2022 Photo Contest: Krystina Brown

With 40.7% of the community vote, Krystina Brown was the winner of the ‘Growing the Game’ category in our 2022 Photo Contest. After her win, we sat down with Krystina to chat about her photography journey and everything that went into capturing the winning photo. From shooting concerts to transitioning to soccer and capturing the USWNT, it’s been a rewarding few years for Krystina. 

Let’s start all the way at the beginning. How did you first get into photography?

I actually started photography through music and concerts back in 2014. I was kind of frustrated with the job I had at the time, so I looked into starting up a new hobby. That’s how I got into photography, and I would literally just watch YouTube videos to learn and practice. I shot music for a few years, and I always say music photography is the hardest I’ve ever done because it’s very chaotic. But soccer photography is a different type of beast in its own right.

How did you get into shooting soccer?

One of the first soccer games I ever shot was a USWNT game back in 2017 at RFK Stadium. It was kind of a mess because I’d never been there before and no one could tell me where I was supposed to go as a photographer. But I made it on the field, and it was super cool being pitchside and shooting the players. I also really enjoyed watching the game, and it was very different from shooting music. Still, I didn’t shoot soccer again until 2021.

How did you start covering the Spirit?

I started talking to Rose Room Collective [Washington Spirit supporters’ group]. They brought up the idea of me shooting for them, and I was really excited to do that. Shooting all the games at Audi Field was so much fun. I got used to how all the players moved, so it got to the point where I knew what they were going to do and where to be. 

What’s your favorite memory from shooting the Spirit?

It was shooting one of their Challenge Cup games against OL Reign. I believe it was the quarterfinal, and it was a very close game. They went to penalties, and I thought they were going to be on my side for them. But I got it wrong, and I remember grabbing all of my gear and sprinting down to the other end of the field. I couldn’t get on the field, so I had to go through the sideline and cut through people. I made it, thankfully, and the Spirit won, so it was perfect.

Your winning photo was also at Audi Field, but this time it was the USWNT. Had you shot any National Team games between 2017 and 2022?

No, I hadn’t. It was a great game, but I also noticed that the diversity of the photographers was very different. In 2017, I remember being the only black woman shooting, and there were just a lot of older white guys with their cameras on the sidelines. I had been shooting music, and it was a very similar environment to that too. Last year was so much more diverse, though – all kinds of people. I remember thinking ‘Man, I love this.’ I love that the game is bringing in more people and more creativity. 

Speaking about that game, walk me through the moment you took the winning photograph.

I remember the field being really busy, and there were a ton of photographers. Everybody was just trying to get a good spot, and then the players finally came out with all the kids. Sofia was right in front of me, and we were just waiting. I noticed she bent down to tie one of the kid’s shoes, and I just thought, ‘This is a really cute moment, let me get a photo.’ I didn’t think much of it at the time. So much happened in that game that I kind of forgot it happened until I was going back and editing photos. I did a quick edit, and it ended up being one of my favorite photos from last year. I posted it on Twitter, and it got a bigger reaction than I could have imagined. Even Sofia commented about it, which I thought was super nice. 

I like capturing those small moments within the game. Not many people may have seen her tie the kid’s shoe, but that’s the great thing about soccer photography. Soccer is such a big game with so much going on, but I find it really special to be able to capture the details and smaller moments that people might not see at first glance. 

It’s been great to hear the different reactions that people have about your photograph. From your own perspective – as the person who snapped the photo – how do you feel when you see it?

Sofia is an excellent player, and seeing her do a small gesture like that for a small kid speaks volumes about how great these players are as people as well. I’m glad that photo shows that side of a player. It was a really sweet moment that shows what kind of person she is. Being able to show who the players are as humans is amazing, and I’m glad I got to capture that.

At this point, you’ve been doing photography for nine years. What’s some advice you might give others who are trying to get into photography?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s okay to be curious, and people in the space are always happy to help. Number two, I would say just shoot as much as possible. Being out there – at any level – will help you refine your skills and build your confidence. You might not be able to jump to the big things right from the start, but it’s important to just start and work your way up. There’s so much room to learn, and it’s important to practice, but you can also rely on other photographers or friends to give you feedback and advice. Most importantly, though, just have fun with it. 

Now that we’ve put a wrap to 2022, what are some goals you have for the year ahead?

That’s tough because I feel like last year was the best year I’ve shot soccer. I had a lot of great opportunities like shooting the NWSL Championship for the league in DC. That was huge, and I’m super thankful to have had that opportunity. This year, I want to continue to be as creative as I can and take advantage of opportunities that come my way, and not be afraid. Sometimes when a big opportunity comes my way, my first reaction is a little bit of fear and stress over whether I can handle it. So I have to get out of my head a little bit and keep building my confidence. 

I’m also just excited for the season to start. I want to get into film a little bit more, so that’s a new type of photography that I want to learn. There are a bunch of new things I want to try, and I also want to continue meeting other creatives and learning from them. It’s all about building off of last year.

You can see more of Krystina’s work here.