Sports photographer, social media content creator, and marketing student based in New York. Game-day coverage from Friday nights at Clarkstown to the sidelines at Ole Miss — now shooting hockey across the NY metro area and building toward a career in NHL creative content.
The Numbers — Clarkstown Hockey
Her strongest proof: what happened when she took over the team's social content. Lead with this in every application and outreach message.
Hi, I'm Maia Dusseldorp! I'm a sports photographer, social media content creator and marketing student based in New York. My love for photography began during my senior year of high school through my passion for sports. Since then, I've photographed high school, junior and collegiate athletics while creating social media content for teams and organizations. My experience combines creativity with marketing to produce content that engages fans, reaches large audiences and helps attract people to the teams and brands I work with. Whether I'm capturing a senior portrait, covering a game or creating digital content, my goal is to create work that is authentic, memorable and impactful.
Copy, personalize the [brackets], send. Rule of thumb: 4 sentences max for a first touch. Always include the portfolio link. Never open with "I want an internship."
Cold Outreach
LinkedIn DM — team content staffer (first touch)
Hi [Name] — I'm Maia, a sports photographer and content creator from Rockland County, NY. I ran social for a high school hockey program and grew average post reach from ~760 to 21,700+ accounts, and I shot on-field during game days at Ole Miss. Your work on [specific recent post/campaign they did] caught my eye — the [specific detail] was great. If you ever have 15 minutes, I'd love to hear how you got your start with [Team]. Portfolio: maiassportsmedia.com
Personalize the [specific post] line every time — it's the difference between a reply and silence.
Email — internship/game-night role inquiry
Subject: Game-night content — Maia [Last Name], photographer/creator (NY metro)
Hi [Name],
I'm a sports content creator finishing my associate degree in Rockland County, and I'm reaching out about game-night content or photography opportunities with [Team] for the [2026-27] season.
Quick background: I ran social and photo coverage for Clarkstown hockey, where I grew average post reach from ~760 to 21,700+ accounts per post (peak 112K) and added 400+ followers in a few months. I also worked on-field during game days at Ole Miss last fall, and I currently shoot high school, junior and collegiate athletics in the NY metro area. I'm local, available nights and weekends, and comfortable shooting, clipping, and posting live.
Portfolio: maiassportsmedia.com
If there's a better person to contact about seasonal content roles, I'd appreciate a point in the right direction. Thank you!
Maia Dusseldorp
[phone] | maiassportsmedia@gmail.com
Email — offering to shoot for a local/junior team (free first game)
Subject: Free game-day photos for [Team Name]
Hi [Coach/GM Name],
I'm Maia, a sports photographer from [town]. I'd love to shoot one of [Team]'s upcoming home games at no cost — you'd get a full edited gallery for your social channels and website, and I get to keep building my hockey portfolio.
Recent work: maiassportsmedia.com — I've shot high school, junior and collegiate athletics, and my social coverage for Clarkstown hockey reached up to 112,000 accounts on a single post.
If that sounds useful, which upcoming game works best?
Maia Dusseldorp
[phone] | maiassportsmedia@gmail.com
This converts at a very high rate — junior/youth teams almost never have a photographer.
Follow-ups & Responses
Follow-up — no reply after 7–10 days
Hi [Name] — just floating this back to the top of your inbox. I know [game weeks/playoffs] are busy. Still would love 15 minutes whenever things slow down — and in the meantime, here's a recent shoot I'm proud of: [link to one specific gallery/post]. Thanks!
One follow-up only. Add new work every time — never just "checking in."
Reply — when they say "no openings right now"
Totally understand — thanks for the quick reply. If it's alright, I'll keep following the team's postings and check back in a few months. And if a game-night comes up where you're shorthanded on content, I'm local and can be there on short notice. Appreciate your time, [Name]!
Keeps the door open and plants the "call her when shorthanded" seed.
Thank-you — after an informational chat
Hi [Name] — thank you again for taking the time today. Your point about [specific advice they gave] really stuck with me, and I'm going to [concrete action based on it]. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. If anything ever comes up where an extra shooter or content hand would help, I'd love to be on your list. Thanks again!
Social Posts
Posting her own work (X/LinkedIn)
Shot [Team] vs [Team] last night at [rink]. Favorite frame: [one line about the moment — the story, not the settings]. Full gallery on maiassportsmedia.com
#SMSports #hockey [team hashtags]
Post 2–3x/week during season. The #SMSports tag is where team hiring managers actually scroll.
Engaging with team content (reply strategy)
Genuine reply formula — pick ONE:
1. Specific praise: "That transition on the third clip is so clean — the crowd audio made it."
2. Craft question: "Was this shot on the new body or the 70-200? The low-light grain is impressive."
3. Add value: quote-post with her own angle from the same game if she was there.
Never: generic fire emojis, "great post!", or asking for a job in comments.
Bios
Short bio — X/Instagram
Sports photographer & content creator | Hockey | NY metro | Grew a team's avg post reach 28x | maiassportsmedia.com
LinkedIn headline + about
Headline: Sports Photographer & Social Content Creator | Hockey | NY Metro
About: I create game-day content — photography, short-form video, and live social coverage. I took over social for Clarkstown hockey and grew average post reach from ~760 to 21,700+ accounts per post (peak: 112K on a single post, 400+ new followers in a few months). My path continued on-field at Ole Miss during SEC game days, and now runs through hockey rinks across the NY metro area while I finish my marketing degree. Goal: a creative role in professional hockey. Portfolio: maiassportsmedia.com
Network Tracker
Every person she contacts goes in here. Saved in this browser automatically. Rule: 3 new contacts per week during season, one follow-up pass every Sunday.
Name
Role
Org
Where
Date
Status
Notes / next step
The First 20
Verify each name on LinkedIn before messaging — team staff turns over fast. Names marked (verify) mean: search the title, message whoever holds it now.
#
Who
Org
How to reach
Why / angle
Priority
LinkedIn Setup
Work top to bottom, copy-paste as you go. The whole profile is built around one thing: the Clarkstown 28x number.
Basics
Name: Maia Dusseldorp • Location: New York City Metropolitan Area (broader recruiter reach than "Rockland County")
Photo: clean headshot, ideally camera-in-hand or rink-side. Banner: her single best hockey action shot — free portfolio real estate.
Open to Work (recruiter-only visibility): Social Media Coordinator, Content Creator, Photographer, Marketing Intern — Spectator Sports
Creator mode ON with topics: #SportsPhotography #SMSports #Hockey #ContentCreation
Headline
Sports Photographer & Social Content Creator | Hockey | Grew a team's avg post reach 28x (763 → 21,700+ per post) | Marketing Student | NY Metro
About
I create game-day content — photography, short-form video, and live social coverage — with one goal: make people care about a team.
I took over social media for Clarkstown varsity hockey and grew average post reach from 763 to 21,748 accounts per post, peaking at 112,000 on a single post, and added 400+ followers in a few months. That season taught me what I now build everything on: strong visuals plus consistent strategy grow an audience fast.
Since then I've shot high school, junior, and collegiate athletics, including on-field work during SEC game days at Ole Miss. I'm currently completing my associate degree in marketing in New York and shooting hockey across the metro area while working toward a creative role in professional hockey.
Portfolio: maiassportsmedia.com
Contact: maiassportsmedia@gmail.com
Experience — Maia's Sports Media
Founder & Photographer — Maia's Sports Media
2022 – Present | New York Metro
Freelance sports photography and social content. Coverage across high school, junior, and collegiate athletics. Full portfolio at maiassportsmedia.com.
Experience — Clarkstown Hockey
Social Media Manager & Photographer — Clarkstown Varsity Hockey
2022 – 2024 | New City, NY
• Rebuilt the team's social content strategy: grew average post reach from 763 to 21,748 accounts (28x), with a single-post peak of 112,000
• Added 400+ followers in one season through game photography, graphics, and short-form video
• Shot, edited, and posted live game coverage on game nights
Experience — Ole Miss
Game-Day Content — Ole Miss Athletics (field access)
Fall 2025 | Oxford, MS
• On-field during SEC football game days, capturing photo and social content
Adjust the title/wording to match exactly what she did — teams verify. Add "Athletics Photographer — [Community College]" once she lands it this fall.
Education & Skills
Education: [Community College] — A.S. Marketing (expected 2027) • University of Mississippi — Marketing (Fall 2025) • Clarkstown South High School
Skills (pin first three): Sports Photography • Social Media Marketing • Content Strategy • Photoshop • Lightroom • Video Editing • Short-Form Video • Live Event Coverage • Instagram Growth • Premiere Pro • Canva • Copywriting
Featured section (don't skip): 1) maiassportsmedia.com, 2) the Clarkstown before/after case study page, 3) one standout gallery post
Weekly activity — the profile is dead without this
Follow every NY-metro team content staffer (see Network Tracker), team pages, #SMSports voices, Sports Creative Community
Post 1–2x/week: a favorite frame from a recent shoot + one line about the moment
Comment substantively on team staffers' posts — become familiar before ever DMing
90-Day Self-Marketing Plan
One brand, four platforms, three phases. The rule that makes it all work: every shoot produces content for every platform — shoot once, post four times.
Platform roles — same brand, different job
Instagram (@maiassportsmedia) — the portfolio. Best photos, carousels, Reels. This is what teams check first.
TikTok — the personality. Behind-the-scenes, editing process, "day shooting a hockey game" POVs. Discovery engine — this is where growth happens.
LinkedIn — the career channel. Results, lessons, case studies. This is where hiring managers see her.
Facebook — the local network. Galleries shared to town/team/rink groups. Parents and local orgs book photographers here — likely her first paid work.
Phase 1 — Foundation (Days 1–30)
Goal: all four platforms live, consistent look, first shoots posted.
Week 1: Set up/clean up all four profiles — same handle, same headshot, same banner, portfolio link in every bio. Complete the LinkedIn Setup tab. Post an intro on each: who she is + 3 best shots + the 28x Clarkstown stat.
Week 2: Book 2 shoots (free-game pitch to junior/youth teams — template in Writing Toolkit). Post the Clarkstown before/after case study as an IG carousel and a LinkedIn post.
Week 3: First shoot content across all four: IG carousel (8–10 best), TikTok BTS clip, LinkedIn "what I learned," FB gallery shared to the team's/town's group.
Week 4: Repeat with shoot #2. Join SCC and #SMSports conversations. Review: which post did best? Do more of that.
Cadence: IG 3x/wk • TikTok 2–3x/wk • LinkedIn 1–2x/wk • FB per shoot. Targets by day 30: 12+ IG posts, 10 TikToks, 6 LinkedIn posts, 2 shoots done.
Phase 2 — Momentum (Days 31–60)
Goal: repeatable content engine + the network warm-up.
Content pillars (rotate): 1) Game coverage • 2) BTS/process (gear, editing before/after) • 3) Results & lessons (numbers, what worked) • 4) Fan-style hockey content in her voice.
TikTok series — pick one repeatable format, e.g. "Shooting every rink in the NY metro" or "POV: game-day photographer." Series outperform one-offs.
Engagement block, 20 min/day: comment substantively on 5 team/staffer posts (IG + LinkedIn). Familiarity before outreach.
Start the tracker: 3 outreach messages/week from the First 20 list — she'll now have 30 days of visible, active content behind every DM.
Shoot volume: 1 shoot/week minimum. Fall season starting = easy supply. Pitch her community college athletics dept this phase.
Targets by day 60: 1 shoot/wk rhythm, one TikTok series running, 12+ outreach messages sent, CC athletics role secured or in progress.
Phase 3 — Convert (Days 61–90)
Goal: turn attention into applications, referrals, and paid work.
Publish case study #2 — whatever grew in the last 60 days (a junior team's account, her own TikTok). Post as IG carousel + LinkedIn article. Two case studies beats one.
Applications: Devils/Islanders/Sirens game-night and seasonal roles post in this window (late summer/fall) — apply to everything, referencing the staff she's now been engaging with for 60 days.
Follow-up pass: circle back to every unanswered outreach with new work attached (template in Writing Toolkit).
Go paid on Facebook: senior-photo and team-photo season — post packages in local groups. Income + more portfolio.
Ask for the referral: anyone she's had a real conversation with: "If a game-night content spot opens up, I'd love to be considered — is there someone I should apply through?"
Targets by day 90: 5+ applications out, 2 case studies live, 25+ tracker contacts, first paid booking, one referral or interview in motion.
Weekly rhythm (all 90 days)
Mon: check job boards; schedule the week's posts
Tue/Thu: TikTok posts + 20-min engagement block
Wed: IG carousel or Reel + LinkedIn post
Game day: shoot → edit same night → IG + FB within 24h, TikTok BTS within 48h
Sun: 3 outreach messages + tracker follow-up pass + note what performed best this week
Track monthly (screenshot on the 1st)
Followers per platform • average reach per post • profile visits • portfolio-site clicks • DMs/inquiries received • outreach sent vs. replies. These numbers become case study #3 — "how I grew my own brand" is itself proof she can grow a team's.
Claude + Blotato Workflow
Two tools, two jobs. Claude (claude.ai) is her writing and strategy partner — outreach, captions, applications, prep. Blotato (blotato.com) is her distribution engine — post once, publish everywhere. Together they solve the real problem: the 90-Day Plan takes hours a week, and these cut it to minutes.
One-time setup (30 minutes)
1. Claude: create an account at claude.ai. Start a Project called "Maia's Sports Media" and paste in: her bio, the Clarkstown numbers (763 → 21,748 avg reach, 112K peak, +400 followers), her Ole Miss experience, and the goal (creative role in pro hockey). Now every chat already knows her story — no re-explaining.
2. Also paste into the Project: the outreach templates from the Writing Toolkit tab. Claude will use them as her voice.
3. Blotato: create an account at blotato.com and connect all four accounts — TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.
4. In Blotato, set a posting schedule matching the 90-Day Plan cadence: IG 3x/wk, TikTok 2–3x/wk, LinkedIn 1–2x/wk, FB per shoot.
Workflow 1 — After every shoot (20 min instead of 2 hours)
Step 1: Pick the 8–10 best shots and edit as usual.
Step 2: Tell Claude what happened at the game (who played, the moment that mattered, her favorite frame and why).
Step 3: Ask Claude for platform-specific versions — prompt below.
Step 4: Load photos + Claude's captions into Blotato, tweak, and schedule all four platforms in one sitting. IG + FB within 24h, TikTok BTS within 48h, LinkedIn same week.
Claude prompt — post-shoot content pack
I shot [team] vs [team] at [rink] last night. Key moments: [2-3 lines about the game and the shot you're proudest of].
Write me a content pack in my voice:
1. Instagram caption (short, story-first, ends with "full gallery at maiassportsmedia.com", 3-5 hashtags incl. #SMSports)
2. TikTok caption + a 3-part hook idea for a BTS clip
3. LinkedIn post (what I learned or a result, professional but warm, no hashtag spam)
4. Facebook caption for the team's local group (tag-friendly, parents are the audience)
Workflow 2 — Weekly outreach (Sunday, 30 min)
Step 1: Pick 3 contacts from the Network Tracker.
Step 2: For each, find one specific recent post/campaign of theirs (2 min on their feed).
Step 3: Ask Claude to draft the message — prompt below. Edit until it sounds like her, then send. Never send unedited AI text — these people write for a living and can tell.
Step 4: Log it in the tracker; ask Claude to draft follow-ups for anyone at the 7–10 day mark.
Claude prompt — outreach draft
Draft a short LinkedIn DM to [Name], [role] at [team]. I recently saw their [specific post/campaign] and liked [specific detail]. Goal: a 15-minute informational chat, NOT asking for a job. Under 80 words, lead with my Clarkstown reach numbers only if it fits naturally, end with my portfolio link. Use my templates as the voice baseline. Give me 2 versions.
Workflow 3 — Applications & interviews
Applications: paste the job posting into Claude: "Tailor my resume bullets and write a cover letter for this posting — pull from my real experience only, don't invent anything." Review every line for accuracy before sending.
Interview prep: "You're the hiring manager for this [team] content internship. Interview me — ask one question at a time, then give feedback on my answers."
Research: before any call: "Summarize what [team]'s social accounts have been doing lately — what's working, and one idea I could mention they haven't tried."
1st of the month: screenshot the stats (followers, reach, site clicks, DMs) and give them to Claude: "Here are this month's numbers vs. last month. What's working, what should I change, and draft a LinkedIn post about the best result."
In Blotato: check which scheduled posts performed best and shift the schedule toward those formats/times.
Every 60–90 days: have Claude turn the numbers into case study #2 and #3 — carousel copy + LinkedIn article draft.
The rules that keep AI an advantage, not a liability
Photos are always hers. AI never touches the actual work — that's the product. Claude/Blotato only handle words and distribution.
Edit everything. AI drafts, Maia decides. Her voice is part of her brand.
Never let AI invent experience on applications or profiles — teams verify, and this industry is small.
Speed is the point: the plan calls for ~10 posts/week across four platforms plus 3 outreach messages. Without these tools that's a part-time job; with them it's ~3 hours a week.
Targets & Resources
The standing checklist. Job boards weekly, communities daily.
Community college athletics — offer to be their photographer/social person
Sirens games at Prudential Center — shoot from the stands, tag the team
Weekly rhythm
Mon: check job boards, apply to anything new
Wed: post best recent work (#SMSports)
Game days: shoot, edit same night, post within 24h
Sun: 3 new outreach messages + follow-up pass in the tracker
Upgrades for the live site (maiassportsmedia.com)
Put the Clarkstown numbers on the homepage. The before/after case study (763 → 21,748 avg reach, 112K peak, +400 followers) is buried on the Social Media page — hiring managers should see it in the first 5 seconds.
Add the Ole Miss game-day work as its own labeled section — "On-field, SEC game days" is a credential, not just a photo source.
Caption galleries with team/event/date so viewers know what they're looking at.
Add a LinkedIn link next to the Instagram and email on every page.
Keep this hub private — it's her working toolkit (templates + tracker), not for publishing. The tracker data lives only in her browser.
