Looking for sports photographers in Europe to follow? These 11 photographers offer inspiration across football, rugby, athletics, golf, tennis, and para sport. Their work captures the action, the atmosphere, and the people behind memorable sporting moments.
From match-day coverage to behind-the-scenes stories and portraits, there is plenty here to explore. This is a selection of photographers whose work we admire, presented without a ranking.
- Hy Money
- Molly Darlington
- Richard Heathcote
- Tom Jenkins
- Lynne Cameron
- Marc Aspland
- Matt Watson
- Luc Percival
- Geraint Ashton Jones
- Joel Marklund
- Aleksandra Szmigiel
Hy Money
Hy Money is a pioneering British sports photographer whose work is closely associated with Crystal Palace. She began photographing football in the early 1970s, turning an interest in the atmosphere at Selhurst Park into a career documenting the club and its community.
Her work is worth exploring for the moments around the match as well as the action. Crystal Palace’s film about her career offers more background on the barriers she faced and the images she made.
View the featured Instagram post.
Molly Darlington
Molly Darlington is a UK-based freelance sports photographer whose portfolio includes football and other sporting assignments. Her coverage of the women’s game is a useful starting point for anyone interested in the action and emotion of football photography.
Explore her portfolio for match-day images and a range of sports work. The photographs offer inspiration for capturing both the decisive moment and the reactions that give it meaning.
View the featured Instagram post.
Richard Heathcote
Richard Heathcote photographs the drama, tension, and physical effort of sport. His career includes coverage of football World Cups, Olympic Games, rugby, and golf’s major tournaments, with a portfolio ranging from close-up reactions to unusual views of the action.
His awards include the 2019 Sports Journalists’ Association Sports Photographer of the Year title and overall winner at the 2020 World Sports Photography Awards.
View the featured Instagram post.
Tom Jenkins
Tom Jenkins has photographed sport for The Guardian since 1990. His work spans major international events and grassroots competition, showing that the story of sport extends beyond its biggest stages.
His recent work brings together picture essays covering a range of events and subjects. Follow him for action, atmosphere, and the details that help turn individual sports photographs into a story.
View the featured Instagram post.
Lynne Cameron
Lynne Cameron’s work with the Lionesses, England’s women’s football team, captures training, preparation, and the emotions surrounding major tournaments. Her coverage of the team’s journey offers a view of the relationships and work behind the performances.
The Football Association’s 2019 World Cup photo selection is a useful example of that approach. It shows how behind-the-scenes access can add depth to a team’s visual story.
View the featured Instagram post.
Marc Aspland
Sports photography depends on timing, concentration, and an understanding of what might happen next. Marc Aspland’s work is a useful example of that combination, with experience photographing football, tennis, swimming, and horse racing.
His career with The Times includes coverage of major international competitions. Explore his work for photographs that capture the intensity of sport and the moments that can be missed when attention stays only on the ball or the finish line.
View the featured Instagram post.
Matt Watson
Matt Watson is a Southampton-based sports, editorial, and commercial photographer whose work includes Southampton Football Club. His interest in photography began while riding BMX and photographing the people taking part around him.
He went on to study photojournalism and work for the Southern Daily Echo before moving into club photography. His portfolio offers a look at the variety of images a football club needs, from action and portraits to features for its website and social channels.
View the featured Instagram post.
Luc Percival
Luc Percival is a British-born photographer based in France whose work focuses on para sport. His background in rock-climbing photography led to an interest in documenting athletes and the challenges they take on.
His photographs put athletes and their experiences at the centre of the story. Explore his work for examples of how sports photography can communicate determination and personality alongside the physical demands of competition.
View the featured Instagram post.
Geraint Ashton Jones
A love of the outdoors and sport has shaped Geraint Ashton Jones’ photography. His own experience of rugby, sailing, cycling, and running informs his interest in rugby and endurance events.
As a director of Alligin Photography, he has experience assembling photography teams for sporting events. His approach looks beyond the result to the psychological challenge, commitment, and teamwork involved in competing.
View the featured Instagram post.
Joel Marklund
Swedish sports photographer Joel Marklund’s portfolio spans Olympic competition, winter sports, football, and tennis, including Wimbledon. His work brings together the action of international competition and an interest in the athletes taking part.
Browse the collections on his website to explore different sports and settings. They offer a useful range of perspectives for photographers looking beyond a single sport or type of assignment.
View the featured Instagram post.
Aleksandra Szmigiel
Aleksandra Szmigiel was a middle-distance runner before developing her career as a sports photographer. That experience gives her a personal connection to athletics and the effort behind each performance.
Her work includes Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, European championships, and commercial assignments. She looks for details and moments that viewers might otherwise miss, bringing an athlete’s perspective to the stories she photographs.
View the featured Instagram post.
Explore the photographers’ portfolios and featured posts to find the styles, sports, and approaches that inspire you. Notice how they use timing, composition, and access to tell different parts of a sporting story.
For sports teams turning photography into fan engagement, PhotoShelter’s European Sports Marketer’s Guide offers ideas for building a brand and connecting with supporters.
