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An aura of fun and excitement runs rampant through Miami’s sporting culture, matching the disposition of its evergreen tropical climate. It’s home to futbol splendor with David Beckham’s Inter Miami and football aggression with the Dolphins. Moreover, The Heat bring the fire to the NBA while the Panthers skate through the NHL. Sport dominates the lifestyles of its residents in professional and personal capacities, making it a no-brainer as a centerpiece for commercial and editorial assignments. But with an abundance of photographers populating the city, we curated a selection of the best individuals for sports photography in Miami to make things easier.
At Wonderful Machine, sports and fitness photography covers anything about sports, games, athletes, fitness, and exercise—it can be candid (action) or controlled. The seven photographers we’ve listed below handle it all, finding the magic within moments of pause and motion in the sports world.
After graduating with a Design Communication degree from Texas Tech University, Mary Beth Koeth worked as a designer for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. Later, this sweet gig became sweeter, allowing her to cross the Atlantic and work for Hallmark UK. But while exploring Europe on weekends with a camera beside her, Mary realized that pursuing a path in photography was definitely in the cards. After the realization, she interned for stalwarts of the business, including Nancy Bundt, Sid Hoeltzell, and Joe Pugliese, gaining a wealth of experience that most would be envious of. Now, she’s a highly accomplished Miami sports photographer, and learning from the best has been a sure recipe for success.
Mary has gone on to work with the likes of Venus Williams, ESPN, The Hollywood Reporter, AdWeek Magazine, Google, Masterclass, Billboard Magazine, and many others.
George Kamper’s portfolio goes beyond sports photography in Miami. Natural light and natural people are the centerpieces of his ethos, allowing his aesthetic to be applied across numerous specialties, whether it’s lifestyle or sports and fitness. It also helps that George is fueled by “curiosity and a willingness to test and explore,” allowing him to push boundaries across genres while satisfying his clients. His sports photography exhibits a clean aesthetic through both color and black and white, covering both portraits of athletes and athletes in motion. By and large, he removes clutter within the picture, isolating the subject so they remain front and center, holding on to the spotlight.
And on the topic of clients, many love and appreciate his work. From agencies such as Leo Burnett to publishers like Equestrian Living Magazine, there’s no shortage of praise in the industry for George. So head to his website and browse through the many kind words going over his creativity and technical expertise.
With over two decades of experience, Josh Ritchie is a Miami sports photographer who has been to some of the most prestigious events in the US. During his time as a newspaper staff photographer, he had the chance to cover numerous Super Bowls and NBA Finals, an opportunity many could only dream about. Since those days, he has gone on to tackle the commercial and editorial landscapes of photography, working with clients such as Apple, Tupperware, Nike, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, among many others.
In sports, he has photographed some of the biggest names out there, from NBA superstar LeBron James to UFC Hall-of-Famer Urijah Faber. Besides portraits and photos of athletes in action, Josh also has an eye for conceptual dramatizations of sports, presenting a perspective within disciplines that may go unnoticed – adding in a bit of humor where possible.
While he specializes in lifestyle, fashion, and beauty imagery, John Olive’s sports and fitness photography deserves attention for its rich and vibrant nature. His portfolio oozes strong colors, painting athletes running down the tracks or getting ready for a game of tennis in the most spirited terms. So if you’re looking for energy to be displayed via the subject and the composition in general, John’s up for the job.
John’s clients include AR Muzic, Cosmopolitan, Crochini, Engine Shop, Forward, G-Fit, Jockey, Miami Bunny, Miracle Bit, Pantene, Paddle8, Paxful, SasSea Swimwear, Seminal Studios, Silent Pocket, Simply Nature Bio Goods, TryRight, Veve Eyewear, and Vnikabrand, among others.
Jeffery Salter is up there among people who elevate the standards of sports photography in Miami. As he’d put it, he has dedicated his life to telling untold stories, which is evident in his sports and fitness portfolio. In many ways, he goes against the grain, presenting narratives that are quite unorthodox within the landscape of sports. Perhaps an image of Anthony Davis touching a chandelier with a nonchalant look may highlight the obvious fact that he is so very tall, or it could be pointing to his status as someone rare, exceptional, and in isolated company. Or a photo of Megan Rapinoe high-fiving the camera could go against her image as the stoic leader of USWNT, instead finding her to be a lighthearted character whenever time permits. Jeffery’s photos present a narrative mixed with emotion, and he has been celebrated for this throughout his career.
He has been a staff photographer for Sports Illustrated and The New York Times. His photos have appeared on the pages of Ebony, INC, People, and Cigar Aficionado, along with nine photography books and five Day in the Life books. He has received honors such as the World Press Award while serving clients that include American Way Magazine, ADT, American Express, Billboard, Forbes, and many more.
Andrew Urban primarily operates within the intersection of sports and fashion, using lifestyle imagery to highlight products ranging from shoes to clothing. During a round of golf, the focus will be on the footwear, and during a sprint, he’d shift it easily to the shorts or t-shirt. Along the way, he’ll get a healthy serving of personality from his subjects in the studio and in functional settings, elevating fashion to the status of mental armor in sports. It’s a very cinematic touch within the specialty that applies to his color and black-and-white photos. Separately, Andrew has proven himself capable of furnishing kids’ sports imagery, a difficult task that he pulls off exceptionally well.
Andrew’s client list includes Adidas, Discovery+, Ecco Golf, Fendi, Helium Creative, Lacoste, Magnolia Network, Makers Air, Paco Rabanne, Sony Music UK, Volvo, Vox Creative, Zumba Wear, 925 FIT, and many more.
“Stop the Scroll” could be a slogan meant to preserve our sanity as we plunge deeper and deeper into our social media feeds. But it’s also the ethos championed by Michelle VanTine through her photography.
“I’m passionate about shooting images that stop the scroll, increase visibility, and bring in more clients.”
The idea is simple: create images that hold the viewer’s attention. And armed with her Fine Arts degree, she creates compelling compositions where elements carry an ethereal presence. It’s achieved through her use of lighting and the spatial relationships between the subject and other objects in the frame. At times, the clouds in the background look like giant brush strokes against an even larger canvas. At others, she guides the sun to its most ideal position in the frame, revealing a subject in glorious fashion. In short, there’s always something in her photos that command our attention.
Michelle has been named a top Miami sports photographer by many websites and publications, and her images have been shared by Serena Williams, Amanda Nunes, and other top athletes.
These individuals should be your first stop for sports photography in Miami, with their distinct aesthetic approaches suiting a wide range of commercial and editorial campaigns. Whatever the sport, they’ve got your back.
Further Reading
See more Miami sports photographers on our Find Photographers page.
Learn more about Sports/Fitness photography on our Intel Blog.