Sports photography is often seen as glamorous from the outside — big stadiums, iconic moments, and access to elite athletes. But behind every frame lies years of persistence, learning, missed opportunities, and creative growth.
In this interview, sports photographer Raji Ismail shares insights from his journey into sports photography, lessons from difficult assignments, advice for aspiring photographers, and why still photography continues to hold emotional power in the age of reels.
Raji Ismail is a New Delhi–based freelance sports photographer whose journey into visual storytelling began through self-practice and event photography before transitioning into the world of sports. Alongside covering sporting action, his work also explores fashion, culture, and documentary-style storytelling. A student at Jamia Millia Islamia, Raji has steadily built a creative identity shaped by athletic performance, human emotion, and visual perception. His growing body of work includes collaborations, exhibitions, and independent projects that reflect both technical discipline and artistic curiosity. Through his platform RJXMiles Portfolio and professional presence on LinkedIn, he continues to document stories from sports and beyond with a cinematic and thoughtful approach.
Raji Ismail Accredited Sports Photographer During his Coverage of the Pro Kabaddi League
I started by practicing photography on my own and later worked as an event photographer for two years. Currently, I’m freelancing in sports photography.
I love the sheer athletic performance in sports. Capturing those moments is what excites me the most. Apart from sports, I also enjoy fashion photography.
I once got an assignment to cover an event at a stadium. We had a briefing the day before regarding the shooting positions and special guest shots that were required.
However, on the day of the event, I was denied access to the required shooting position because of high-profile security restrictions. We only had a normal entry pass and not an official access card.
The sudden position change completely disrupted the workflow, and I couldn’t capture the special images the client wanted. Eventually, I didn’t receive payment for the assignment.
That experience taught me the importance of ensuring proper access and permissions beforehand. No matter the situation, we still have to find ways to deliver what the client expects.
Don’t wait for opportunities in this competitive industry. Develop a unique creative style and proactively pitch ideas to people before they even ask.
I regularly follow Getty Images Sports and Reuters.
Start working with marketing agencies to better understand the industry and build connections. Also, know your value — people will pay for quality work when you position yourself correctly.
Showcase your portfolio directly to teams and offer creative ideas they cannot refuse. It’s also important to connect with media organizers because often the same agencies manage multiple sporting events within a region.
Reels often pass quickly through people’s eyes without leaving a lasting impact. But a frozen moment in a photograph can make someone pause and think.
Some of the Finest Captures by Raji Ismail
The journey of Raji Ismail reflects an important reality of modern sports photography — talent matters, but preparation, networking, adaptability, and creative thinking matter just as much.
From handling access issues at major events to building relationships with agencies and teams, his experiences offer valuable lessons for photographers trying to break into competitive sports environments.
About The Interview Series
Behind every sporting moment, photograph, victory, or event lies years of unseen effort, failures, sacrifices, and lessons. Through this interview series, the goal is to bring together voices from across the sports ecosystem — photographers, athletes, parents, organizers, officials, media professionals, and many others — to openly share their journeys, struggles, mistakes, and learnings. As someone working in the field of sports photography services, I’ve realized that too often people only see the highlights and not the process behind them. By documenting real experiences from people working in the industry, this platform aims to help aspiring professionals learn faster, avoid common mistakes, discover new opportunities, and understand the realities of the sports world. More importantly, it is an attempt to build a community where knowledge is shared openly so that everyone in the sports ecosystem can grow together.
Interested in More Such Raw Stories. Stay Tuned As I Get In Touch With Professionals Across The Sports Industry As well as Photographers from Other Genres