The Morning If you've followed Ohio high school sports in the last six years, you've seen Ben Nichols' work even if you didn't know his name. This week on The Morning Lift, Lauren Rutan and Brendon Sadler sit down with the man behind Ben Nichols Media — the photographer who built Wayne County Sports from a basement hobby into a 95-intern operation covering games across the entire state of Ohio.
This Ben Nichols sports photographer interview isn't just about cameras and lighting. It's about a kid who bought his first camera from a pawn shop for $200, served as an Army photographer at Fort Campbell, and eventually found himself shooting Travis Hunter's engagement photos with $59 to his name. It's a story about grinding through rejection, learning from six different mentors at Murray State University, and building a brand on relationships instead of gear.
If you're trying to figure out how to become a sports photographer, how to build a media brand from nothing, or just need a reminder that hard work compounds, this recap breaks down everything Ben shared — the funny, the faith-driven, and the flat-out unbelievable.
From a Pawn Shop Camera to Wayne County's Must-Follow Sports Page
Ben's origin story starts with a girl. A junior in high school, Ben started covering a basketball player he thought was "really good looking" hoping it might get him her number. It didn't work out that way — she's married now, and Ben recently shot her dad's wedding — but the sports page he built to get close to her took off in ways he never expected.
Week one of the 2019 football season was the official launch of Wayne County Sports. What started as a side project turned into a full-blown regional media operation with roughly 95 interns covering games across Ohio. Ben laughed about emailing teams in Cincinnati for coverage and getting asked why a "Wayne County" photographer was driving that far — his answer: "This is what we do."
The real seed money came from his grandmother, who loaned him $1,300 for his first real camera setup after his original pawn shop purchase turned out to have the wrong SD cards and a bad lens. Her exact words: "If you don't use this for anything, I'm never going to get you anything for the rest of your life." That $1,300 built the foundation for everything that followed — proof that sometimes the scrappiest start is the one that sticks.
Serving in the Army While Running a Sports Empire from His Barracks
While most new recruits were adjusting to basic training, Ben was running Wayne County Sports remotely — and breaking a few rules to do it. He smuggled a small portable radio into basic training, hidden inside a soap bottle wrapped in a plastic baggie, just so he could listen to West Holmes football broadcasts under his blanket late at night.
He'd take notes during the games, then relay instructions to his best friend's girlfriend — the one person he trusted to run the page while he was gone — every Sunday during his limited phone time. "Here's the keys to the Ferrari," he told her. "That's all you have to do."
Ben's military career as an Army photographer took him to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division — the same unit as a hometown hero, John Runkle, who was killed in Afghanistan and whose memory shaped Ben's decision to serve. The emotional weight of walking the same halls and wearing the same patch wasn't lost on him. One of the career highlights from his time in uniform was covering the Army-Navy game alongside the Secretary of Defense's security detail, where the Sergeant Major of the Army personally handed him a challenge coin after learning he was the photographer representing the 101st.
How Murray State Turned Ben Nichols into a Self-Taught Photography Machine
If you're wondering how to become a sports photographer without a formal photography degree, Ben's answer is simple: find your mentors and never stop asking questions. His break came from Scott Kopasz, Murray State's director of broadcast and video, who let him shoot a homecoming football game — even after Ben showed up without batteries for his camera and had to fake his way through the entire event with his phone.
From there, Ben built relationships with half a dozen photographers and professors around the Murray State athletic department, including a business school dean he calls "the big Murray State photographer," plus photographers named Steven, Willard, and Raven. Each one taught him something different — angles, editing techniques, timing — and Ben absorbed it all into his own style.
"I learned it in Murray State University," Ben said. "I learned from about five to six photographers how to do this, and that's where it all came from." It's a masterclass in how building a photography business often comes down to proximity, persistence, and being coachable enough to take feedback from everyone willing to give it.
The Travis Hunter Connection: $59 Dollars, No Payment, One Big Break
This is the story that turns the episode into required listening. Ben emailed Colorado's athletic department for months trying to get access to cover games — even when the team was 1-9 and nobody wanted to be there. When Deion Sanders took over and the spring game buzz exploded, Ben's name was already in the system. "You wanted to come here when nobody else did," they told him. "You're approved."
At that spring game, Ben captured Travis Hunter on the sidelines — photos that later ended up on a national media thumbnail with his watermark visible. That connection eventually led to a DM from Hunter himself, looking for a Denver-area photographer for his engagement photos. Ben claimed Denver roots on the spot, booked a flight with $59 in his bank account, stayed in a rundown motel, and walked nine miles to the shoot location after his Uber budget ran out.
He didn't ask to be paid. He did it "for the love of the game." A Venmo payment came through afterward, but the real payoff was bigger: instant credibility. As Ben put it, "If LeBron James wears Nike, you wear Nike." That's how reputation compounds in the sports photography business — one authentic connection at a time.
Walking Into Ohio Stadium: Achieving the Dream and Setting New Ones
For years, shooting a game inside Ohio Stadium — "the Shoe" — was Ben's single biggest professional goal. Thanks to a connection with Vince McGee of KeonSports.com, that dream became reality two years ago during an Ohio State game. Ben described walking up to the stadium with his brother on the phone, hearing the band before he could see the field, and standing there in silence for five minutes once he finally stepped inside. "That's all I wanted to do in my sports career," he said. "I started to cry. I just didn't believe I was there."
Naturally, Ben didn't stop there. He's since traveled to the North Pole, shot in Japan, and is now setting his sights on climbing Mount Everest next year. When asked about his dream shot, his answer shifted from chasing locations to chasing meaning — he name-dropped historical events like the attempted assassination of President Trump and NASA space photography as the kind of once-in-a-lifetime documentation he'd love to be part of.
Competing With Yourself, Not Everyone Else: Ben Nichols on Mindset and Faith
Lauren asked Ben directly about his competitive drive, and his answer traced back to his grandparents — a cement truck driver grandfather and a grandmother who worked her whole life to give him everything he needed. "I don't think it's necessarily trying to one-up myself," Ben said. "I'm trying to build that foundation that my grandparents had already set."
Ben also opened up about jealousy in the industry and how saturated sports photography has become. His take: perception becomes reality whether you like it or not, and the only real defense is consistent character and genuine relationships — something he actively builds into mentoring younger photographers like Carson Zoller and Paxton Kerman, pushing them into bigger opportunities even when it meant long drives and rough starts.
He closed the episode with Luke 23:43 — the story of the thief on the cross next to Jesus — explaining that his faith keeps him from worrying about earthly validation. "No matter how my life ends here, this life is temporary. But what God has built for me in the next life, that's what I'm working towards."
Key Takeaways
- Start before you're ready — Ben's first camera was a pawn shop mistake, and Wayne County Sports began as a way to impress one girl, not a business plan.
- Say yes to the unglamorous reps — emailing a 1-9 Colorado team when nobody else wanted the assignment positioned Ben for the Travis Hunter connection months later.
- Mentorship accelerates skill faster than tutorials — Ben credits five to six photographers and professors at Murray State for teaching him everything he knows.
- Do the work before asking to get paid — Ben shot Travis Hunter's engagement photos with $59 to his name and no guarantee of payment, prioritizing the relationship first.
- Invest in the people under you — pushing young photographers like Carson Zoller into bigger markets, even when it's inconvenient, builds a stronger network for everyone.
- Perception is reality in a saturated industry — character and consistency matter more than gear when everyone claims to be a photographer or personal trainer.
- Keep setting new goals after you hit the big one — Ohio Stadium was the dream, but Ben didn't stop; now it's the North Pole, Japan, and Everest.
Want the full story in Ben's own words — including the soap bottle radio, the nine-mile walk across Denver, and the Sergeant Major's challenge coin? Hit play on the full episode and subscribe to The Morning Lift so you don't miss the next conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ben Nichols get started in sports photography?
Ben Nichols started as a junior in high school, buying a camera from a pawn shop to cover a girls' basketball game — partly to impress a player he liked. That page grew into Wayne County Sports, which launched during week one of the 2019 football season and now operates with roughly 95 interns covering sports across Ohio.
What is Ben Nichols Media known for?
Ben Nichols Media and Wayne County Sports are known for high school sports coverage across Ohio, along with major college and professional work including Ohio State football, Murray State athletics, and Travis Hunter's engagement photos. Ben is also recognized in the Wayne County community for his character and relationship-building as much as his photography.
How did Ben Nichols connect with Travis Hunter?
Ben built the relationship by repeatedly emailing Colorado's athletic department during a losing season when no other media wanted access. When Deion Sanders arrived and interest exploded, Ben was already approved to shoot the spring game, where he photographed Travis Hunter on the sidelines. That connection later led to a direct message from Hunter requesting engagement photos.
What military experience does Ben Nichols have?
Ben served in the U.S. Army as a photographer stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 101st Airborne Division. While keeping his sports media page running remotely, he also covered major events including the Army-Navy game, interacting with the Secretary of Defense's security detail and the Sergeant Major of the Army.
How did Murray State help Ben Nichols learn photography?
Murray State's athletic broadcast staff, including Scott Kopasz, gave Ben early access to shoot games. From there, he learned directly from five to six photographers and professors, absorbing different editing techniques, angles, and approaches that shaped his personal style — all without formal photography schooling.
What advice does Ben Nichols give aspiring sports photographers?
Ben emphasizes showing up for unglamorous opportunities, building genuine relationships instead of chasing clout, and investing in mentoring others. He also stresses that character and consistency matter more than equipment in a sports photography market that's become increasingly saturated.
Ben Nichols' story is proof that you don't need a perfect plan to build something real — you need persistence, humility, and a willingness to show up when nobody else will. From a pawn shop camera to Ohio Stadium, from a soap bottle radio in basic training to a $59 bank account in Denver, Ben's journey is a blueprint for anyone trying to build a brand in sports media or any competitive industry.
Don't miss the full conversation — tap play and subscribe to The Morning Lift for more raw, real stories from athletes, coaches, and entrepreneurs building something bigger than themselves.
Listen to the Episode
Catch the full conversation with Ben Nichols on The Morning Lift Podcast, available now at Ep. 17 - Photographer Ben Nichols. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.