Editorial running for sports apparel brands
This is a personal project shot with athlete Vuvu Radebe across two of Cape Town's most recognisable running locations — Signal Hill at sunrise for road running, and Lion's Head trails for the climb. Featured product: Versus apparel and an Aonijie running vest. Neither shoot was commissioned; both were planned to demonstrate the kind of editorial running content I create for sports apparel brands.
Cape Town is one of the best running locations in the world for content — sea-level coastal road, trails climbing 600 metres above the city, and consistent golden-hour light from late afternoon to sunrise. For a brand campaign, that variety is what allows a single shoot day to deliver coastal road, urban, and trail content without the logistics of multiple cities.
The frames below are from a single shoot day, split between an early sunrise trail session and a road session in the same morning. Gallery is curated; full delivery for a campaign of this size would typically be 50+ edited stills plus motion.
Shooting a model who's also a real runner makes the difference between editorial that looks staged and editorial that looks lived-in. Vuvu's pace, form, and breathing read on camera — the frames don't need posing prompts because the running is real.
If you're a sports apparel brand evaluating campaign photographers in Cape Town — or a brand-side marketing manager planning a Cape Town shoot from outside South Africa — the sports photography page covers how I work and what full campaign coverage includes.
Athlete: Vuvu Radebe / @vuvuradebebio
Featured product: Versus apparel, Aonijie running vest
Locations: Signal Hill, Lion's Head, Cape Town
Photography: Marko Haas / @its_mhvisuals / @mh.sportphotos
Book Your Running Shoot — Sports Photographer Cape Town
I shoot clean, editorial running images in natural light across Cape Town. Simple direction, relaxed vibe, strong movement.
Shooting style: Editorial, natural-light running photos with clean color and real movement—timeless, not trendy.
How I shoot: Quick brief, short pace sets, and clear direction to hit the best light and capture sharp action plus creative motion.
What you get: 50+ edited high-res JPEGs (action, portraits, details) delivered fast with straightforward usage rights.
Pricing: Sessions start at R3,000 for ~1.5 hours on location, with optional add-ons (extra locations/permits, stylist, vertical video).
How I work sport shoots
I shoot sport content as a single operator — photo and video from the same person, same edit. For sports apparel campaigns specifically, that means consistent visual language across stills and motion, faster turnaround for time-sensitive launches, and a smaller crew on a sometimes-tricky location like Lion's Head at sunrise.
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Single operator: photo and video from the same person, same edit
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Editorial running style — natural light, real movement, no over-staged posing
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Cape Town location knowledge — light, wind, access permits, and timing
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Comfortable shooting working athletes (not models pretending to run)
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Full edited gallery within 7 days, 60–90s highlight reel within 7–14 days
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Worldwide unlimited-duration usage licence included
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International apparel brands: I produce locally, deliver remotely, invoice in EUR
More about how I work:
Brands I Worked For
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SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY FAQs
What's the best season for a sports campaign shoot in Cape Town?
Late summer through autumn (March–May) gives the most reliable conditions — long golden hours, less wind than midwinter, comfortable temperatures for athletes. Winter (June–August) works well for moody, dramatic light if the weather cooperates. I plan around forecast conditions and have backup locations in case of wind or rain.
Can you shoot road, trail, and beach in one campaign?
Yes. Cape Town's geography — coastal road, urban environments, mountain trails, and beaches all within a 30-minute drive — is one of the reasons it's a strong campaign location. A two-day shoot can comfortably cover three to four distinct visual environments with one athlete and one crew.
Do you handle permits and location logistics?
Yes — many of the brands I work with are based in Europe. I produce locally, deliver remotely via Dropbox, and can invoice in EUR. Originally German, based in Cape Town since 2022, comfortable working with international production calendars
Do you provide athletes for shoots?
Yes. I work with a network of Cape Town athletes — runners, kitesurfers, cyclists, fitness models — who can be cast based on the brand's brief. For larger campaigns I coordinate with talent agencies. Vuvu Radebe (this shoot) is one example of a Cape Town runner I've worked with.
What's included in a sports campaign delivery?
A typical apparel brand campaign delivery: 50+ edited high-res stills (action, portraits, product detail, lifestyle), one 60–90 second highlight video, 3–5 short-form social cuts, full commercial usage rights worldwide. Specific scope depends on the brief and is quoted upfront.
Do you handle permits and location logistics?
Yes. Lion's Head, Table Mountain, and beach locations have varying permit requirements depending on commercial use and crew size. I handle the SANParks permit process, location scouting, and access logistics. Lead time for permits is typically 7–14 days.
More on sports photography in Cape Town
Trail running photographer in Cape Town
Cape Town has a real claim to being the best city in the world for trail running content. Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Table Mountain, the Constantiaberg trails — all within 30 minutes of the city centre, with consistent light through autumn and a runnable climate year-round. Locations like the ones in this gallery are why international apparel brands shoot in Cape Town instead of European cities for autumn-winter campaigns.
If you're a sports apparel brand planning a campaign — or an athlete looking for editorial sports content — the sports photography page covers full scope and how I work. International production briefs welcome.