Case record 01
Hockey ACT: a photo library built over three seasons
The problem
Emerging elite athletes in Canberra are working toward national pathway selection and state representation. They're often training at a full load while also working to support themselves.1 Women's elite sport is growing fast. Deloitte projects global revenue will pass US$3 billion in 2026, up about 26% in a year.2 Established programmes now invest in how their athletes are seen. Pathway programmes rarely do. Lyle’s approach is about building that visual record earlier, for the organisation and for the athletes.
The scope
Lyle first photographed Hockey ACT rounds in July 2024, volunteering with Livin for Hockey, and is now Livin for Hockey’s official photographer. Hockey ACT first commissioned him in September 2024, for the Capital League One men’s and women’s grand finals on 21 September and the Brophy McKay Awards Night on 27 September. During the 2025 Canberra Chill season it commissioned him to photograph sponsors, VIPs and crowds at home games; he added match photography on his own initiative. In 2026 Hockey ACT engaged him again and expanded his brief to include game footage. This engagement is separate from Hockey One’s arrangements with its match photographers. The library grew over three seasons from that volunteer and commissioned work and Lyle’s own coverage; Hockey ACT did not commission it as a single programme.
The gap
Lyle’s professional observation, not a paid Discovery Audit: the existing social media coverage recorded match moments and very little of the programme behind them. Three things were missing. Athletes had no consistent set of portraits to support a selection case. There were no photos made for governance and funding audiences. And nothing linked on-field performance to the club's community, culture and wellbeing work.
The library
Lyle files the photos in one central library, organised in six layers. There are consistent identity portraits, for representing the programme and for each athlete's own professional profile. Pride Round and Reconciliation Round coverage supports community and values reporting. Coaching and support staff photos show the programme behind the athletes. Coverage of both sides of a result keeps a record of wins and losses alike. Livin for Hockey coverage records athlete wellbeing and club culture. The library built up across the commissioned and self-initiated work described above, rather than as one planned production. Photos from it have since appeared in the published uses shown below.
The result
The photos were delivered ready to use, with releases in place for everyone photographed for promotional use. Photos from the library have since been used well beyond the home-game brief. The examples are below.
References
- Australian Sports Foundation, Your Sport Your Say: Running on Empty (opens in a new tab) (2023); ABC, Elite Athletes in Australian Women's Sport Survey (opens in a new tab) (2026).
- Deloitte (2026), Game changers: Unlocking the potential of women's sports (opens in a new tab).
Athlete identity portraits
Consistent identity portraits, for representing the programme and for each athlete's own professional profile. Identity: portraits and headshots
Values layer: Pride Round
Values layer: Reconciliation Round
Coaching and support staff
Values layer: both sides of the result
The programme's story doesn't end at the scoreline, so the library covers both sides of the result. These are from the same grand final: the winning side's huddle, and the losing side's composure a few minutes later. The organisation can use these photos whatever the outcome.
Values layer: Livin for Hockey
Lyle Holt is Livin for Hockey’s official photographer. He photographs Livin for Hockey rounds in Canberra: community connection, athlete wellbeing and the organisation's values in action.
The result: from athlete to organisation
Photos from the same library, and where they have appeared: from one athlete’s profile through to the organisation’s own documents.
Identity
Lucy Nash, Hockey ACT. Controlled studio portrait, shot to the same lighting standard as every athlete in the library.
Pathway
Lucy Nash, Hockey ACT. Selected, Australia under-21 Jillaroos, 2026.
Photos by Lyle Holt. Hockey ACT, Canberra Chill and ACTAS used them to announce that athletes Lucy Nash and Cameron Brick were selected for the Junior World Cup Qualifier. Instagram, 21 August 2026.
See the post: selection announcement (opens in a new tab)
Programmes
Photo by Lyle Holt, taken at the 2026 Under 21 National Championships. Hockey ACT used it to promote its Level One Coaching Course. Instagram, 18 May 2026.
See the post: Level One Coaching Course (opens in a new tab)
Governance
Photos by Lyle Holt: the top and bottom images on the right. Hockey ACT used them on the cover of its Strategic Plan 2025 to 2028.
See the plan (opens in a new tab)Related
Start with what you already have.
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Based in Canberra | Ngunnawal Country.
Or email lyle.holt@lyleslens.com