Photography by Matthew James

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Photography by Matthew James Sports, Corporate and Editorial photography from award-winning photojournalist Matthew James

Sports, Corporate and Editorial photography from award-winning photojournalist Matthew James

Visit https://www.photographybymatthewjames.com for more info

* NCTJ Photographer of the Year 2011
* Midlands Sports Photographer of the Year 2011 - Finalist

24/10/2026

The results are in….

A few days ago I asked for some help choosing an image for an upcoming sports photography competition.

The winning image received 80% of the votes, and although it isn’t my personal favourite, I can totally see why most of you voted for it.

Entering competitions is something I haven’t done for many years. But this process has made me rethink whether i should get back on the horse. Having external feedback from friends and followers is extremely useful, and perhaps this is the start of something new?

Ever tried the 5-4-3-2-1 'Grounded Meditation' method?It was taught to me during a long bike ride across Denmark, during...
23/09/2026

Ever tried the 5-4-3-2-1 'Grounded Meditation' method?

It was taught to me during a long bike ride across Denmark, during a particularly boring stretch of road.

The concept is simple. During any activity or moment of unrest/stress, ask yourself: what 5 things can I see; 4 things I can hear; 3 things I can feel; 2 things I can smell; 1 thing I can taste? It helps bring you back to the moment and focus on the now.

If you were in Copenhagen on Sunday, you probably noticed the city hosted the World Athletics Road Running Championships.

The rules and restrictions for all involved were extremely strict, especially for the photographers out on the course. Yet miraculously, I was instructed to capture the start of the elite race and found myself in my favourite position: lying face down just metres away from the runners.

As the minutes counted down, the adrenaline became intense. I knew I only had a few seconds before the runners descended on me, and I had to get the shot before leaping out of the way. So to calm myself down, I slipped into my 5,4,3,2,1 routine. Here's what I noticed:

5 x VISUALS: the tiny stones that make up the asphalt in the road; a baby watching from a window with its parents; Morten Eklöf Risager from Sparta Atletik & Løb waiting nearby to grab my cameras; one other photographer on the sidelines; a wall of runners with their fingers on their watches.

4 x SOUNDS: a song by FLO RIDA; the commentator speaking with a noticeable Danish-American accent; a motorbike setting off on the course; my camera shutter as I fired some test shots.

3 x PHYSICAL FEELINGS: my kness pressing on the cold tarmac; my lanyard scratching my neck; an ever-present tight neck.

2 x SMELLS: I took a deep breath and could 'smell' the burning rush of air in my nose (followed shortly by my 'working man's odour') :-)

1 x TASTE: a combination of coffee and croissant (it could've been worse).

After the mediation, the last thought to go through my mind was: "I am so lucky to be exactly where I am right now". And then the wall of runners descended on me and I snapped out of it.

“You’ve got to try something different every time”. Wise words from a fellow photographer this morning while discussing ...
20/09/2026

“You’ve got to try something different every time”.

Wise words from a fellow photographer this morning while discussing the route and style of images.

Yet, as much as I agree with this, I also feel that knowing what works is a huge benefit.

I know Copenhagen like the back of my hand. The rooftops, obstructions, sunlight direction, gradients and bends. There’s a reason Sparta Atletik & Løb send me out on the route when a big race comes to town.

And now that’s it for another year. The temperature is falling, the leaves are turning golden, and the days are noticeably shorter. Running season is officially over (for me, anyway).

Nice one to everyone who has been a part of it. From everyone behind the scenes, to the runners and spectators being awesome on the course. And of course, thanks to wrrccopenhagen26

❤️

Had a strange feeling in my stomach going into this morning’s pre-race photo brief. The media centre was full of photogr...
19/09/2026

Had a strange feeling in my stomach going into this morning’s pre-race photo brief.

The media centre was full of photographers and crew - some I knew, most I didn’t. Everyone was friendly and professional; courteous. The event was significantly bigger than what I’m used to.

During the one-mile race I received an urgent phone call. “You’re not meant to be on the course while the elite are running!” I’d forgotten that was the rule - old habits die hard.

For the 5k, I broke with tradition and left my bike behind and walked the route. The idea of trying to persuade security/supporters/volunteers that I was allowed to cycle the route seemed an unnecessary headache.

Yet oddly, despite the new rules and restrictions, I genuinely enjoyed working today. It’s the most efficient I’ve been at a major sporting event, and editing felt effortless. You might see a bunch of repetitive running images; I see pin-sharp depth, bold, accurate colours, and genuine reactions captured in a split second. I’m proud of what I’ve shared with the client today… and I haven’t even touched the second camera memory card yet.

Tomorrow will be the real test. 30000 runners, dozens of photographers, and a tightly locked down route that I’ll need to traverse without pi***ng anyone off.

Good luck if you’re taking part tomorrow. I’ll be at the start line, then Vesterbro and on to Frederiksberg. Gizza 👋

It’s funny how easily an old photograph can become a version of you that exists long after you’ve changed.I had long hai...
15/09/2026

It’s funny how easily an old photograph can become a version of you that exists long after you’ve changed.

I had long hair for about ten years. It became part of how people recognised me, and naturally that version of me ended up everywhere online — websites, social media, profiles, directories, old articles…

Then last Christmas, I cut it off.

And somehow, nearly nine months later, my online presence still largely looks like I have long hair, and several clients have struggled to identify me when I walk in to the room.

So this is me finally catching up with reality.

A new portrait, taken recently, and hopefully one that will replace at least some of the increasingly inaccurate versions of me scattered around the internet.

End communication.

Working for myself has countless benefits, but I do miss having colleagues from time to time. That feeling is even stron...
30/08/2026

Working for myself has countless benefits, but I do miss having colleagues from time to time.

That feeling is even stronger during the annual DHL Relay in Copenhagen. For five days I get to observe thousands of people chilling out with their team mates from work, and it makes me somewhat envious.

Having that social interaction with people from all walks of life shouldn't be taken for granted. We learn to collaborate, compromise, negotiate and respect different points of view.

More importantly, we develop bonds and relationships with people we don't necessarily choose to spend time with. That's what I love about DHL Stafetten, and that's what I miss about not working for a larger company.

This year I found myself eavesdropping on conversations as I stood there snapping away. It reminded me to keep striving for stimulating interactions – with both strangers and those already in my circle. So, forgive me if I drop the small talk and get straight to the gritty stuff next time we meet.

Thanks, as always, to and for another motivating event. See you again next year...

Always been fascinated by celestial activities… inherited it from my dad. Already got a riad booked in Marrakesh for nex...
12/08/2026

Always been fascinated by celestial activities… inherited it from my dad. Already got a riad booked in Marrakesh for next year’s full solar eclipse. But today’s partial over Valby was the perfect teaser.

What a summer away reminded me about myself.Every summer leaves me with a camera roll full of photos; this one also left...
11/08/2026

What a summer away reminded me about myself.

Every summer leaves me with a camera roll full of photos; this one also left me with a few reminders about myself.

Over the past few weeks I travelled through England, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and back home to Copenhagen.

Somewhere between Yorkshire pubs, Prague streets, mountain roads and watching England lose at the World Cup, a few things became clear.

Firstly, I still love travelling as much as ever.

When I picked my mum up from Manchester train station, the first thing she said was, “I don’t know where you get this travel bug from – it certainly wasn’t from me or your dad!”

She’s right. I have no idea where it came from either.

For years, I wanted to become a travel photographer. Life took me in a different direction, and becoming a father changed what that dream looked like. Looking back, I wouldn’t swap it. I’ve still been fortunate enough to build a career that has taken me to places and people I could never have imagined.

Secondly, I’m convinced that if photography hadn’t worked out, I’d have ended up studying history.

Whether it was ancient cathedrals, a 17th-century ex*****on site or mysterious stone monuments hidden on the moors, I was constantly stopping to read up on these sites and their historical significance. The places themselves are fascinating, but it’s the stories behind them that keep me hooked.

Thirdly, nothing beats the hills, valleys and country pubs of England.
When you grow up with them, it’s easy to take them for granted. Living abroad has made me appreciate them in a completely different way.

And finally…

I have concluded that driving in Germany is not for me.

I’m all for road safety, but a little more help with speed limit signs for those of us whose German skills end at ‘wunderbar’ would be appreciated.

Now it’s back to Copenhagen.

This week is for catching up on emails, organising and planning. Next week, the camera comes back out.

And after a few weeks of looking at the world as a traveller rather than through a client’s brief, I’m looking forward to seeing where the next assignment takes me.

"I'm British, so if that's a problem, there's the door."Perhaps a slightly aggressive opening line for a 45-minute talk ...
07/06/2026

"I'm British, so if that's a problem, there's the door."

Perhaps a slightly aggressive opening line for a 45-minute talk on Visual Storytelling and LinkedIn... but it got a laugh, and from that moment on, I felt right at home.

On Thursday, I delivered my "Think Like a Photographer in Your LinkedIn Strategy" presentation to around 100 business professionals, and the response has been overwhelming.

When I first started teaching photography to businesses over a decade ago, I always suspected public speaking would become part of the journey. Standing on the main stage at LinkedSummit felt like a natural next step.

What was especially rewarding was hearing people say things like: "Great insights... really useful information... I had never even though of doing that..."

Because that's really what the session was about... helping people see visual content differently.

I'm already thinking about the next talk, the next audience, and the next opportunity to share these ideas.

Naturally I'd prefer to add a link to my LinkedIn Photo Skills for Your Business Page, but as we're on Facebook here, you can head over to https://www.facebook.com/PhotoSkillsForYourBusiness to learn more about the photo education services I offer, including 1:1 Workshops and Online Courses.

It won’t be my first public speaking gig, but it just might be the most important!For the last few months, I’ve been qui...
03/06/2026

It won’t be my first public speaking gig, but it just might be the most important!

For the last few months, I’ve been quietly putting together a 45-minute presentation for an audience of LinkedIn-curious professionals.

Marketers, Sales Teams, and Communications Experts from a wide variety of Danish businesses will all be in attendance, and I’m more than a little excited.

Latest figures show 99 people have signed up so far, so the organisers — LinkedSummit — have decided to put me on the main stage 😳

It’s a far cry from standing on stages with musicians, who you can always rely on for support when you screw up a guitar solo or sing a bum note — tomorrow it’s just me.

But I can promise you I am so ready, because I’ve been rehearsing daily all week, and now I just need to make sure I stay calm and talk slowly for my Danish audience.

When it’s over, I’ve promised myself a pint before I jump on the train home. Preparing for this event has been a long, careful process, and I’m hoping it’s the beginning of a new chapter in my photography career.

Wish me luck ☘️🤞

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