Photography by Matthew James

Hjem
Danmark
Copenhagen
Photography by Matthew James

Sports, Corporate and Editorial photography from award-winning photojournalist Matthew James

Sports, Corporate and Editorial photography from award-winning photojournalist Matthew James

Visit https://www.photographybymatthewjames.com for more info

* NCTJ Photographer of the Year 2011
* Midlands Sports Photographer of the Year 2011 - Finalist

30/08/2026

Working for myself has countless benefits, but I do miss having colleagues from time to time.

That feeling is even stronger during the annual DHL Relay in Copenhagen. For five days I get to observe thousands of people chilling out with their team mates from work, and it makes me somewhat envious.

Having that social interaction with people from all walks of life shouldn't be taken for granted. We learn to collaborate, compromise, negotiate and respect different points of view.

More importantly, we develop bonds and relationships with people we don't necessarily choose to spend time with. That's what I love about DHL Stafetten, and that's what I miss about not working for a larger company.

This year I found myself eavesdropping on conversations as I stood there snapping away. It reminded me to keep striving for stimulating interactions – with both strangers and those already in my circle. So, forgive me if I drop the small talk and get straight to the gritty stuff next time we meet.

Thanks, as always, to and for another motivating event. See you again next year...

12/08/2026

Always been fascinated by celestial activities… inherited it from my dad. Already got a riad booked in Marrakesh for next year’s full solar eclipse. But today’s partial over Valby was the perfect teaser.

11/08/2026

What a summer away reminded me about myself.

Every summer leaves me with a camera roll full of photos; this one also left me with a few reminders about myself.

Over the past few weeks I travelled through England, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and back home to Copenhagen.

Somewhere between Yorkshire pubs, Prague streets, mountain roads and watching England lose at the World Cup, a few things became clear.

Firstly, I still love travelling as much as ever.

When I picked my mum up from Manchester train station, the first thing she said was, “I don’t know where you get this travel bug from – it certainly wasn’t from me or your dad!”

She’s right. I have no idea where it came from either.

For years, I wanted to become a travel photographer. Life took me in a different direction, and becoming a father changed what that dream looked like. Looking back, I wouldn’t swap it. I’ve still been fortunate enough to build a career that has taken me to places and people I could never have imagined.

Secondly, I’m convinced that if photography hadn’t worked out, I’d have ended up studying history.

Whether it was ancient cathedrals, a 17th-century ex*****on site or mysterious stone monuments hidden on the moors, I was constantly stopping to read up on these sites and their historical significance. The places themselves are fascinating, but it’s the stories behind them that keep me hooked.

Thirdly, nothing beats the hills, valleys and country pubs of England.
When you grow up with them, it’s easy to take them for granted. Living abroad has made me appreciate them in a completely different way.

And finally…

I have concluded that driving in Germany is not for me.

I’m all for road safety, but a little more help with speed limit signs for those of us whose German skills end at ‘wunderbar’ would be appreciated.

Now it’s back to Copenhagen.

This week is for catching up on emails, organising and planning. Next week, the camera comes back out.

And after a few weeks of looking at the world as a traveller rather than through a client’s brief, I’m looking forward to seeing where the next assignment takes me.

07/06/2026

"I'm British, so if that's a problem, there's the door."

Perhaps a slightly aggressive opening line for a 45-minute talk on Visual Storytelling and LinkedIn... but it got a laugh, and from that moment on, I felt right at home.

On Thursday, I delivered my "Think Like a Photographer in Your LinkedIn Strategy" presentation to around 100 business professionals, and the response has been overwhelming.

When I first started teaching photography to businesses over a decade ago, I always suspected public speaking would become part of the journey. Standing on the main stage at LinkedSummit felt like a natural next step.

What was especially rewarding was hearing people say things like: "Great insights... really useful information... I had never even though of doing that..."

Because that's really what the session was about... helping people see visual content differently.

I'm already thinking about the next talk, the next audience, and the next opportunity to share these ideas.

Naturally I'd prefer to add a link to my LinkedIn Photo Skills for Your Business Page, but as we're on Facebook here, you can head over to https://www.facebook.com/PhotoSkillsForYourBusiness to learn more about the photo education services I offer, including 1:1 Workshops and Online Courses.

03/06/2026

It won’t be my first public speaking gig, but it just might be the most important!

For the last few months, I’ve been quietly putting together a 45-minute presentation for an audience of LinkedIn-curious professionals.

Marketers, Sales Teams, and Communications Experts from a wide variety of Danish businesses will all be in attendance, and I’m more than a little excited.

Latest figures show 99 people have signed up so far, so the organisers — LinkedSummit — have decided to put me on the main stage 😳

It’s a far cry from standing on stages with musicians, who you can always rely on for support when you screw up a guitar solo or sing a bum note — tomorrow it’s just me.

But I can promise you I am so ready, because I’ve been rehearsing daily all week, and now I just need to make sure I stay calm and talk slowly for my Danish audience.

When it’s over, I’ve promised myself a pint before I jump on the train home. Preparing for this event has been a long, careful process, and I’m hoping it’s the beginning of a new chapter in my photography career.

Wish me luck ☘️🤞

26/05/2026

Royal Run 2026, Helsingør – A masterclass in event photography and poor skincare decisions ☀️

Photojournalism rule #1:
Know where the light is coming from.

Photojournalism rule #2:
Sun cream is apparently also important.

Normally during Royal Run I’m bouncing between Amalienborg Slotsplads and Frederiksberg Allé with colleagues, cameras and general chaos all around me.

Yesterday in Helsingør, however, it was just me, my bike, and the small internal voice repeatedly reminding me that my SPF was still sitting in the car.

Thankfully the bike meant I could cover the entire 10km route — including a beautiful shaded stretch through the woods that seemed to improve morale for runners and photographers alike.

(The uphill section did the opposite.)

Later in the day, Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark arrived by boat in the kind of harsh sunlight photographers love to complain about while secretly enjoying the challenge.

Flash or no flash?
Backlight or blown highlights?
Natural light or tactical survival mode?

The answer was yes.

Days like this always remind me why I love photojournalism so much.

The pressure.
The unpredictability.
The constant split-second decisions.
The challenge of trying to capture moments as they happen — before they disappear again a second later.

Oddly enough, it helps me sleep at night.

These are some of my favourite images from the day.☝️

25/05/2026

Royal Run 2026 - Helsingør

Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark arrived in style to in Helsingør today.

Against the backdrop of Hamlet’s castle , the Queen’s boat docked at the harbour, where she was greeted by hundreds of spectators and race participants.

After ringing the start bell for the 5km event, Her Majesty then took to the start line herself and ran a pretty fast pace.

It wasn’t the kind of Royal Run I’m used to (Copenhagen is my usual stomping ground each year), but there was no denying the excitement of being somewhere new, with the added anticipation of being unfamiliar with the route, layout of the area, and the schedule.

13/05/2026

Copenhagen Marathon 2026: City Hall and Runners Area.

For the last section of the race on Sunday I was positioned outside City Hall before heading back to the finish line.

In total I cycled no more than 20km that day, but finding a route through the city is challenging. Streets are blocked, crowds are filling the pavements, and the clock is against you. You don’t want to miss the masses as they run through your zone.

At City Hall I captured the noise and confusion from above street level. But by the time I took the elevator down again, it had reduced to more of a hum. It happens so quickly.

These are my last images from this event, but it’s only a few weeks until . See you there!

11/05/2026

Start line & Østerbro: CPH Marathon 26

In the beginning, there was the Big Bang.
Then not much happened for 13.8 billion years…
until the start line of the 2026 Copenhagen Marathon exploded through Østerbro yesterday morning.

Suddenly there were 24,000ish people voluntarily running 42 kilometres through Copenhagen while I stood there questioning whether I’d even walk that far for a free massage.

The start area has its own strange energy.
Nervous stretching.
Last-minute gels being consumed like leftover pizza.
People wearing running shoes that cost more than my first car.
And thousands of runners pretending they’re “just happy to be here” while secretly checking everyone else’s calves.

Meanwhile, Østerbro turned into absolute chaos in the best possible way:
music, cheering, confused tourists unaware there was a race on that day, and photographers repeatedly blocking the view of families and friends of the participants (sorry about that).

A huge congratulations to everyone who ran, though.
I photographed the beginning of your suffering with great admiration.

And finally: I had a good night’s sleep last night, thanks to all who showed their concern.

Adresse

Vesterbrogade 20B
Copenhagen
1620

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https://www.photographybymatthewjames.com/about

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