In Focus: Visionaries
Tired of the same old stock sports photography? From the sidelines of the Olympics to the heart of local communities, these female and non-binary photographers are changing the way we see sport.
By Glorious
We all know those iconic sports photos—the triumphant victory, the crushing defeat. But there’s a whole world of sports photography out there, and many of its most exciting voices are female and non-binary.
That’s why we’re thrilled to spotlight these amazing photographers who are bringing fresh perspectives to the field and changing the game. These photographers aren’t just capturing action shots (although they do that brilliantly too). They’re delving into the emotions, stories, and raw beauty of sport. Whether they focus purely on athletic competition or weave sports into a broader narrative, their work is sure to brighten up your Instagram feed and inspire you to see the world of sports in a whole new light. Here are the photographers you need to have on your radar!
Sofieke van Bilsen
“My advice to female photographers is to let your work speak for itself. Trust your abilities and don’t feel the need to compensate. Embrace being different—it’s often an advantage!”
Sofieke van Bilsen is a 29-year-old sports photographer who made the bold decision to leave her job and pursue full-time freelancing in October 2020. By 2022, after covering the European Championships in Munich, she began focusing primarily on sports photography. Sofieke doesn’t limit herself to one sport, covering a wide range including football, hockey, tennis, marathon running, and track and field. Over the past year, she’s had the privilege of photographing the German National Women’s Football Team, travelling to Australia for the World Cup, and working with FC Bayern, the NN Running Team, and Team Germany at the Paris Olympics.
“My approach to photography is all about diversity, emotion, and simplicity,” she explains. Sofieke has also noticed the exciting growth in women’s football, with more sponsorships, contracts, and viewership than ever before. “It’s amazing to see, and it’s not just on the field—there are more women working behind the scenes too, though there’s still room for improvement in all sports.”
Sofie was front and centre at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and we love this image taken at the final of the Indoor Cycling competition. “It captures a moment at the start of the race where New Zealand athlete Ellesse Andrews, who went on to win the gold medal, is competing against German athlete Lea Sophie Friedrich, who earned the silver medal. You can see Friedrich’s reflection in Andrews’ visor, adding a unique perspective to this tense moment!”
Check out Sofie’s work here and follow Sofie here
Sophie Green
Sophie Green is a London-based social documentary and art photographer. While she doesn’t specialise in women’s sports, she has a deep interest in the culture surrounding sports – how they influence and reflect social values, traditions, and identities, as well as how communities shape the way sports are played, understood, and celebrated.
Sophie’s work delves into the often overlooked aspects of British culture, with a focus on unique communities and subcultures. From Aladura churches to banger racing in the UK, she captures the rituals and quirks that bring people together. She blends documentary realism with stylised portraiture, using the details around her subjects to tell richer, more nuanced stories. Building trust with her subjects is crucial to her process, and her work seeks to create a connection between viewers and the people she photographs.
We’re big fans of Sophie’s work— We particularly love her take on Ascot hats, offering a playful look at an iconic event.
Sophie is also passionate about female representation in photography, believing that fair and equal representation in the industry is critical for diversifying our visual culture. Her advice to young photographers is simple: “Leave your front door and shoot—experiment, learn to talk to strangers, continually exercise creativity, and take your time to discover what you want to say through your work.”
Explore Sophie’s work here and follow Sophie here.
Jane Stockdale
“My advice to young female photographers is to always be experimenting, exploring, learning new things and making good things happen!”
Born in Scotland, based in London, Jane Stockdale is a documentary photographer who loves to capture authentic moments and raw spontaneous energy from the heart of the action. Jane likes to take photos with bite and her images are packed with emotions, energy, stories and are equally as bold as they are colourful.
From documenting Wimbledon for the New York Times to Rolls-Royce breaking world speed records, Jane loves to collaborate on a wide mix of projects with pals and clients including Nike, Adidas, Rapha, Red Bull, Rolls-Royce, Under Armour and the New York Times.
From National Ballet, to Nike Women’s Euros, Jane consistently delivers beautiful and raw work that we can’t get enough of!
spontaneity
Sophie Stafford
“Find your unique perspective! Sports photography often focuses on capturing ‘the action,’ I would encourage you to see beyond that. Look for the emotions, the stories, and the moments that others might miss!”
Sophie Stafford is a London-based photographer who’s work is informed by the paradoxical, complex, and occasionally absurd set of social and cultural relations that form our identities. She delves into events and spaces that bring people together, a style which focuses on storytelling through a mixture of intimate portraits and reflective details. She is also drawn to cultural events because of how they are adapted, preserved, and passed on to new generations who, in turn, make them their own.
Sophie headed to Kazakhstan in 2018 to photograph the World Nomad Games (WNG) and noticed she was one of very few female photographers commissioned to shoot the games. The WNG are a celebration of ancient sports and lifestyles that have been passed down through generations.
This image was taken on this trip, and features a member of the Iranian Women’s Mas-wrestling team (who won the Mas-wrestling competition in 2018) photographed in the Rose Garden of the athlete’s hotel. Mas-wrestling is a traditional Yakut sport that involves pulling opponents across a table using strength and technique. It’s a relatively new sport internationally, gaining popularity in recent years. Sophie is heading back to Kazakhstan in September to photograph the 2024 WNG, so be sure to keep a look out for some more stunning work!
Check out Sophie’s work here and follow Sophie here
Jade Smith
Jade Smith is a London-based photographer and director, working across photography and film with a focus on portraiture, documentary, and women’s sport. They’re always juggling between photography and directing but have recently thrown themself into a project documenting calisthenics in their local community and capturing the vibrant moments within Pride, all whilst balancing commercial work.
Jade finds the world of women’s sport incredibly inspiring. “It’s exciting to watch women fulfil their dreams of becoming professional athletes in spaces traditionally dominated by men, creating real change in the history of sport,” they say. Reflecting on the recent Olympics, they add, “It was amazing to see the first-ever gender-neutral games with 50/50 participation. I’m hopeful that we’ll see even more progress with trans and non-binary acceptance in sports.”
When it comes to photography, Jade loves capturing those in-between moments when someone truly lets down their guard in front of the camera, revealing their authentic self. “I love to show that beauty in people,” they explain. In a male-dominated industry, Jade’s advice is clear: “Make work, and make lots of it. Don’t rush to release stuff—focus on your practice, ignore the noise, and stay true to your journey. Create what you want without asking for permission!”
More of Jade’s work here and follow Jade here
authentic
Norma Ibarra
Norma Ibarra is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist, content creator, community organiser, marketer and adventure seeker manoeuvring boundlessly through photography, videography, and adventure sports. Of these, photography is an endless playground for her unique expression. Through her work, Norma shares the stories of change-makers around the globe. Her photos tell stories of diverse, proud community builders, simultaneously challenging and independently broadening the definition of “traditional media,” documenting a profound youth-driven lens around inclusion, representation, equity, resilience and belonging.
Combining her love for adventure, her education and her photography skills, Ibarra has also carved out a niche role specialising in social media marketing, implementing and fostering spaces for the stories of her communities.
Ibarra’s work has been published in magazines, online editorials, commercial campaigns, photo exhibitions and recently, her book, Para ti (For you). We love Norma’s work in skating and mountain biking.
Check out Norma’s work here and follow Norma here
Radka Leitmeritz
Born and raised in the Czech Republic, Radka Leitmeritz has lived and worked in Paris and Los Angeles, where she is currently based. After many years in the fashion and entertainment industry, Radka has turned her focus to photographing women’s tennis—a sport she’s deeply passionate about.
Her goal is to portray women in sport with a fresh perspective, rather than the typical action-focused approach. “I see so much more than that—the beauty of the sport and the incredible women behind the action. I love to show emotions and capture the moments in between.”
Leitmeritz recently published a book, ONE:LOVE, dedicated to the tennis heritage of her country. She has also been following female tennis players on the WTA tour for five years, aiming to publish a large international publication, Court Supremes, celebrating women’s tennis.
Inspired by women’s sports, Leitmeritz believes that sports photography desperately needs a female approach. “We have learned from the history in fashion photography how important it is to see women through women’s eyes, how refreshing and different sensibility we can bring to the images,” she explains.
Find more of Radka’s work here and follow Radka here
Rachel Louise Brown
“One of the reasons I was drawn to photography was the challenge of occupying a space – primarily owned by men – that thrives on objectifying women. My aim was to prove that, as a woman, I could build a career behind the camera and try to change our narrative from within.”
Rachel Louise Brown is a fine art, editorial and commercial photographer. She graduated from the Royal College of Art, MA Photography course in 2011, and alongside shooting commissions, she is course leader of MA Commercial Photography at LCC, UAL. Shooting for the likes of Harper’s Bazaar and The National Theatre, her work celebrates meaningful stories and people while exploring the construction of performance and the importance of the imaginary. Rachel’s photography has gained international recognition, including being showcased at Photo London and being named a winner of Portrait of Britain in 2022.
A standout example of Rachel’s work is her photograph of Bryony Page from Team GB’s gymnastics team, training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Bryony went on to win bronze at those games and recently clinched gold at Paris 2024. Reflecting on the Paris Games, Rachel noted, “I was personally quite shocked to see the lack of female photographers being commissioned to cover the Olympics, particularly for publications that pride themselves on having an equal and fair voice for all.”
Rachel is currently navigating her return to commissioned work after maternity leave. During this time, she chose to work at a slower pace, taking on commissions with brands that supported her needs as a new mum. “It was truly wonderful to work with those who engaged with me on these terms. They made me feel hopeful, although I was lucky to have developed relationships with brands that had this ethos – this is by no means the case across the board.” Rachel’s dedication to her craft and her advocacy for change continue to inspire.
sensibility
Karen Yeomans
Karen Yeomans, a North London-based photographer and super sports enthusiast, has always had a deep connection to the world of women’s sport. From her muddy cross-country days to cheering on rugby teams, sport has been central in her life.
Her images celebrate the body, spirit, and community power of sport, with her passion and experience shining through in every shot. Karen has worked with some of the biggest names in sport, including Red Bull, Nike, and Reebok. She has also created campaign images for organisations such as this year’s ECB x Metrobank initiative, which aims to bring more women into cricket coaching. This year, at the 39th Association of Photographer (AOP) Awards, Karen’s images of grassroots rugby were shortlisted. Her images are the only finalist selected with an entire focus on women in sport.
She contributes to numerous sports publications, sharing her unique perspective on fitness, yoga, rugby, and more. With multiple awards and a growing fan base, Karen is a force to be reckoned with in the world of sports photography!
When asked for advice for budding photographers, Karen emphasised the importance of attending local sports events “This not only helps you build your portfolio but also allows you to network with local athletes, coaches, and other photographers. Be willing to assist other photographers or industry professionals, helping others can lead to reciprocal support and opportunities.” On the increasing number of women behind the lens, she notes that just before the Olympics, she was given the opportunity to photograph some of Great Britain’s athletes as they prepared for the Paris games “This experience was a powerful reminder of the shared journey we all embark on, a journey defined by resilience and the fine margins that separate triumph from defeat.”
Title image featuring photographs by: Sofieke van Bilsen, Sophie Green, Jane Stockdale, Sophie Stafford, Jade Smith, Norma Ibarra, Radka Leitmeritz, Rachel Louise Brown, and Karen Yeomans.
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