NFL: Detroit Lions at Oakland RaidersAug 10, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Peter Read Miller at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this month, my mentor, and ALL TIME GREAT Peter Read Miller, passed away in his sleep.

Since I’m not on instagram much these days, I missed the outpouring of memories and appreciation for a photographer who was the best in the business and SO very generous with his knowledge. I was instead told by a few friends in the industry who knew I was close with him. Including a text from my other mentor, Z-man, sharing a photo of the Seahawks workroom honoring Peter before the Seahawks vs 49ers games.

I remember seeing (read: screening) an unknown number calling me and googled the number. Only to have it pop up via his SportsShooter page, that it was none other than Peter Read Miller, calling ME?!? Turns out, Don Feria had passed along my name to assist him at a Raiders game. It was August 28th. The deal was to pick him up, drive him to the game, help carry additional lenses. It was a foot in the door for football. And perhaps more importantly, the drive was an opportunity to hear stories and ask him anything and everything about the industry. The game was an opportunity to watch him work. He introduced to me to other photographers, and while photographing, he would explain the decisions he made. Why he chose to move to a certain corner (light and background) why he chose a certain lens. For someone like me, just starting out, it really helped me learn what separates photographers who take pictures from photographers who make pictures.

He did not walk around with any ego and had no insecurities because he had the quiet confidence of someone who knows they are the best at what they do, and doesn’t have to try to prove it. And yet, he continued to try to push himself, working games this season at the ripe age of 78. Without an assistant, without being backed by the budget of the magazine who used to fly him around the United States, paying for flights, hotels, meals, assistant, the good ol' days of Sports Illustrated. But he was still out there making incredible images of a game he loved.

Later in my career, he asked if I would come speak at his workshop. He knew how to photograph sports and portraits and could obviously teach that tehcnical skill to up-and-coming photographers, but he wanted to offer his students tangible and current insight on how to start a career in sports photography today, and considered me qualified.

I prepared my slides, read through them, had my half-hour presentation down. Come workshop time, I was so nervous public speaking, I ran through my whole slide deck in 5 minutes with the shaky voice and teary eyes of someone who felt woefully under qualified and had little to no experience public speaking. But Peter saw through that, saw that I had something to offer based on the (arguably) successful career I built in the 2010s. As I continued speaking at his workshop, I became more confident both in what I had to offer and my ability to communicate it. Ultimately leading to me hosting workshops, not just being a guest speaker. It all started with Peter believing in me and encouraging me.

I love looking back at some of the stills from the time I joined his YouTube channel "On Sports".

The smiles we shared.

But also just how much he "platformed" me, look at him looking at me, so proud! Telling the world "what this woman has to say, has value"

Every time I would see him working a 49ers game, he would ask how I was doing, how KLC fotos was doing, and continue to give me words of encouragement, even as the industry he once knew was no longer as generous to him, he continued to be generous to others.

Besides, looking for light and backgrounds to put yourself in position to make great images, one of my favorite wisdom nuggets he shared with me, that I pass on to other sports photographers, was “if you miss the shot, get over it, otherwise you’ll miss the next shot!”

It stayed with me, not only because his confident vulnerability to admit that even the GREAT Peter Read Miller has missed a photo or two in his life, but also as a metaphor for life in general. Don’t dwell on your failures, get ready for what's next!

Posting about someone's passing on social media can sometimes feel like more of an attention grab to contribute to the current content cycle, in the sense of, well THEY aren't reading it, so who is your appreciation post for? So I was hesitant to write anything here, even though I've been speaking his name a lot these last few days both with colleagues and my family. In a sense, this post is for me, to process the loss, but also to keep his legacy alive. Continue to speak of him, honor him, and appreciate him because the photographer community could use more Peter Read Millers! I can't ever hope to impact as many photographers as he did with his inspirational work, but I hope to continue his legacy of supporting photographers.

Rest in Peace Peter Read Miller ❤️