Hurdles abound for women tackling careers in sports photography. Take the exclusive locker room interviews, or the more traditional “boys club” style of networking. Both of tend to omit women, according to a 2021 article in Yahoo Sports. Yet, accomplished Florida-based sports photographer Courtney Culbreath says things are looking up for women in the industry, albeit slowly.
“It is getting better. On the sidelines, there’s still [about] 80 percent white men, and maybe 5 percent women — so there’s a long way to go,” says Culbreath, whose sports photography work includes jobs and internships with the University of Florida Gators, Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians, and, more recently, shooting freelance National Football League games for Getty Sports.
One positive industry feature she appreciates is the growing network of supportive female sports photographers. “Women [in this industry] look out for other women,” she says. This collaborative approach has advanced her career with new opportunities and overall career sustainability. “Following other female photographers on social media, saying hi, introducing yourself… just creating that camaraderie is important. You know they’re there for you if you need them.”
We sat down with Culbreath to discuss how she’s navigating the ever-changing career path of sports photography. Curious about pursuing this career yourself? Read on for her tried-and-true tips, tricks, and inspiration.
Breaking into Sports Photography
Breaking into any highly coveted career path — be it sports photography or travel journalism — requires grit, persistence, passion, and being in the right place at the right time. For Culbreath, that right place was the University of Florida, where she first embarked on a career in journalism only to realize journalism wasn’t necessarily the right path for her.
“One of my previous roommates started interning with the UF Gators photography team. She told me how much I would love it,” she says. Culbreath dabbled into this opportunity as a resume builder, then realized it was exactly where she needed to be. “I had an awesome time, people told me I was doing well, and I thought, ‘I guess this is what I’ll be doing now.’”
When she graduated in 2017, she nabbed an internship with the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians. It was a dream career except, she realized quickly, sports photography is more than epic shots from the sideline.
“My role with [the Guardians] was more of the fan experience stuff. It wasn’t as much game action, and that was a little frustrating at times,” she says. “It was also a good learning experience for me. You don’t get to do everything you want all the time.”
Following a successful internship, Culbreath moved back to Florida to work for the UF Gators full-time in March 2019. She now works as a freelance sports photographer, which has opened numerous exciting doors, including coveted freelance gigs like shooting for Getty Sports.
Hone Your Craft, Know Your Camera
For sports enthusiasts, photographing up-close action shots from coveted vantage points, like the end zone or sideline, may sound like a dream. Although, it takes serious work to go from curious to full-time sports photographer.
“When I was a student, I spent a lot of time practicing. I wanted to prove myself,” Culbreath says. Her mentor and boss from the Gators shared an early piece of wisdom. “He’d always tell students, ‘the more you put into it, the more you get out,’ so I was just constantly, constantly going to games and getting out of my dorm to take photos.”
Culbreath also recommends diving into sports photography before you’re ready, even before you have a specific assignment. This is critical to build your portfolio.
“I’d go out and shoot a whole baseball series, from Friday through Sunday, and that was fun for me,” she says. “It’s just getting the reps in. It doesn’t really matter what you’re taking pictures of as long as you’re using your camera.”
This leads to another important tip: Know your camera inside and out. Sports photography, like weddings or wildlife, moves quickly. You have to be nimble and ready to adjust settings on the fly to capture the scene. Fumbling around for ISO or shutter speed could lead to missing that game-winning shot.
See Social Media as a Networking Tool
Social media has its negatives. It drives comparison, makes creativity feel competitive, and, of course, there’s always the chance of Internet trolls. Yet, Culbreath also attributes much of her success and growth as a photographer to social media.
“Instagram is a powerful tool. Just seeing others’ work, networking with people you’ve never met before — it’s great,” she says. “I went through and found, then followed, a ton of sports photographers on Instagram. I keep up with their work and find inspiration from it.”
To be clear, it’s not about copying their styles. It’s about finding inspiration. “It’s more so seeing how different photographers approach scenes and learning [from them],” says Culbreath.
Additionally, social media opens the doors for important industry connections. “Every single job I’ve gotten has been from connections, from people I’ve met, even people on Instagram who know and follow me,” she says. “Just put yourself out there. Introduce yourself to people. You never know who that person is or if down the road they’ll think of you for an opportunity. That’s happened for me at every step of my career.”
Culbreath recommends not just following, but naturally engaging with fellow photographers’ content — be it liking stories or commenting on posts. “It’s simple, but it works,” she says.
Be Nice to Everyone
Another key to Culbreath’s early success? Be a team player.
“You could be the best photographer in the world but, if you’re not a nice person to work with, no one will want to work with you,” she says. “Introduce yourself to people. Be kind and help people if they need help.”
Another tip: Stop overthinking it. If you admire someone’s work, or you’d like to learn from or be connected with them, reach out. What do you have to lose?
“I get it, it’s easier to keep to yourself and just do your job without ‘bothering’ anybody But, trust me, nine times out of ten you’re not going to bother anyone,” she says. “Most people generally are nice and want to help you.”
Landed a Dream Job? Don’t Stop There.
After achieving success in what many see as a lofty, highly sought-after career, it’s tempting to rest on your laurels and coast. Sure, you can do this temporarily, especially if you need to rediscover that ever-elusive work-life harmony, but it’s important to refine and continue pushing your skillset.
You’re not getting the images you want by just sitting there every single game. Get up and try to find a new shot you haven’t gotten before.
“You have to kick yourself in the butt and just tell yourself you’re going to do something different today,” says Culbreath. “It can get easy just shooting a football game from the end zone, but you won’t get better. You’re not getting the images you want by just sitting there every single game. Get up and try to find a new shot you haven’t gotten before. Don’t get complacent.”
Stand Up for Women in Sports
Culbreath is excited about the progress and (slowly) emerging equality in sports photography, but she also knows there’s a long way to go. Bridging that gap often requires getting uncomfortable.
Throughout her career, Culbreath’s been the subject of numerous off-handed comments from more experienced male sports photographers. “You’ll have people that say, ‘Wow, that’s a big camera for a small girl.’ You hear it all the time,” she says.
“It’s easier said than done, but we have to address these problems. People have been getting away with demeaning women in this industry for so long. While it’s easier said than done, you have to let people know this treatment is not OK. We have to set the expectation that we’re all the same — we’re all on the same level here.”
Culbreath’s final parting advice for aspiring sports photographers? Know your worth, know that what you’re doing is important to yourself and other people, keep going, get those reps in, and take it one day at a time.
Courtney Culbreath’s Sports Photography Gear
Here are the must-haves you’ll find in Culbreath’s kit, including some of the best cameras and lenses for sports photography:
Canon EOS-1DX Mark III
Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS II USM
Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS III USM
Canon EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM
Canon EF 24-70 F2.8L IS II USM
Think Tank Photo Airport Security V3.0 Carry On Rolling Case
For more inspiration from the female sports-creator lens, check out our guide on how to become a winter Olympics photographer with Annice Lyn.
