The 8 Best Sports Photographers in Sacramento

Sacramento sports photographers are some of the best in the nation at what they do. Sacramento’s status as the capital and proximity to the Bay Area make it a choice spot for photographers to operate from. And as one of California’s largest cities, events happen here all of the time, sports stories that need to be told to a wider audience.

Some focus on youth and high school sports, while others work with minor and major league team partners. Regardless, there is a photographer here who is ready and able to collaborate with you!

1. Larry Wells of Imagemaster Photo

Larry Wells is the founder of Imagemaster Photo, a Sacramento brand with roots reaching back to the 1980s. Photography had been a part of Larry’s life for years and slowly came to become a commercially viable prospect for him.

As a full-service production studio, Imagemaster Photo provides commercial, wedding, sports, event, and portrait services to Sacramento brands and residents, many of whom are looking for a moment of grace on the sporting field frozen in time, which Larry delivers perfectly.

2. David Rowen of Capital City Youth Sports Photography

No list of the top Sacramento sports photographers would be complete without David Rowen! He has been active in the world of youth sports photography in the area for over 30 years now. That includes not just action shots but also sports portraits of young athletes in their game-day finery.

Backgrounds are carefully chosen to either tell the story of an outdoor event or to isolate the subject for better viewing and appreciation. Sometimes that may even be a digital background to add just the right emotional character. Regardless of the sports story you wish to share, rest assured that David and his team are more than up to the task.

3. Karam Alani

Karam Alani is in love with photography of all kinds! Besides sports, he is active in the portrait, landscape, and event spheres — anywhere he’s able to bring his camera in and highlight the beauty of the day for future appreciation.

We were also impressed with how radiantly positive Karam’s client feedback is! Here is what one subject had to say about their experiences with him: “Karam is a great photographer who listens to his clients, and gives you plenty of options when it come to capturing your special moments! He’s passionate about photography and patient with client’s requests. I have 3 canvases of his beautiful art work, as well as many family photos taken by him.”

4. Audrey McCann

Events and portraiture are what Audrey McCann has to offer us. Her event work is diverse and includes live concerts, corporate events, weddings, graduations, and sports photography, of course! Bright and vibrant exposure and saturation are her preference here. It gives her images an uplifting quality that is an excellent match to the emotions and energy of the game day.

Audrey is also a talented user of environmental portrait techniques. She places her subjects in a distinct context so we can better imagine what it’s like to be on the field with them.

5. Ray Iaea

High school sports are the specialty of Ray Iaea! He boasts a diverse collection of images that take us onto the field for games of lacrosse, baseball, football, and many other sports. Ray’s images often feel like sports portraits since he has an uncanny ability of isolating subjects on a busy playing field. It gives us an intimate look at a player fully in the zone and locked onto their target.

Like many Sacramento sports photographers, Ray also enjoys other fast-paced action genres where long lenses and timing are crucial to a good image. He is an amazing wildlife photographer as well. Birds are his central focus; shy subjects that benefit from patience, compositions that include the setting, and reflexes honed through sports photography work.

6. Ralph Thompson

Professional sports photographers like Ralph Thompson are masters of timing. They capture players at peak extension when making a pitch or scoring a goal. Background blur and telephoto lenses isolate them in ways impossible to visualize from the stands while gentle retouching brings out the vibrant hues in uniforms and stadium lighting.

We see this done especially well in the images documenting the Sacramento RiverCats. They are a local minor league baseball team that Ralph is also the official photographer for!

7. William J Carroll III

William J Carroll III is one of the more diverse Sacramento sports photographers on our list. Besides action sports, he also photographs nature and portraits. William sees his work as a combination of harnessing light to create artistic wonder while also reminding us of the emotions and memories that make up that moment.

William’s sports photography has a documentary character to it thanks to his use of natural, true-to-life color and contrast. He also highlights expressions in his subjects that suggest focus, excitement, and other elevated states. We especially love how William manages to place himself so that the ball acts as a foreground subject, which most photographers don’t manage to achieve. Coupled with the near eye contact of the players in the frame, it gives his images an engaging quality!

8. Kara Hoffman

Born and raised in Northern California, Kara Hoffman is the photographer you turn to when looking for a local’s perspective. While she is active in the wedding and senior portrait genres, it’s her sports photography that caught our attention today, with football and basketball being her specialties.

Kara expertly captures the energy of the game day; the intense expressions of athletes, the grace of cheerleaders…All of it is a celebration of youth and athleticism. Her sense of timing is also masterful, with subjects frozen at the peak of catching the ball or scoring a goal.

Find unique photoshoot locations in Sacramento on Peerspace