Save The Bay Swim: Event Coverage & Photography

Type: Event Coverage, Environmental Design, Photography

Role: Communications & Graphic Design Intern

Solo/Team: Team Collaboration (Independent Photography & Design Support)

Timeframe: Summer 2025

Tools: DSLR Camera (Canon EOS 6D Mark II), Adobe Lightroom, Canva

Save The Bay - Annual Swim Event

As a Communications and Graphic Design Intern for Save The Bay, I contributed to their annual Save The Bay Swim, a large-scale fundraising event that brings together hundreds of participants, volunteers, and supporters to celebrate and protect Narragansett Bay.

My role combined event experience support and high-volume photography, where I was responsible for designing event signage, documenting the full experience through photography, and assisting with volunteer efforts throughout the day.

This project required balancing fast-paced, real-time event coverage with consistency and accuracy, ensuring that every participant’s achievement was captured while also documenting the broader atmosphere of the event.

The Problem

The Save The Bay Swim is a high-energy, large-scale event with many moving parts happening at once. With hundreds of participants crossing the finish line, there is very little room for error when it comes to documentation.

At the same time, the event is about more than just the swim itself. It’s a community celebration that includes volunteers, families, sponsors, and post-event festivities.

Key challenges included:

Capturing 281 individual finish-line moments accurately and efficiently
Working in a fast-paced, unpredictable outdoor environment
Balancing structured shots (each swimmer) with candid event photography
Designing signage that supports clear communication during the event
Representing both the athletic achievement and the community atmosphere

My Approach

I approached this project by thinking in two layers: precision and storytelling.

The finish-line photography required consistency, speed, and focus, while the event coverage required awareness of moments happening beyond the main action. At the same time, signage needed to be clear, visible, and aligned with the event environment.

My approach included:

Creating a consistent system for photographing each swimmer at the finish line
Positioning myself strategically to capture clear, celebratory moments
Documenting both key actions and candid interactions throughout the event
Designing signage that was readable, functional, and on-brand
Supporting the event through hands-on volunteering when needed

This allowed me to contribute both to the live experience and the long-term visual archive of the event.

Development Process

This project involved both pre-event preparation and real-time execution during the event.

Signage Design (Pre-Event)
I created event signage to support communication and navigation throughout the space. These designs needed to be clear, durable, and easy to understand at a glance within an outdoor environment.
Finish Line Photography (Primary Responsibility)
My main responsibility was capturing individual photos of each swimmer as they crossed the finish line and received their medals.
This required:
- Maintaining focus and consistency across 281 participants
- Timing shots precisely to capture the moment of completion
- Ensuring each image clearly documented the swimmer’s achievement
Event & Action Photography
In addition to finish-line coverage, I documented the broader event experience, including:
- Volunteers setting up and breaking down the event
- Swimmers celebrating with friends and family
- Sponsor presence and event activations
- Food, festivities, and post-swim atmosphere
This helped capture the event not just as a race, but as a full community experience.
Notable Moments
One highlight was photographing three-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel, adding a unique and memorable element to the event coverage.
Volunteer Support
Beyond design and photography, I also assisted with general event needs, contributing to the overall execution and flow of the day.

What I Created

This project resulted in a comprehensive set of visual and experiential contributions:

Event Signage:
Clear, functional signage to support communication during the event
Finish Line Photography:
Individual images of all 281 swimmers crossing the finish line
Event & Candid Photography:
Documentation of volunteers, families, sponsors, and event atmosphere
Visual Archive for Future Use:
A large collection of images used for future marketing, promotion, and community engagement

Results

The final work played an important role in both documenting the event and extending its impact beyond the day itself. Each participant received a visual record of their accomplishment, while the broader set of images helped capture the energy and community behind the event.

The photography contributed to:

A complete and reliable record of all swimmers’ achievements
A strong visual library for future promotional use
A more comprehensive representation of the event as both an athletic and community experience

Reflection & Next Steps

This project strengthened my ability to work under pressure while maintaining consistency and attention to detail. Photographing 281 individual participants required focus, efficiency, and adaptability in a fast-moving environment.

One of the biggest takeaways was learning how to balance structured documentation with storytelling. While the finish-line images required precision, the candid moments helped bring the event to life in a more emotional and human way.

If I were to expand on this work in the future, I would explore:

Incorporating live or same-day photo delivery for participants
Adding short-form video to capture movement and energy
Developing a more standardized signage system for recurring events

Overall, this experience reinforced my interest in designing and documenting real-world experiences where visual work directly contributes to both individual impact and community engagement.