Jasmine Montgomery stands at the front of the room, naming nearly 400 team members from memory — one by one — as their faces appear on the screen behind her. In a department built on serving others, this moment quietly reminds everyone that they, too, are known.
There are shoots where I’m simply documenting what happens — and then there are the ones where I feel the heartbeat of a team through the lens. The Support Desk Kickoff for Chick-fil-A’s Help Desk team was the latter.
This department started in 2016 with just three people. Today it’s nearly 400 strong. A growth story like that is impressive on paper, but what’s even more powerful is how they experience each other as individuals every year at this kickoff — celebrating what they’ve accomplished together and revisiting their mission and goals for what comes next.
And my job isn’t just to document it. It’s to capture the emotion that drives it.
A Tradition Worth Photographing
For the past four years, there’s been a moment in this gathering that always stops me in my tracks.
Someone stands at the front of the room and names everyone in the organization from memory. Headshots are projected on a screen, and one by one — nearly 400 people — are called out by name. It started with their director in the first year. This year, a new person carried the tradition forward flawlessly.
I don’t know if you’ve ever really witnessed the power of hearing your own name said aloud in a room full of peers, but the body language, the smiles, the subtle nods — it tells a story of belonging that most corporate settings barely touch, let alone celebrate.
Jon Gordon on Positive Leadership
As part of the kickoff this year, their keynote speaker was Jon Gordon, a 15-times bestselling author and one of the world’s most sought-after speakers on positivity, leadership, team culture, and helping organizations move forward together. His work emphasizes how positive leadership and shared purpose fuel engagement in teams of all kinds — from Fortune 500 companies to non-profits and service organizations like this one.
I capture a lot of keynotes. But with someone like Jon, you can feel the room shift — not because of theatrics or shock value, but because his message connects with people. When the speaker’s message aligns with the team’s mission in front of you, the emotional impact is far easier to see through a camera.
The Group Photo That’s More Than a Picture
Every year, I make a large group photo of everyone. This year, it was close to 400 people.
Here’s the part I think most photographers overlook: the moment before and after the shutter clicks is where the emotional story lives.
Every person had their name said from the stage. Then I was on a ladder, elevated above them, capturing a moment where they — as individuals — became a collective.
That’s where purpose becomes visible. That’s where belonging becomes tangible. That’s where your lens does more than record — it reflects what it feels like to be seen and known.
More Than a Photographer — a Witness
Over the years, I’ve been to this event more than a few times. What’s become clear isn’t just the growth of the team, or the traditions they honor — it’s how consistently they show up for one another.
And how do I know that?
Year after year, after the shoot is over, people walk up to me and say my name. No introduction. Just recognition — a “thank you” that tells me they remember me being there. That I saw them.
That’s an honor. And it’s one of the quiet reasons I do this work.