomm stadium is an old baseball ballpark with high lighting stanchions that produce harsh shadows when the sun begins to set.  So with high contrast lighting conditions you get some difficult shooting.  At least the field security staff left me alone, but then again I was using different equipment, but as an able photographer with 30+ years of experience, I was able to adapt.

So here we go.  Kicking off this week’s coverage are the Line Captains, four talented and beautiful Charger Girls: Lauren O., Kara, Natalie and Marissa.

Notice the symmetry…not a coincidence.

I don’t what’s going on, but I got this mojo going on with this week’s Charger Girl of the Day.  It seems like every week I get some exceptional shots of this girl and to get a good shot of a cheerleader, you have to have some sort of connection…between photographer and subject.  And for whatever reason, I always get great results from her…I am not complaining, mind you.  It’s a beautiful thing.  So…for the second time this season, our Charger Girl of the Day is…Angela.

But enough of my musing on a muse.

Let’s continue our coverage of the Absolutely Gorgeous Charger Girls with Marissa’s line: Tawnie, Courtney, Alexa, Katelyn and Starkesha.

We continue with Natalie’s line: Nicole, CGOTD Angela, Andrea, Allizon, Kayla, and Erin.

Up next, Lauren O.’s line: Rachel, Ariel, Meridith, Clarisse, Amanda, and Kylie.

We conclude this week’s coverage with Kara’s line: Katie, Lauren P., Paige, Alexis Lauren, Hope, and Anjelica.

Another week, another frustrating loss.  It seems like the Chargers can only beat the worst teams in the NFL and that does not bode well for the coaching staff.  With a 4-7 record, all hopes of the playoffs are gone.  The Chargers are truly in a free fall and there is no end in sight.  This is a team in disarray and needs to be revamped in earnest.  And if it does, then Coach Norv has got to go.  And let’s start fresh with a new GM.

Oh well, at least we can to look forward to the Charger Girls each and every week!

I don’t know what Jennifer O., one of my all time favorite Charger Girls, has to do with Thanksgiving per se, but I thought she looked great here and that I would share.

You can never have too much of the Charger Girls on Thanksgiving! I, for one, am very thankful for the Charger Girls..

Jennifer is now a 49er Gold Rush cheerleader…but WE SAW HER FIRST!  Plus, her sister, Lauren O. is a Line Captain on the current squad.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Final Score:  Chargers – 31  Chiefs – 13

With the win, the Chargers ended a three game losing streak.  Many of us in attendance speculated that if the Chargers lost this game or if they fail to reach the playoffs, that this might be the end of the Norv Turner era.  There is a growing discontent among Charger fans, that the window for success under Norv Turner is closing and that change is needed.  But with the win over the lowly Chiefs,  it was a feel good time…at least for the moment.

Feel Good Time – Pink

For me, it wasn’t a feel good moment as once again, the unpleasantness of a overzealous Elite Security member prevented me from using my camera in the fourth quarter.  I was asked to stop using my camera because the Elite Security staff member said my lens was longer than 6 inches.  It is not.  It’s only 5.6 inches long.  But he was adamant that it was and you can’t win in this situation.  The 20-something security staff member didn’t have a ruler or a way to measure my lens, as I asked him to do so.  So, in another nightmarish catch-22 scenario…without the ruler, I couldn’t prove that I was right and he couldn’t prove that I was wrong.  In this case, tie goes to the ignorant and the wrong minded people in the red shirts…so I lost out.  And though he was polite and tried to resolve the situation amicably…I was so turned off by the experience that I stopped shooting near the end of the third quarter, even though he gave me a reprieve while he tried to get the attention of a field supervisor for further clarification.

Now if you may remember, two years ago I went through another similar experience that soured me on going to Chargers games and I wrote about it extensively in an article entitle, The Charger Girls and the American Way of Life.  I thought that my letter to Dean Spanos fixed this problem (it did about the camera lens length issue of 2010, namely the Chargers revised their policy to allow six inch lenses), but the point about treating your customers well because you appreciate their patronage, apparently didn’t get through because the Elite Security people, while polite and nice, created a catch-22 situation that really turned me off.

I am a longtime season ticket holder, since 1999.  I support the team with my dollars, hard earned and in this economy, hard to come by.  I usually spend $300 or more at a each game, with the cost of two tickets, parking, food and maybe a souvenir.  I like to bring in a camera and photograph the cheerleaders because the view from row 1 is “partially obstructed”.  And the only good view from where I sit, is of the Charger Girls.  But with these hassles, its not worth it to make the drive from L.A. and go to a Chargers game.

I mean when was the last time a guy with a camera caused a disturbance or threatened the safety of a fellow game attendee?

I must be getting old because I just don’t like getting hassled anymore.  Yes, I did turn 50 a few days ago.  As you get older, you tire of the needless chicken sh!t you sometimes experience…life is short and you can watch an NFL game better on a HDTV than in person.

Oh well, but enough of my complaining.  I only bring this up to point out that I was only able to shoot the first three Charger Girl lines, so for this week there are no photographs of Marissa’s line.  Oh well.  I shall endeavor to do better next time…and you can be sure I will bring a ruler next game!

Okay so let’s begin this week’s coverage of the Charger Girls with the Tri-Captains:  Kara, Lauren O. and Natalie.

This week’s Charger Girl of the Day is a former 49ers Gold Rush and is a first year Charger Girl…introducing Meridith.

Let’s begin our regular, albeit abbreviated, coverage of the Absolutely Fabulous Charger Girls with Alexis L., Allizon, Amanda, Andrea, Angela, Anjelica, and Ariel.

We continue this week’s coverage with Clarisse, Erin, Hope, Katie, Kayla, and Kylie.

We conclude our coverage with Lauren P., CGOTD Meridith, Nicole, Paige, and Rachel.

One pleasant surprise of the evening was seeing one of my all time favorite Charger Girls of years gone by, Katrina, who happens to be a current member of the Clippers Spirit dance team.

Well it was a feel good Thursday here in San Diego and I sincerely hope there are more good times in the future because if the season goes bad…then heads will certainly roll.  This is a make or break year for Norv Turner.  And if he goes, there is a compelling argument that the Chargers should start fresh and, perhaps, get rid of general manager A. J. Smith.  I can’t argue with that sentiment and as a season ticket holder, we deserve better.

And if you are going to make some changes, how about reconsidering cracking down on those of us who bring in cameras….if you want to make a positive change, aside from the improving the play on the field, go after the drunks.  Leave us season ticket holding, camera toting fans alone…we are your best paying customers.  That is all…I am off my soap box.