If you spend any time around Derby Rugby Club, there’s a good chance you’ll bump into Shaun from S.H Photos. A familiar face around the club community, he’s usually found on the other side of a camera, roaming the touchline and capturing everything from tries and tackles to the moments in between.

But what’s it like being the person behind the lens? We caught up with Shaun to talk rugby, photography, muddy touchlines and what makes Derby such a special place to photograph.

From muddy touchlines and last-minute tries to the quieter moments around the pitch, photographer Shaun of S.H Photos has spent the past few seasons documenting life at Derby Rugby Club. We caught up with him to find out where his passion for sports photography began, what keeps him coming back to the touchline, and why the best photographs are about much more than simply capturing the action.

Shaun, where did photography begin for you?

My photography journey really began in 2014, when I first explored Fine Art at secondary school. That sparked my interest in photography and creative visual work.

In 2016, I went on to study a Foundation Diploma specialising in Photography, which helped me develop both my technical and creative skills. Then, in 2017, I progressed to the University of Derby to study Commercial Photography. That’s where I really developed my passion for working with businesses, organisations, sports clubs and events.

And where did the connection with sport come from?

I was sporty from a young age. I competed in swimming galas and learned Ju-Jitsu, which helped build my character, confidence and discipline.

When I combined that sporting background with my love of the arts, sports photography felt like a natural fit. Today, I enjoy creating content that represents some of the values sport gave me growing up, while also giving something back to the sporting community.

What is it about rugby that makes it so good to photograph?

It’s actually the unspectacular moments, both on and around the field, that can make it so interesting.

Every game is different and can change direction and pace at any moment. One week it might be a battle between local rivals; the next, a top-of-the-league clash against a team fighting at the bottom.

It’s that unpredictability, the pace of the sport and, most importantly, the characters you meet and photograph that give rugby and sports photography their unique appeal.

When you’re pitchside, are you looking for the action or the emotion?

A balance of both.

I love documenting the general action as the game unfolds because you never know when it’s suddenly going to change pace or direction. But I’m also looking for the emotion – the atmosphere of the game and what the players and people around it are thinking and feeling in those moments.

Those emotional images can sometimes tell you as much about a match as the action itself.

Is there one photograph from Derby that particularly stands out?

One of my favourite moments from last season was photographing Cameron Finley scoring what looked like a decisive try. I caught him in mid-air, just as he was about to touch the ball down.

Unfortunately, the try was disallowed because a Derby player had been offside earlier in the play. Otherwise, it would have won Derby the game!

But the story of that photograph didn’t end there. Just before Christmas 2025, I was contacted by a member of staff from England Rugby, who asked to use some of my favourite community grassroots rugby photographs in an article celebrating some of the best shots of the year.

That image was one of just three of mine selected. It made an already memorable moment even more special and gave me the opportunity to see my work on a much bigger platform. Hopefully, it has also opened the door to more opportunities within grassroots rugby photography.

How close do you actually get to the action?

Close enough that you always need to keep one eye out for the rugby ball being kicked towards the touchline – or for players suddenly heading your way as they make a tackle near the sideline!

You’re trying to capture the atmosphere as everything unfolds while also being very aware of what’s happening around you. But that’s all part of the excitement of being right in the middle of the action.

What goes into photographing a match that people might not realise?

There’s quite a lot of preparation before I even get to the pitch.

I make sure all my camera gear is ready, batteries are charged, memory cards are cleared and I’ve got the right equipment for the conditions. I’ll also check the weather and the pitch beforehand because conditions can change very quickly, from bright sunshine to heavy rain.

And then there’s the mud!

Sometimes I’m the last person to discover quite how muddy a pitch is, so during the winter months I always keep a pair of wellies in the car, just in case. Being prepared means that once the game starts, I can concentrate on the photography rather than worrying about my equipment or the conditions.

You’ve been around Derby RFC for several seasons now. Does it start to feel like being part of the team?

Definitely. Being part of the team and contributing to its story throughout the season is something I really value.

Every game is another opportunity to create visual content that captures key moments, emotions and memories. Having access that other people don’t necessarily have also means I can tell the story from a different perspective.

Sometimes I’m the unseen person behind the camera, but the players know I’m never too far away – and they can always rely on me to capture their next profile picture! 😂

Does knowing the players help you as a photographer?

Absolutely. There are numerous players across the Derby RFC teams who I love photographing.

Having worked with many of the same players for nearly four seasons, I’ve got to know their playing styles. Sometimes I can predict their movements, which helps me get into the best possible position when they’re about to carry the ball or potentially score a try.

Then there are the local rivalries. Games between two Derbyshire teams can be incredibly intense, with both sides battling for local dominance and wanting to prove who is the better team in the area. Those matches always bring something extra.

What’s the biggest challenge in rugby photography?

The speed.

The action can change pace or direction in a matter of seconds, so as a photographer you have to be ready for anything. You need to react quickly because the key moment isn’t going to wait for you.

Is rugby your main focus, or do you photograph other sports too?

Rugby Union keeps me busy from September through to April, and from May to August I also work with a local Rugby League team. I first started working with them during my second year at university in 2019 and I’m still photographing them today, so I’m lucky enough to have rugby to shoot all year round.

Away from rugby, I also cover women’s football for a local Derby team that recently entered Tier 6. That has led to county cup final projects and other commercial photography work with Derbyshire FA and Nottinghamshire FA.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve also been building connections within cricket, with the potential for opportunities with Derbyshire County Cricket Club in the future.

What would you say to someone who wants to get into sports photography?

Get out there – and don’t focus only on photographing the sport. Get to know people and build your network.

That’s something I did while studying Commercial Photography at university, when I volunteered as a sports photographer for Team Derby. It gave me the chance to meet people, build relationships and create opportunities that I might never have had otherwise.

And as you become more serious about your photography, don’t be afraid to ask for payment and recognise the value of your work. Your time, experience and skills all have value, so don’t be afraid to put a price on them.

Finally, when somebody looks at an S.H Photos image, what do you hope they take away from it?

Ultimately, I want people to feel something.

It might be the excitement of a key moment, the emotion of a player or simply the atmosphere surrounding the game. I want an image to tell a story and make somebody feel as though they were there.

For me, photography is about more than capturing what happened.

It’s about capturing how it felt.

Content put together by Michael - Sendacar Airport transfers. Our Web admin. 
Find out more about Shaun - SH Photos.

This content has been created as part of our community connection project. Finding out more about the people you may see about the club.