Three-pointers weren’t the only big shots players were taking in the first weekend of the 2026 NBA Summer League.
The NBA’s Shadow Photography program, a first-of-its-kind initiative organized by the league’s player-engagement and photo departments, put some players on the sidelines, shooting the action with the help of professional cameras and seasoned sports photographers.
Beyond learning the fundamentals of live sports photography, the NBA designed the opt-in experience to encourage players to “create original content” and “explore creative passions and career interests beyond basketball,” per the league. Thirteen active players and three former ones—Chris Bosh, C.J. Miles, and Damion Lee—participated.
Across three days, players shadowed veteran NBA photographers during competition, learning everything from lens selection and frame composition to how to anticipate a game’s defining moments.
According to Andrew Bernstein, an NBA photographer of nearly four decades who served as one of the program’s mentors, Summer League is uniquely suited for this kind of project. “There aren’t as many restrictions or distractions as you would have in a regular season arena,” he told Front Office Sports. “It’s a more lowkey environment, but you’re still able to see and capture basketball at the highest level.”
