Automated Captioning Tool for Sports Photographers
Austyn McFadden
Overview
Renamr is a specialized web application built for professional sports photographers who work under extreme deadline pressure. The platform automates the creation of caption code replacement files used in tools like Photo Mechanic and Typinator, allowing photographers to caption hundreds of game images in seconds instead of minutes.
Vaughn partnered with the Renamr team to design both the brand identity and the product experience from the ground up. Our goal was to build a platform that felt purpose-built for the fast-paced editorial workflow of sports photography while remaining approachable enough for freelancers and smaller agencies.
The result is a focused SaaS tool that turns roster data and game information into exportable caption code files with just a few guided steps.
The Problem
Sports photographers operate in one of the most time-sensitive environments in media.
During live games, photographers often need to transmit images to editors within minutes of key moments. Every image must include a properly formatted caption containing information such as:
Player name
Jersey number
Team name
Position
Game context
For wire services and major publications, captions must also follow strict formatting standards used by organizations like AP and Getty.
Many photographers rely on a feature called code replacements in software like Photo Mechanic. These systems allow photographers to type a short code such as:
and have it automatically expand into a full caption like:
Code replacements are widely used and can dramatically speed up captioning. However, maintaining them can be frustrating for photographers. Roster files must be kept current and accurate, especially for leagues where player numbers, trades, call-ups, or lineup changes happen frequently.
If a replacement file is outdated or missing players, photographers risk inserting incorrect captions or wasting valuable time fixing them mid-game. In fast-paced sports and editorial environments, where images must be transmitted immediately after key moments, even small delays or errors can disrupt an entire workflow.
Many photographers end up spending unnecessary time verifying rosters, updating code sets, or rebuilding replacement files before games to ensure everything works when the action starts.
Renamr was created to remove this friction by automatically generating accurate, up-to-date code replacement files for any game.
The Opportunity
Our goal was to transform caption preparation from a manual task into an automated workflow.
Instead of building code replacement files by hand, photographers could:
Select the league and teams.
Automatically fetch roster data.
Configure how codes should be generated.
Export a ready-to-use file.
The vision was a tool that would feel less like a traditional software product and more like a workflow assistant designed specifically for sports photographers.
Product Strategy
Renamr was designed around three core principles.
1. Speed
Photographers working live events need tools that are fast and predictable. The product had to guide users through a workflow that could generate caption files in under a minute.
2. Accuracy
Caption errors can lead to misidentified players and rejected submissions. The system needed reliable roster data and safeguards for edge cases such as duplicate jersey numbers.
3. Flexibility
Sports photographers cover a wide range of leagues and editorial standards. Renamr needed to support many sports while allowing customizable caption formats.
Brand and Product Identity
The Renamr identity was designed to reflect speed, clarity, and precision.
The name itself references the core function of the product: replacing short codes with full caption text.
The product aesthetic follows a modern utility-focused design approach:
Minimal interface distractions
Clear step-by-step workflows
Strong typography for data readability
Dark mode support for photographers working in low-light environments
The visual system emphasizes clarity and speed over decoration, mirroring the needs of photographers who must operate quickly during live events.
Designing the Core Experience
The centerpiece of Renamr is the Code Set Wizard, a guided workflow that generates caption replacement files.
Instead of presenting users with complicated configuration screens, the interface walks photographers through a clear eight-step process.
The Code Set Wizard
The wizard is designed to mirror the mental model photographers already use when preparing for a game.
Step 1: League Selection
Photographers choose from more than 28 supported leagues across multiple sports, including professional and collegiate competitions.
Supported sports include football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, racing, and golf.
Step 2: Program Selection
Users select the software they plan to use with the generated codes.
Supported tools include Photo Mechanic and Typinator.
Step 3: Delimiter Selection
Different applications require different file formats. Users can choose their preferred delimiter such as tab or comma to ensure compatibility.
Step 4: Team or Event Selection
Depending on the sport, users choose the appropriate context:
Home and visiting teams for team sports
Weekly entry lists for NASCAR races
Tournament selection for golf events
Roster data automatically loads at this stage.
Step 5: Code Style
Photographers often use different shorthand systems when captioning.
Renamr allows users to define how shortcut codes are generated. Options include patterns such as prefix plus jersey number, initials plus number, car numbers, or shortest unique last names.
Step 6: Output Style
Caption formatting can vary depending on editorial standards. Renamr includes multiple formatting templates, including styles aligned with common wire service formats.
Step 7: Useful Codes
Additional helper codes can be added for things like venue names, officials, or other frequently used caption elements.
Step 8: Preview and Export
Before exporting, users can preview the generated codes to verify accuracy.
The final file is exported as a TSV file ready to import directly into Photo Mechanic or Typinator.
Automating Roster Data
One of the most critical technical challenges was ensuring reliable roster data across many leagues.
To address this, Renamr uses a cascading data retrieval system.
ESPN Site API as the primary source
ESPN Core API v2 as a fallback
Server-side HTML scraping using Firecrawl as a last resort
If automated sources fail, administrators can manually map verified roster URLs or enter roster data manually.
This layered approach ensures that photographers receive accurate player lists even when upstream APIs fail.
Supporting Multiple Sports
Renamr was designed to support a wide range of sports, each with unique data structures and caption needs.
Team Sports
Leagues like NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and NCAA competitions use roster-based player code generation.
NASCAR
The platform includes a dedicated pipeline that scrapes weekly entry lists for Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series races.
This system extracts driver names, car numbers, sponsors, teams, and manufacturers to generate race-specific codes.
Golf
For PGA tournaments, Renamr includes course metadata such as course name, location, par, and yardage.
The system generates golfer codes using shortest unique prefix algorithms and includes hole-specific helper codes.
Handling Real-World Edge Cases
Sports data contains many inconsistencies, and Renamr includes safeguards to prevent common issues.
Duplicate Jersey Numbers
When multiple players share the same jersey number, the system keeps the code but flags the output with a duplicate indicator. This alerts photographers to confirm the correct identity before publishing.
Manual Roster Builder
Not all leagues publish structured data. Renamr includes a standalone roster builder that allows users to:
Manually enter players
Import bulk roster data
Scrape roster information from HTML pages
This ensures the platform works for youth leagues and regional competitions as well.
The Dashboard Experience
The Renamr dashboard serves as the photographer’s control center.
Key components include:
Personalized greetings
Status cards showing code set and team counts
Quick access to core tools
Recent code sets
Subscription status
A "Today’s Games" scoreboard based on the user’s configured home market teams
This approach helps photographers quickly generate caption files for games happening that day.
Product Scope
Renamr currently supports an extensive range of leagues and competitions.
These include major professional leagues, NCAA sports, international soccer competitions, NASCAR racing series, PGA Tour events, and USPHL junior hockey.
Each league includes tailored code patterns and caption formatting styles to match industry standards.
Results
Renamr replaces a manual pre-game workflow that once required photographers to build caption files by hand.
With Renamr, photographers can generate a fully formatted code replacement file in minutes by simply selecting teams and exporting a file.
The product dramatically reduces preparation time while improving caption accuracy and consistency across photographers and editorial teams.
The Outcome
Renamr demonstrates how focused software can transform a niche professional workflow.
By combining automated data retrieval, a guided workflow, and flexible formatting options, the platform removes one of the most tedious tasks in sports photography.
The result is a specialized tool that allows photographers to spend less time preparing captions and more time capturing the moments that matter.
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Posted Mar 14, 2026
Designed a SaaS tool to automate captioning for sports photographers, streamlining their workflow.
