Filming and Photographing a KT Tape Campaign
A behind-the-scenes Dive into Filming with Professional Pickleball Player alix Truong in Midway, Utah
Pickleball might be one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, but filming it in a way that feels fresh, exciting, and visually striking is its own challenge. When I landed in Midway, Utah, for this two-day shoot with professional pickleball player Alix Truong, I knew we had to create something that wasn’t just another sports video.
We wanted to capture speed, power, and personality. The shoot was broken into two parts: the first day was all about video with the focus being to create an athlete profile piece that would feel sleek and cinematic, plus a mix of short-form, high-energy social content designed to perform well across TikTok and Instagram. The second day was dedicated to photography, blending classic high-end sports photography with more fashion-forward, stylized images that could live anywhere from brand campaigns to editorial spreads.
This wasn’t just about getting shots. It was about telling a story through movement, color, and composition, bringing out both the intensity of the game and the personality of the athlete at the center of it. Here’s how it all came together.
Day One: Crafting the Energy of Pickleball Through Video
Pickleball is a game of speed, precision, and quick reflexes. It’s not a slow, drawn-out battle like tennis. It’s a rapid-fire exchange, a dance of footwork and paddle control. That meant the energy of our videos had to match the pace of the sport itself.
We started with the 30-second athlete profile piece. The goal was to make Alix look like an absolute force on the court while keeping the video visually engaging from start to finish.
I wanted to avoid a traditional highlight reel and instead create something that felt snappy, modern, and cinematic. Every second had to count. We opened with tight shots of Alix’s hands gripping the paddle, the tension in her forearms, the way her feet bounced slightly as she anticipated the next move. Then, we exploded into gameplay with fast cuts of serves, backhand slices, reaction shots, and the unmistakable sound of the ball popping off the paddle.
To keep things dynamic, we shot with a mix of handheld, gimbal, and high-speed cameras. The handheld shots gave it that raw, in-the-moment feel, while the gimbal work let us capture smooth, controlled movement across the court. High frame rates allowed us to slow things down for key moments capturing the ball spin in mid-air before Alix smashes it back across the net added a layer of intensity that wouldn’t be as impactful at normal speed.
The hardest part was finding that perfect balance between beauty and aggression. Alix’s style of play is powerful, but we also wanted to make sure the visuals felt clean and intentional. Every shot had to be framed in a way that made her look as skilled as she is, but also visually striking enough to stand out from typical sports content.
Shifting to Short-Form: Making Viral-Ready Videos
Once we had the cinematic athlete profile nailed down, it was time to pivot to short-form content. Social media moves fast, and people scrolling through Instagram or TikTok don’t have time for slow buildups. The challenge here was to make videos that hit immediately. Something that would grab attention in the first three seconds.
One of my favorite concepts was a lighthearted take on the quirks of pickleball culture. There’s something about the sport that’s equal parts competitive and chaotic, and we wanted to capture that balance in a way that would resonate with players and casual viewers alike.
One video played on the classic pre-game rituals athletes have. We exaggerated Alix’s warm-up routine, turning it into a full-on cinematic training montage complete with dramatic music - only to cut it short with a quick, deadpan “Alright, let’s play” moment. The contrast between intensity and humor was key to making it work.
Another concept revolved around “Pickleball Player vs. Non-Pickleball Player,” using quick cuts to highlight the tiny details only a true pickleball player would obsess over, like paddle grip adjustments and reading the spin of a serve. These kinds of inside jokes are what make sports content go viral. If someone watches and thinks, “That’s so true,” they’re more likely to share it.
Music selection played a big role in shaping the tone of these videos. Some were fast and punchy, with cuts landing exactly on beat. Others leaned into dramatic buildups before subverting expectations with an abrupt punchline. No matter the approach, the key was to keep everything visually exciting, with no wasted frames.
By the time we wrapped the first day, we had a mix of polished athlete storytelling and fun, fast-paced social content that would grab attention. But we weren’t done yet. The next day, we took things in an entirely different direction.
Day Two: From High-Performance Action to Stylized Sports Photography
Day two was all about stills. This was where we got to push the creative boundaries, blending classic sports photography with more editorial, fashion-forward imagery.
Traditional sports photography captures peak action—the explosive jump, the game-winning shot, the raw intensity of competition. But for this shoot, we wanted something more nuanced. We wanted to showcase the athlete beyond just the game, playing with light, texture, and mood to create something that felt both powerful and artistic.
Our first setup leaned into high-end sports imagery. We used dramatic lighting to sculpt Alix’s form, highlighting the definition in her muscles and the determination in her expression. These were the kinds of shots that would feel right at home in a Nike campaign - strong, bold, and undeniably athletic.
Then we shifted into something more experimental. Using natural light and a mix of wide and telephoto lenses, we created a series of images that felt softer, more stylized. Some of my favorite shots from the day were the ones that barely felt like traditional sports photos at all. A close-up of Alix adjusting her wristband, backlit by the sun. A moody, shadow-heavy frame of her standing at the edge of the court, paddle resting on her shoulder. These were the kinds of images that told a story beyond just the game itself.
One of the most unique aspects of this shoot was blending fashion-inspired photography with an athletic subject. We played with different compositions, using motion blur to create a sense of speed even in still images. The result was a collection of photos that felt dynamic and fresh, capturing Alix as both an elite competitor and a larger-than-life personality.
Bringing It All Together
Looking back on these two days in Midway, what stands out most is how much variety we were able to pack into a single project. From high-intensity sports action to stylized editorial photography, this shoot was about pushing the limits of how pickleball can be visually represented.
The most rewarding part was seeing how different creative approaches could work together to form a complete, multifaceted portrait of an athlete. The cinematic athlete profile showed precision and skill. The viral-ready social content brought personality and humor. The photography went beyond the sport itself, tapping into something more artistic and expressive.
At the end of the day, that’s what makes shoots like this exciting. It’s not just about capturing what happens on the court the aim was about telling a story that resonates, whether through movement, emotion, or the smallest details that make a moment unforgettable.
Pickleball is often described as a game of quick hands and faster feet. There’s an undeniable rhythm to it where you can almost feel when you watch a match unfold. It’s fast-paced, filled with sudden bursts of motion, and yet, at times, it slows down for just a fraction of a second before erupting into a flurry of volleys. That rhythm became a core part of how we approached both the videos and the photography.
One of my favorite moments from the shoot happened while filming a slow-motion sequence of Alix in action. The sun was dipping lower, casting long shadows across the court, and everything just clicked. The ball, frozen mid-air. The paddle slicing through space. The split-second of impact, caught in stunning detail. These are the kinds of moments that are impossible to manufacture—they just happen when everything aligns.
For a sequence like this, we pushed the camera’s frame rate to 120 fps, slowing the action down to reveal details that normally go unseen. The way the ball compresses against the paddle before bouncing off. The subtle shift in Alix’s footwork, adjusting for the perfect shot. The sheer focus in her expression.
But even outside of slow-motion, I wanted to capture that same rhythm through the way we edited our short-form videos. The cuts needed to feel snappy, responding to the game’s natural flow. Every shot had to serve a purpose, whether it was building tension or delivering an immediate payoff. In some cases, we leaned into rapid-fire cuts, making each edit land in sync with music to create a visceral, high-energy feel. Other times, we let a shot breathe, giving the audience a moment to sit with the anticipation before unleashing a lightning-fast volley.
Pickleball might not be as mainstream as basketball or football, but it has a distinct energy that makes it visually compelling. And when you capture that energy just right, it makes people feel like they’re in the game themselves.
Personality on Display: Letting Alix’s Story Shine
One of the biggest mistakes in sports content is making everything about the action while forgetting about the athlete. Sure, we needed the fast cuts and the dramatic shots, but at the heart of all of this was Alix herself—her personality, her drive, and her unique presence on and off the court.
Between takes, we spent time chatting about her journey in the sport. What started as a casual hobby had turned into something much bigger—a passion that took her to new places, new challenges, and new opportunities. That story mattered just as much as the visuals.
When we filmed her athlete profile, I made sure we captured those in-between moments—the little smirks, the deep breaths before a serve, the quiet moments of focus before stepping onto the court. These small glimpses into her personality made the video feel personal rather than just another highlight reel.
This approach carried over into the short-form content, too. The best-performing social videos are the ones that feel real. They’re not just about the sport, but the culture and community surrounding it. We leaned into humor, inside jokes from the pickleball world, and the kind of lighthearted, relatable moments that make people want to tag their friends in the comments.
By the end of the day, we had a library of clips that felt authentic to who Alix is not just as an athlete, but as a person who genuinely loves the game.
Pushing the Boundaries of Sports Photography
For the photography day, I wanted to push beyond the usual expectations of sports imagery. Yes, we needed action shots, but I also wanted images that told a bigger story with photos that wouldn’t feel out of place in a fashion magazine or an art gallery.
One of my favorite shots of the entire shoot wasn’t even taken on the court. It was a portrait of Alix standing in front of the Utah mountains, paddle resting on her shoulder, bathed in the golden hour light. It wasn’t about action. It was about presence. It was about showing her as more than just a competitor, but as someone who embodies the spirit of the sport.
Another favorite was a series of long-exposure shots, where we played with motion blur to create a sense of movement even in a still image. Using slower shutter speeds, we captured streaks of color as the ball zipped across the frame, leaving behind a ghostly trail of motion. It was an experimental approach, but the result was something that felt dynamic and fresh.
And then there were the lifestyle shots—the more casual, documentary-style images that captured the moments between the action. Lacing up shoes. Adjusting a sweatband. Laughing after a long rally. These are the moments that often get overlooked in traditional sports photography, but they’re the ones that make an athlete feel human rather than just a highlight reel.
By the end of the shoot, we had a set of images that felt cohesive yet varied. Some were powerful and dramatic, others light and playful. Together, they painted a full picture of who Alix is and what she brings to the sport.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Storytelling in Sports Content
What made this shoot so exciting wasn’t just the technical execution—it was the storytelling. Whether through video or photography, the goal was the same: to bring a sport to life in a way that makes people feel something.
Pickleball might not have the decades-long legacy of tennis or the mainstream appeal of basketball, but it has a rapidly growing, deeply passionate community. And at the center of that community are athletes like Alix, whose stories deserve to be told in a way that does them justice.
Every frame, every cut, every composition was carefully considered to do exactly that. To make something that goes beyond the sport itself and taps into something more universal with her determination, personality, and the undeniable joy of movement.
For me, that’s what filmmaking and photography are all about. It’s not just about documenting. It’s about elevating. It’s about finding the heartbeat of a moment and making sure it resonates with everyone who sees it.
That’s what keeps me coming back.
Why We Should Work Together…
When I’m not on this website rambling on about filmmaking, I’m actually out there making films. From crafting memorable branded documentaries to capturing stories and products that move people, I’ve got you covered. Need a filmmaker who can scale mountains, brave the surf, or just tell a dang good story? Let’s chat!
In case I haven’t convinced you, here are three reasons why it might be fun to work together…
I believe in stories that stick with you - like campfire smoke on your clothes. The kind that makes you laugh, cry, or immediately want to call your mom.
I’m just as comfortable at 14,000ft as I am in front of a timeline. You get me in the mountains, in the ocean and in the editing room, making sure the magic out there really shines in the final cut.
I’ve filmed in some pretty wild places, but the best stories are the ones that bring people together. It’s those shared moments -big or small - that remind me why I love what I do.
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Roo is an Emmy nominated commercial/documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has directed documentaries for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside Magazine throughout Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, photographed among indigenous communities in South America, and has received notable recognition in the outdoor industry for his work telling uplifting stories in the outdoor space.