CAPTURING TEEN TEAM: Friday Night Lights

A behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to be on the sidelines, stage — or in the stands

Friday nights at a high school game are a whole world of their own. Under the glow of stadium lights, the crowd roars, the band plays, and on the sidelines or stage, athletes, cheerleaders, and dancers feed off the energy. This season, we asked members of the Teen Team to share their stories. Some cheer. Some dance. One plays football. Others are the heartbeat of the student section. Together, they paint the real picture of game-day life.

The Friday Night Feeling

For cheerleaders like Grace, the magic is in the lights. “Cheering under the lights with a big crowd in front of me — there’s nothing like it,” she said. Taylor agreed, saying her favorite moment is when “the band is playing, everyone is hype, and us cheerleaders are dancing right alongside them.” Chloe especially loves dancing with the band — “it’s so fun to sync up with the music.”

Addy, who’s on the danceline, said halftime performances feel like “a roller coaster — thrilling, fast, and over too soon.”

Bailey, one of the few girls on her high school football team, described the rush from a totally different angle: “When the crowd gets loud and we’re driving down the field, you feel everyone pulling together.” She says breaking barriers on the field “feels empowering — like I’m showing other girls they can do this too.”

Looking up into the stands, Emma W said she loves “seeing the student section get excited and hype about the game — plus all the tea I get from my teammates!”

For Siena, who’s cheered since she was two, the adrenaline is everything. “It’s a feeling like no other — doing what I love to do,” she said. “Performing is my strong point.”

How Game Day Actually Starts

Hours before kickoff, everyone is getting ready — whether it’s lacing cleats, warming up stunts, or putting on face paint.

Siena explained her competition ritual: “I get locked in. My mom does my hair, ties my shoes, and does my makeup while I listen to a motivational speech. Before I go on the mat, I ask myself how bad I want it. It’s all a mental game.”

Bailey and her teammates run through walkthroughs, tape wrists, and huddle in the locker room. “There’s a moment before we go out when it’s totally quiet — then we break the huddle and it’s game on,” she said.

Emma W’s team has a tradition before the first home game: “We TP the senior football players’ houses. We go out to dinner as a team then stay out all night laughing and having fun — plus the boys have to clean it up in the morning!”

Meanwhile, the student section is organizing group chats about themes, painting signs, and picking up neon T-shirts or glitter for the big game.

How They Get Hyped

Keegan laughed as she explained, “We jam out on the bus or even in the bathrooms before the game.” Siena prefers a different vibe: “I like being alone before I compete — AirPods in, head down.” Bailey said she gets hyped in the locker room with her teammates, while fans in the stands said they crank up playlists in the car on the way to the stadium.

Unforgettable Moments

For the athletes and performers, memories are made in seconds. Keegan recalled a nail-biting game: “It could have been anyone’s win, and when we pulled it off, the energy was just amazing.” Chloe said winning last week and celebrating together “after the alma mater” was unforgettable.

For Siena, it was winning The Summit at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. “That whole year our team went through a lot,” she said. “Winning showed our hard work paid off. That year changed me as a person.”

And while the scoreboard matters, so do the snapshots: getting pictures of teens and seniors in their element — whether it’s Bailey driving the ball down the field, Grace landing a stunt, or Addy mid-leap during halftime — creates memories that last long after the season ends. Those photos become keepsakes of a time that can’t be repeated. Make sure your capturing them!!!

Game Day Glam: Hair, Makeup & Staying Put

Game-day glam looks different depending on where you’re standing.

On the sidelines, Siena has worn a weave for seven years: “It makes it so easy for my hair to get big and stay in place.” Addy’s dance team uses heavy-duty bobby pins and setting spray to lock in curls for halftime shows. Student-section girls say face glitter and neon body paint are their go-tos for spirit nights.

In the locker room, Bailey keeps it simple with a braid and black eye paint. “It’s more about function than glam for me,” she said, “but I still want to feel game-day ready.”

Makeup must-haves include fake lashes, blush, and Urban Decay setting spray. “It’s a little pricey but worth it,” Siena said. And while Siena’s mom does her competition glam, “my friends always do my hair for game days — I could never!”

Three words Siena uses to describe game day glam? “Glamorous. Sparkly. Vibrant.”

Confidence Beyond the Field or Stage

Whether cheering, dancing, playing, or leading the student section, everyone agreed: being part of game day builds confidence.

Grace said she’s “less shy and not afraid to make new friends” because of cheer. Keegan added, “I’ve gained a voice and know how to express myself.” Emma W reflected, “Before cheer I was shy and quiet. Now I can’t stop talking — cheer has brought out the better side of me.”

Bailey said football has taught her “grit and self-belief.” “Every time I line up on the field, I feel stronger — like I’m proving to myself and others what’s possible,” she added.

Siena summed it up: “Performing in front of thousands feels natural to me. Going onto the stage with big lights and a big crowd is the best feeling ever. That’s where my confidence comes from.”

Even in the stands, the vibe is empowering. One student-section member told us dressing up for theme nights “makes you feel part of something bigger — like you’re not just watching, you’re helping create the atmosphere.”

Advice for the Next Generation

Every member of the Teen Team had advice for younger kids curious about joining. Addy encouraged them to “practice, have fun, and don’t stress if it’s not perfect at first.” Grace echoed that “people are there to help you and you’ll make friends.” Keegan said cheer was “the most valuable thing” she’s ever done. Taylor told future cheerleaders to “just go for it — you’ll make lifelong best friends and memories.”

And Siena? “Do it! You have the biggest support system behind you. It builds character, friendship, work ethic, and it’s so much fun.”

Favorite Routines & Pump-Up Music

Grace loves the dance “Cruise” to the song “Fireball,” Addy’s favorite is “Separate Ways,” Keegan lights up when talking about “extensions full ups into a lib,” and Emma W can’t get enough of their cheer “Do It,” which gets the whole student section involved. Siena’s signature move? Her “iconic back walkover tuck.”

When it’s time to get mentally tough, Siena listens to the same Fearless Motivation soundtrack her team played before winning The Summit. “I still listen to it before every competition to this day,” she said.

Spirit Themes: Not Just for the Players

Themes are a shared language between sidelines and stands. Sadie loves neon for the bright colors and face paint. Mia goes all out for USA night with bandanas and painted legs. Ellie treasures Pink Out for its meaning, “a sign of respect to those who have breast cancer.”

Siena likes the simplicity of blackout and whiteout nights but says her favorite this year was “Welcome to the Jungle,” where everyone wore leopard print for the first home game. Her dream theme? Glitter Out. “All the sparkles would be so fun to see from the sidelines,” she said.

More Than a Sport, More Than a Game

From pom-poms to painted faces, everyone has a role to play in the Friday night experience. As Siena said, “The literal blood, sweat, and tears I’ve gone through for this sport — I don’t think it could compare to any other sport.”

Cheer, dance, football, and the student section might look like different worlds, but together they make up the fabric of game day. It’s teamwork, discipline, glitter, adrenaline, and belonging all rolled into one.

Did you know that Capture Life Photography offers live game day sports coverage?

For our Teen Team and Senior Team members, this means you have the incredible opportunity to have our professional sports photographer right on the sidelines—capturing every jump, sprint, tackle, and cheer. It’s your moment to shine, and we make sure the action, the intensity, and the passion of your game are preserved in stunning detail.

Because at Capture Life, it’s not just about posed portraits—it’s about telling your whole story. And for so many of our teens and seniors, sports are a huge part of who you are. Whether it’s under the Friday night lights, on the court, or out on the field, we love putting our clients in the spotlight and showcasing the drive, dedication, and spirit you bring to every game.