What started as a casual interest in sports photography has quickly turned into a creative journey for St Paul’s Collegiate School student Elsa Greenbaum (Year 12).
After playing around with her dad’s camera she found at home, Elsa quickly found a passion for the art and soon began photographing sports at St Paul’s. After capting Athletics Day in 2024, Elsa honed in on her interest in sports photography.
Determined to refine her skills, she set her sights on rugby, taking photos of the St Paul’s First XV Rugby games. When she found out the Chiefs training camp was to be held on the school campus, she made sure to make herself known. It was on the sidelines that Elsa’s career started to take shape. By connecting with the right people and building her portfolio, she eventually secured a media pass to cover all NPC and FPC games at FMG Stadium throughout the 2024 season. Despite not being a die-hard rugby fan, she embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.
“I had to ask people about the rules on the sidelines and figured it out from there,” she admits.
Her talent and dedication soon led to new opportunities, including photographing the Chiefs U20s. At the end of 2024, she applied for media accreditation to cover Super Rugby and was recently approved. She will now capture Chiefs games at FMG Stadium, starting February 2025.
Now entering her second year as a rugby photographer, Elsa is looking to sell her photos as a freelance photographer, having gained valuable experience over the past season.
While rugby may not be her biggest passion, Elsa recognised the sport’s prominence in New Zealand and saw it as the best opportunity to break into high-profile sporting events. Her next goal? To shoot an All Blacks game—a challenge she’s already working towards by networking with the right people.
From sideline newcomer to professional sports photographer, Elsa’s journey is proof that talent, determination, and seizing the right opportunities can lead to incredible experiences.
