Tennis Photography at DLTA – Earning Access Through Persistence & Networking

The Challenge of Getting Access to DLTA

Initially, I struggled to connect with tournament officials and organizers before the event. Access permissions for professional tennis tournaments generally need to be secured well in advance, and by the time I reached DLTA, many officials were unavailable.

However, instead of giving up, I decided to approach the situation differently.

I positioned myself outside the venue and started networking directly with:

• Players participating in the tournament

• Parents accompanying junior athletes

• Members of the tennis ecosystem present on-site

One interaction eventually led to another. A parent of one of the players introduced me to an official, who later connected me with the tournament director.

The first day was primarily about introductions and relationship-building. I still did not receive access to the courts, but it established trust and familiarity.

On the second day, I returned again and explained my intent clearly—that I was a sports photographer trying to build my portfolio and would also share quality images with DLTA itself.

Finally, on the third day, after continuous follow-ups and genuine networking, I was granted access to the grounds.

Photographing an International Tennis Tournament

Once inside, the experience became incredibly rewarding.

Tennis photography is highly technical because it requires:

• Fast autofocus tracking

• Precision timing during serves and volleys

• Respect for silence and court etiquette

• Positioning without distracting players

Unlike many field sports, tennis photography is as much about discipline as it is about camera technique. Movement during active rallies is restricted, and photographers must carefully choose when to reposition themselves.

The tournament featured several rising stars and talented players from India and abroad, making the level of competition extremely strong.

Photographing Future Tennis Stars

One of the standout players at the tournament was Ksenia Efremova from France, who later went on to win the Australian Open Juniors in December 2025. Photographing emerging athletes before they achieve global recognition adds a special significance to sports photography.

The event also featured Vaishnavi Adkar, who has represented India in the Billie Jean King Cup, making the tournament highly competitive despite being a developmental-level professional event.

Capturing these athletes in action required careful anticipation of:

• Serves and returns

• Baseline movement

• Emotional reactions between points

• Celebrations and moments of focus

Learning from Experienced Tennis Media Professionals

The DLTA tournament also gave me the opportunity to meet veteran tennis photojournalist Kamesh Srinivasan Sir, who has extensively documented Indian tennis over the years.

Observing experienced professionals around the courts helped me better understand:

• Tennis storytelling

• Match anticipation

• Court positioning strategies

• The importance of consistency in sports journalism

I also met tennis content creator Jay Singh, known through TennisFreeze, who has been actively promoting tennis coverage and digital storytelling around the sport. His work combining photography, content creation, and emerging AI-assisted visual experimentation showed how sports media itself is evolving rapidly.

Technical & Creative Learnings

This assignment strengthened several aspects of my sports photography approach:

• Networking can be as important as technical skill

• Persistence often creates opportunities where none initially exist

• Tennis requires precision timing more than continuous shooting

• Respecting player concentration and match etiquette is critical

• Building trust within sports communities opens long-term opportunities

The experience also reinforced how important adaptability is when entering professional sporting environments for the first time.

Looking Ahead in Tennis Photography

Covering this tournament at DLTA has motivated me to pursue more opportunities in tennis photography across India.

I hope to continue working with:

• Tennis academies

• Junior international tournaments

• National-level competitions

• Professional tennis circuits

• Sports development programs

As my portfolio continues to grow, I look forward to collaborating with leading tennis academies, tournament organizers, and players to further expand my work in professional tennis photography.

Final Thoughts

My experience at DLTA was far more than just another assignment—it was a lesson in persistence, networking, and believing in the value of showing up consistently.

From struggling to gain entry to eventually covering an international tennis tournament featuring future stars, the journey reinforced an important truth about sports photography: opportunities are often built through relationships, patience, and genuine passion for the sport.

It remains one of the most fulfilling experiences in my sports photography career so far and has further strengthened my interest in covering professional tennis in India.