Candid, real and unposed photography
rHONDA hOPPIN pHOTOGRAPHY
Photography has been a quiet thread woven through my life — one that started back in the 1900s, during my time in the High School Yearbook Club. Back then, it was just curiosity and a camera. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those early experiences were laying the groundwork for something much more meaningful later in life.
I picked up my camera again in 2005, mostly to capture family vacations and beautiful scenery. It was a creative outlet — something I loved but hadn’t fully committed to. That all changed when my daughter, Sophia, started playing sports. Watching her grow on the field sparked something in me. I didn’t just want to be on the sidelines; I wanted to freeze those moments in time.
As Sophia entered middle school, I found myself increasingly drawn to action photography. There was something thrilling and deeply human about capturing the emotion, focus, and energy of athletes mid-play — especially when it was my own daughter learning and growing in real time.
Then came the pandemic, and with it, a trip to Maui that would reignite my passion entirely. Watching Sophia learn to surf in the warm Hawaiian waves gave me the chance to step back and view photography not just as a hobby, but as a way to connect, preserve, and relive the moments that matter most. It was during that trip I realized how special it is to capture the expressions on someone’s face — the joy, determination, surprise — all within a single frame.
In 2022, I had the opportunity to photograph the Mattoon Pride of the Greenwave Marching Band. This was a new challenge — different from sports but equally dynamic. Seeing the students’ reactions to my photos, watching them light up as they saw themselves in a new way, showed me that this wasn’t just a personal passion anymore. It was something I could offer to others — a new perspective, a way to preserve their story.
Soccer has always had a special place in my heart, partly because of Sophia, and partly because it taught me to truly anticipate moments. It's fast, unpredictable, and expressive — a perfect match for honing my ability to read the game, adjust camera settings on the fly, and be exactly where I need to be to catch that winning goal or a player’s triumphant smile.
Since then, I’ve had the joy of capturing moments across a wide variety of sports at Mattoon High School — Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Track, Tennis, and of course, Marching Band and Soccer. On any given game day, you’ll probably find me on the sidelines, camera in hand, doing what I love most. As my connection with student-athletes deepened, I was given the opportunity to take Senior Sessions, Cap & Gown photos, and even full family sessions. These experiences — meeting families, building relationships, and creating lasting memories — have been some of the most rewarding moments of my journey.
And now, in 2025, I’m more excited than ever for what lies ahead. I look forward to working with even more families, seniors, and athletes, helping them preserve not just events, but the feelings and stories behind them. Every image is more than just a picture — it’s a memory frozen in time, and I’m honored to be the one behind the lens.
If you're looking to book a session, have an upcoming game you'd like photographed, or just want to chat about capturing your family's story — I'd love to connect. Let's make some memories together.