Recent Baylor grad living his dream as photographer for NFL’s Chargers

By now, you probably recognize the photo above. It was a powerful moment from last year’s Texas Bowl that resonated across social media — Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson stopping to pray for an injured opponent.

The person who captured that meaningful moment was not a professional sports photographer (at the time), but a Baylor student. Joaquin Torre (BA ’25) was on the sideline, advancing toward his dream of becoming a full-time sports photographer. He was moved by the response to his photo, which represented a meaningful moment for him as well.

Torre was just beginning to come into his own as photographer when he arrived in Waco from Southern California in 2021. The hobby that he picked up in high school was becoming a passion, prompting him to add a major in journalism with an emphasis in photojournalism.

At Baylor, Torre found opportunities to work for the Baylor baseball team his freshman year, and then moved to football for the next three seasons. Fans have unknowingly seen many of his photos on official social media accounts, as he took advantage of the opportunities provided him with Baylor Athletics. Along the way, he made it a point to follow professional photographers on social media, and took the initiative to reach out to them when they followed him back.

After graduation in May, he received a message from one of them. Ty Nowell, the photography and digital assets manager for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, jokingly chastised Torre for not informing him of his graduation, then asked him what the future held. He informed the new grad of an opening with the Chargers, and shortly thereafter, Torre was on his way back to Southern California to work for the team he and his family had cheered for generations.

Now, his name is listed under many of the images Chargers fans enjoy of their team, both in-games and from practice. Some of his work can also be found on his Instagram account, @shotbyjoaquin.

“The relationships I built at Baylor and the people who believed in me have meant the world,” Torre says. “They gave me chances to go out and prove myself, and even fail, but they never left me at my failures. I hope that I can return that favor, and it means the world to me to represent Baylor professionally and to take their training with me to the NFL.”

Sic ’em, Joaquin Torre!