The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Capturing the moment: UT Athletics photographers Jim and Susan Sigmon
11.21.2008 | Texas Athletics
Nov. 21, 2008
Janice Lu, Texas Media Relations
If one picture is really worth a thousand words, then UT Athletics photographers Jim and Susan Sigmon are authors of much Texas Athletics history.
Rather than let words describe the picture, however, the Texas Exes have used the photography talents of the husband-and-wife duo to capture the essence of The University of Texas in their latest book, "Our Texas."
"The Texas Exes wanted to produce a photography book for the 125th anniversary of The University," Jim said. "They liked the idea that we were a husband-wife team. They liked the idea that we were both UT grads. They liked the idea that we were both photographers working for UT. They asked and we agreed."
After spending the 2007-08 academic year shooting around the Forty Acres, the Sigmons and Texas Exes picked 180 photos of school buildings, campus monuments and athletic events that best represented The University.
"We're very excited about the book," Susan said. "When we got to see the final product for the first time, we were really happy to see how it all came together."
Though "Our Texas" is the first book the Sigmons have worked on together, they have been capturing UT history on film for more than 20 years as part of the successful UT Athletics photography department which shoots nearly every athletics event.
Together, Jim estimates, the two have taken approximately one million pictures covering all areas of UT Athletics.
"At one football game, it's not unusual for me to shoot 600 pictures. I certainly can't imagine shooting less than 2,000 pictures at Texas Relays," Jim said. "The storage room where we keep all the film holds 16 eight-foot-tall double-door lockers full of negatives. You can't even do the math."
But their duties don't stop at just taking pictures.
"We like to think that we maintain one of the most incredible archives anywhere. We have photos dating back to the late 1800s and we're in the process of digitizing them," Jim said. "We're also interior decorators. If you walk around any of the offices in Bellmont Hall, Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center or Cooley Pavilion and see the photos decorating the walls, chances are those came from our department."
In addition, Jim -- whose official title is manager of media services -- is also the creator of TexasSports.com and Mack Brown-TexasFootball.com, the official Web sites of UT Athletics.
As photo manager, Susan began working for The University in 1982. Throughout all these years, she has witnessed the many moments which have shaped Texas Athletics.
"Being in the right place when Vince Young scored the final touchdown in the 2005 National Championship game and being able to capture the USC defender missing the tackle, that is pretty memorable," Susan recalled. "Being at the women's basketball NCAA Final Four in 1986 (the season the team went undefeated) and being lucky enough to follow almost all of Jody Conradt's career at UT are some of the best moments I've had."
When the department began to expand in 1988 and was in need of another photographer, Susan made her best hire ever. She hired the man who eventually became her husband.
Since then, the two have worked side-by-side, loving not only each other, but also every moment.
"People always ask us, `How can you guys work together? That can't be possible, you'd kill each other.' But actually, it's never been a problem," Jim said. "We get along really well, we have lunch together every day and I can't imagine it being any other way."
"We love working side-by-side," Susan agreed. "We understand the difficulties and the good parts of the job, and we're OK when one of us has to travel or work late."
Furthermore, the Sigmons love photography.
"You never know when you're taking the picture that is going to be `The One.' You have no idea at the National Championship game that the Texas bench is going to jump up and celebrate, and as you're shooting the celebration, you just happen to notice [USC QB] Matt Leinart walking away from the bench with his head down," Jim said. "You don't know that's going to happen. There's so much going on at once and that makes photography so much fun."
They love their jobs.
"You get to ride along and watch history happen. It's kind of cool," Jim said.
"I'm two years away until I can retire, but I'm not sure that I'll do that at this point because I love what I do," Susan added.
And on top of all that, they love The University.
"I'm working at Texas until I retire. I love Austin, our kids are here, and Susan and I are both Texas graduates. This is home for us," Jim said.
In fact, everything about their job is home for the Sigmons, and that is what makes everything so picture perfect.
