From the 4th Division to the Big Leagues: My Journey in Sports Photography

A little over five years ago, I stood on the sidelines of a small stadium in southern Portugal with my camera, nervous but excited. I had just joined Olhanense, a 4th division Portuguese club, as their team photographer. It wasn’t a paid gig — at least not in money — but it was an opportunity to learn, to be there, to practice, and to chase a dream that was only starting to take shape.

Me as an Olhanense club photographer during the pandemic

Learning the trade, one match at a time

Those early years were a crash course in sports photography. I traveled with the team everywhere, even through the pandemic, documenting training sessions, matches, and moments that never made the headlines but meant everything to the players and fans.
Back then, I was shooting with a Canon 7D, a 5D Mark II, and a 70–200mm lens — far from the high-end gear I use today, but more than enough to build experience, make mistakes, and get better each week.

One of the most memorable chapters from that period was when Edgar Davids — yes, the Dutch legend himself — spent six months as Olhanense’s coach. Being around someone of his stature and documenting his time at the club was surreal and inspiring.

Edgar Davids as Olhanense coach

I stayed with Olhanense for a little over two years before moving on to new opportunities. By the end of 2022, I started doing some work for Farense, then playing in Portugal’s second division — another step up, another chapter.

Crossing the Atlantic

At the end of 2022, I packed my gear and moved to Monterrey, Mexico. I knew I wanted to keep going as a sports photographer, but starting from scratch in a new country wasn’t easy.
I spent the first few months knocking on doors — trying to get accreditation to Liga MX games with Tigres and Rayados — and getting “no” more times than I can count. But persistence pays off. A few months later, I finally made it in through the Brazilian agency PXImages, and from there, everything started moving forward.

Between 2023 and August 2025, I covered countless games in Monterrey, from league clashes to international events. By this time, I was working with Canon 1DX Mark III and Mark II bodies, and a 400mm f/2.8 lens — the kind of setup I once only dreamed of using.

On the world stage

One of the biggest highlights so far has been covering three games at the Copa América 2024.
I crossed the border from Monterrey to photograph Mexico vs. Jamaica in Houston, then USA vs. Bolivia in Dallas, before heading back to Houston for Colombia vs. Paraguay. Standing on the sidelines at such iconic matches — hearing the crowd, feeling the energy, and capturing those moments up close — was an unforgettable experience.

Keep learning, keep moving

This journey has been about saying yes to opportunities, and creating new ones when none were available. It’s been about hearing “no” but not stopping there. Every game, every photo, every edit has been part of the learning process — not just in taking better pictures, but in working faster and more efficiently.
Back in the beginning, I used to deliver photos the next day. Now, by the final whistle, my best shots are already selected, edited, and uploaded.

The road from the 4th division to the big leagues has been long, but I’m not stopping yet. There’s still so much to learn, and so many moments left to capture.