MPB Meets: Sports Photographer Richard Pelham

In a career spanning more than thirty years, veteran sports photographer Richard Pelham has photographed some of the world’s most famous stars at all the biggest events—including six Olympic Games and seven FIFA World Cups. In 2022, Richard won a number of trophies of his own at the World Sports Photography Awards. 

In this interview, Richard Pelham speaks with MPB about his background, career and experience buying and selling kit, as well as his advice for sports photography beginners.

MPB: Have you ever sold or traded in your camera equipment? 

RP: Well, eBay can be a real pain—the charges always vary, and people are always trying to knock you down. Everyone uses MPB. I sold my Canon EOS 1DX Mark III and my lenses to MPB. And I purchased from MPB too, because the prices are fair. 

When I traded up to mirrorless, I needed a quick sale and didn’t want to go through eBay to do this. I got my figure from MPB and was happy with it. I’ve used other companies before and MPB is always the fairest price.

MPB:  What’s in your kit bag right now? What are the pieces of kit you can’t leave the house without?

RP: I now have the Canon EOS R3—three of them—plus a Canon EOS 5D. In terms of lenses, I use the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS, RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS, RF 85mm f/1.2 L, RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS and RF 600mm f/4 L IS, and the EF 24-70mm f/4 L IS USM, EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM and EF 500mm f/4 L IS USM. I also use Profoto Studio lighting, Lexar media memory cards, Think Tank roller bags and three PocketWizard remotes.

I don’t always trade up; I usually keep equipment and use it as remote cameras, but when I changed from DSLR to mirrorless, I wanted everything to be in sync.

MPB: Can you tell us about your journey as a photographer? What made you want to pursue sports photography as a career?

RP: In May 1980, I left school and went straight into a photo news agency. A couple of years later, I spent my hard-earned cash on a Canon 400mm f/2.8 and was allowed to shoot football—luckily for my team, West Ham. I thought life couldn't get any better. I was then promoted to the darkrooms, where I learned all of the skills of printing. But I still went out at weekends to shoot football. I spent two years doing this and got a lucky break and was promoted to a full-time photographer covering news, celebrity and sports events. I got to photograph the royal family on official engagements. It’s just like shooting sports photography using long lenses.

After a few years, I had the offer to go to a major agency, photographing the royals and showbiz events, which ended my love for shooting sports—apart from The Wimbledon Championships. But I missed the buzz of shooting sports. I got a lucky break when I sent a letter to The Sun. I started doing a few shifts for them and didn't look back. From 1989 to 1994, I was freelance. Then I became their Chief Sports Photographer. 

MPB: Over the years, what’s been your favorite piece of kit?

RP: At an event, nine times out of ten, it’s my Pocket Wizard remotes. I will always try to position them somewhere to get a different angle in football and boxing. In the early days, it would’ve been a 400mm f/2.8—but now, depending on the ground I visit, I vary between a 500mm and a 600mm. 

For boxing, my standard lens is the RF 24-70mm—it always enables me to cover the boxing ring—but I would have a 16-35mm ready in case somebody drops in front of me.

I won an award for this image of Ebanie Bridges. I shot the photo from outside the ring on a 400mm lens. This was due to Covid conditions in boxing—it probably wouldn’t have been such a dramatic shot if it wasn’t for those restrictions!

MPB: Do you have any advice you’d give to beginners looking to join the sports photography industry? 

RP: That’s a hard question. To start, just get yourself a DSLR and a 400mm f/2.8 lens—it's your standard lens for shooting football. These days, it’s such a difficult industry to get into. Try to build up a portfolio at your local Sunday league matches, for example. Then send your folio around to local agencies. If you’re good enough, people will see you can do something and hopefully take a chance on you.

MPB: Do you have anything else you’d like to share? 

RP: I have a book, A Life Behind the Lens, which won two major awards. It has all my favorite images and my story from the last thirty years.

Thanks, Richard. For more sports photography content, read our Football Photography guide, find out how to get your sports photography published with 2Point8 magazine’s Michael Owen, or check out our interview with sports photographers Morgan Treacy and David Gray. Or, discover more interviews and guides on the MPB content hub.

Looking for more sports photography content? 

This article is part of the MPB Guide to Sports Photography, our comprehensive look at how to create sports photography, with camera recommendations, advice and interviews with experts.