FPA Member Profile

Canon, Nikon or Sony? 
“Canon.”

What came first, sport or photography? 
“Definitely sport. For as long as I can remember I’ve been surrounded by football and sport. I was brought up into a sport loving family, and I’ve always loved playing or watching it. Photography came at a later stage. I took it as a subject at GCSE and A Level, and that’s when I began to combine my love for the both of them.”

One change for the better to improve football photography for the next generation of photographers?
“A programme set up for young photographers to make their way into the industry, with one to one advice with some of the best photographers, who are able to break down their work and assist with teaching the process of shooting/editing/sending images. I also think financial support is important.”

Do you have a favourite memory or anecdote from your time as a football photographer?
“The 2019 Women’s World Cup. I spent a whole month with Charlotte Wilson driving around France with a match more or less every day. It was a brilliant experience, and something I won’t forget. My most memorable match was England v Norway as England progressed to the semi-finals, It’s always a bit more special when it’s your own country.”

First football match photographed?
“The first football match I photographed was 1874 Northwich v Crewe Alexandra in the Cheshire FA Senior Cup. I signed up to photograph the non-league side from an advert at college, and it just so happened the first game was against Crewe Alex. This was also when I got my first published picture in the local Northwich Guardian newspaper.”

Favourite football ground to work at, and why?
Stoke City; great food, great parking and you can sit wherever you like!”

Biggest Lesson Learnt in the business? 
“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is to not give up. Things can be tough when starting out and making your way into the industry. I used to avoid press rooms at all costs because I found them so intimidating, but now I’ll happily walk into one.

Keep shooting sport/football no matter what the level and what equipment you have, it can only help you to improve and teach you valuable lessons for the future.”