Next up in our News, Sports and Entertainment spotlight is freelancer photographer Christian Bertrand.
Christian has worked in the entertainment and sports industries for more than 14 years. His images have appeared in well-known publications including The New York Times and Rolling Stone, and he has photographed legendary bands including Coldplay, Queens of the Stone Age and The Strokes.
My favourite sports event to capture was the Women’s Champions League match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg in 2022, as it set a record for attendance in women’s football history with 92,000 spectators…
Christian Bertrand
We caught up with Christian to chat about how he found his passion within the industry, the advantages to being based in Barcelona, and how he manages his time with capturing events.
CG: You specialise in concert and sport photography and have been in the industry for 14 years, what drew you into capturing these areas?
CB: When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I used to go to Camp Nou (FC Barcelona Stadium) with a small analogue camera. I always asked my mom if maybe I took an amazing photo I could be in the newspaper. Of course, the photos were terrible, but I was happy (at that time I was not yet an expert overthinker). When I turned 18, I decided to study photography with the goal of capturing images at Camp Nou. During my studies we had various assignments, and one of them was to shoot concerts — I fell in love with it, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
CG: Do you find being based in Barcelona has any advantages or disadvantages for capturing your content?
CB: Living in Barcelona has been a significant advantage for me, as I’ve had the opportunity to photograph the best player in history every weekend — Lionel Messi. Regarding concerts, the city is vibrant with activity and hosts major festivals like Primavera Sound, Cruïlla, Vida, and Sónar, which provide fantastic opportunities for capturing live music.
CG: Can you tell us how you manage your time between covering concert and sport events?
CB: Since both activities often take place at night, I must adapt my schedule accordingly especially because I need to edit the photos the same night. So, it’s often inevitable to go to bed at 3 or 4 AM after a match or concert that ends at 11 PM or to watch the sunrise after leaving festivals at 4 or 5 AM after shooting for 12 hours.
CG: What has been your favourite concert to capture and were there any challenges?
CB: My favourite gig to capture was definitely The Strokes, and they have been my favourite band since I was 15. I finally photographed them at Primavera Sound in 2015, and I still get emotional thinking about it. The biggest challenge is staying calm during the three songs we’re allowed in the pit for, as not managing the adrenaline can lead to lower-quality work.
I’ve also had the pleasure of photographing huge bands like Coldplay, as well as capturing some of the early concerts of artists like Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa.
Paramore definitely deserve a special mention. Not only do they have the best frontwoman of our generation, but the band also have a real connection with each other and an incredibly passionate fanbase. I photographed them in 2018 and hope to capture them again soon. Additionally, it’s been a pleasure to work with Phoenix, another one of my favourite bands. They pay a lot of attention to lighting and aesthetics, and their charismatic frontman makes it even better. Working with them has also shown me what great people they are.
CG: What has been your favourite sport event to capture and why?
CB: My favourite sports event to capture was the Women’s Champions League match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg in 2022, as it set a record for attendance in women’s football history with 92,000 spectators.
It’s particularly emotional for me because I started photographing the Barcelona women’s team in 2011 when they played in training fields with just 40 spectators, often facing unfortunate comments. To see 92,000 people come together for this match is truly world changing. In 10 to 15 years, we’ll see its impact, as many girls have decided to pursue football or become interested in sports thanks to the evolution we’ve witnessed in Barcelona with women’s football.
CG: With there only being 2 months left until 2025, do you have any exciting projects lined up for the rest of the year?
CB: To be honest I’m already looking ahead to 2025, particularly at the possibility of photographing Paramore, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and although it seems almost impossible right now, Ariana Grande.
CG: What photography equipment do you travel with?
CB: After spending 10 years using Nikon cameras, a few years ago I switched to Canon’s mirrorless system. Right now, my Canon R3 with the 24-70 and the new 70-200 RF lenses are my inseparable companions. I can’t forget the 300mm f/2.8, which weighs 3 kilos and always comes with me for sports photography — it makes regular trips to the physiotherapist a basic necessity!
CG: Any advice for fellow photographers who would like to get into the concert and sport industry?
CB: I believe the best advice is to always be respectful of everything surrounding a show. Be respectful to the artists, the audience, your fellow photographers, and the venue staff. If at any point you think you’re more important than someone who has bought a ticket or even the artist on stage, then you’re in the wrong place.
It’s also crucial to respect the artist’s aesthetic. We have cameras that can take dozens of photos per second, but if you publish a shot where someone like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé looks bad, you’re confusing press freedom with a lack of common sense and respect for their image. This is why we see more restrictions on photographing major artists, and I think it’s important to be aware of this and engage in self-criticism.
We hope you enjoyed this months NSE spotlight with Christian and feel inspired to start kickstart your career within the news, sport and entertainment industry. You can find the rest of Christian Alamy’s collection here, and check out his website here. You can also keep up to date with him on Instagram here. As usual come back next month to see who will be up next in our NSE spotlight.
