Sports Photography Behind the Scenes: Navigating a FC Barcelona Photoshoot

Any photographer who receives an invitation to photograph FC Barcelona likely responds with immediate enthusiasm—regardless of personal team allegiances. The opportunity to capture images of world-class athletes at one of football’s most prestigious clubs represents a significant professional milestone in sports photography.

However, experienced photographers approach assignments involving film crews with measured expectations. Even the most accommodating production teams tend to prioritize their filming requirements once shooting begins. This reality isn’t necessarily due to unprofessionalism—rather, it stems from the complex dynamics of managing celebrity athletes and their representatives during tightly scheduled sessions.

This particular assignment involved a contractual obligation for Barcelona’s sponsor, Beko—a scenario that typically results in minimal cooperation as players fulfill basic requirements without exceeding them. My colleague Brett, who assisted on the shoot, and I found ourselves constantly adapting to changing circumstances, attempting to secure our required shots amid shifting schedules and priorities.

My original creative vision involved dramatically lit portrait photography of the players, but this concept never materialized. Instead of working as official photographers with dedicated time and setup, we essentially operated as sanctioned paparazzi, capturing what we could within significant constraints.

Interestingly, the Barcelona players themselves demonstrated relatively accommodating attitudes, using the promotional session as an opportunity for camaraderie and lighthearted interaction. The primary challenges came from club officials who maintained strict time management and frequently altered the schedule and access parameters without notice.

This experience echoed memories from early in my career when I assisted photographer Martin Black on film set assignments, where we captured publicity images for productions. The film crews’ reluctance to accommodate our photography needs seemed puzzling, especially considering we often waited extensively during technical adjustments for filming while being granted minimal time for our own setups—despite using medium format cameras requiring powerful, carefully configured lighting.

The reality of these situations reveals a disconnect: despite having ample time within the overall production schedule, crews often fail to recognize that our photography ultimately promotes their projects. This Barcelona assignment contrasted sharply with a previous magazine assignment photographing Espanyol (Barcelona’s crosstown rivals), where I experienced comprehensive access and generous time allowances to achieve desired images.

These contrasting experiences highlight how institutional culture and priorities significantly impact sports photography outcomes. While prestigious clubs like Barcelona operate under intense commercial pressures that can limit creative photography opportunities, other organizations may recognize the mutual benefit of allowing photographers greater access and flexibility.