From snapping photos for the St. X yearbook to capturing the world’s best under the NBA’s brightest lights, Logan Riely (’12) turned his childhood passion into a courtside career. Now the NBA league photographer for the Houston Rockets, Riely has spent years perfecting his craft—one shot at a time.
Getting his first camera in eighth grade, he began his photography journey at St. X working with the school newspaper and yearbook, giving him a taste of what it’s like to be a staff photographer. Along with being a part of the soccer and track teams, Riely learned valuable lessons that still impact him today.
“St. X helped me because it’s where I began to learn life skills,” Riely said. “It helped me with both the hard and soft skills needed in the real world, which gave me the confidence I needed to pursue my passions in college and beyond.”
Although it’s cliche, every journey begins with a single step, and for Riely, the first steps of his career were through internships across the country. He began working at the Columbus Dispatch, following with jobs in Colorado Springs, Miami, and Seattle before his big break.
“I can’t stress enough how important internships and making meaningful relationships are during your early years to get the experience needed to prepare you for your first jobs,” Riely said. “Internships allow you to learn without the pressure of being a staffer, so it’s a safe environment where you get extra guidance while learning on the job.”
In 2019, Riely began working in the NBA as a team photographer for the San Antonio Spurs, and in 2022 he became the league photographer for the Houston Rockets.
“It’s fun – pure and simple,” Riely said. “I’m fortunate enough that my office is a professional sports arena where the energy is always high and I get to work with so many talented people. From the social media teams to individual players to basketball operations and even security. It’s always a cool experience walking into work every day.” In addition to the NBA, Riely has photographed plenty of other sports as a freelancer.
Every photograph tells a story, and for the photographer it can mean something much more and make a lasting impact on one’s career.
“There are times when I get to take pictures that, even in the moment, I know are special,” Riely said. “Getting to photograph Becky Hammon’s first game as head coach for the Spurs was one of those moments when I was photographing and I could feel how historic that moment was.”
Only in his early thirties, Riely’s made a name for himself in one of the biggest sports industries. While he’s already captured many iconic shots, Riley’s favorite photo is always the next one.
