Shooting Anthony Joshua During Training at Sheffield Performance Centre
Photographing Anthony Joshua during a live training session was one of those shoots where you just have to work with what’s happening in front of you.
We didn’t have loads of time, so it was very much a case of moving quickly and trying not to interrupt the session too much. AJ was in camp at the Sheffield training centre, so the priority was keeping things natural and capturing the environment as it was rather than overcomplicating it.
I wanted to get a mix of action and more candid moments throughout the session. Obviously the boxing side gives you loads of energy visually, but some of the better frames usually happen in between drills when everything relaxes for a second. Those moments always feel a bit more honest.
The gym itself had a really raw feel to it which suited the shoot perfectly. Nothing felt staged, which is always better for this kind of work.
AJ was training in Under Armour kit as one of their ambassadors, which worked naturally within the environment and suited the feel of the shoot.
The images ended up being widely published afterwards, which is always nice to see, but one of the best parts of the shoot was right at the end when AJ came over to thank me personally before leaving. He was genuinely sound the whole time, which always makes a difference on shoots like this.
These are always the shoots I enjoy most because you don’t really get second chances. You’re reacting to what’s happening in real time and trying to tell the story of the session as naturally as possible.
Sports photographer Manchester/Paul Cooper