Sports photographer Philipp Reinhard discusses the fascination of the Winter Games

Can you briefly introduce yourself and explain what you will be doing at the Olympic Winter Games in Italy?

My name is Philipp Reinhard, I am 35 years old and have been a freelance photographer and filmmaker for about ten years. The Olympic Games are my fourth Games. I work mostly in sports, advertising and events, accompanying teams and athletes long term, creating portraits, films and documentaries. I have worked with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim for ten years as team photographer and with the German national football team at European and World Championships since 2017.

What fascinates you as a photographer about the Olympic Games?

The Games are always in a new place, with new surroundings and diverse sports. That variety makes it exciting. Unlike single‑sport assignments, here I work with many athletes across disciplines and adapt constantly. It is challenging but thrilling to get the best images from unpredictable conditions. Even after four editions, I still look forward to it. It is intense work with long days, little sleep and always trying not to repeat myself.

Are there specific challenges at the Winter Games? How is it to shoot in ice and snow?

Sun and snow can look great in images, but cold, wind and rain make working all day outdoors very tough. At past Games in Beijing it got down to minus 30 degrees and no clothing keeps you completely warm. Many disciplines are very fast, so capturing meaningful images in split seconds and finding perspectives that stand out is a core challenge.

You will shoot a lot of photos over several weeks. What makes a successful sports photo for you?

For me a great photo is not just about technical perfection. It is about telling a story and conveying emotion. Imperfections can add to the feel of an image. Composition, light and colour help but the moment itself matters most. Leaving room for chance and experimenting often leads to interesting results.

At the Olympics milliseconds and millimetres decide outcomes. What moments stand out for you? What is your One Moment?

There is no single moment I can define yet. I feel deeply with athletes and their successes and setbacks, and often the special moments only become clear afterwards. For example in Tokyo when Alexander Zverev won gold in an empty stadium, the combination of emotion, environment and perspective created a unique image.

At major sporting events historic moments arise. In that context how do you like to present your work and what do you pay attention to when printing?

Sport photos benefit greatly from quality framing and passe‑partout. True colours and high grade materials are essential. Fine art paper like Baryta or Photo Rag gives depth, and non‑reflective glass enhances the viewing experience. It is important that the print looks as I envisioned it from screen to physical piece.

Do you have a favorite product?

Lately I like using smaller images with large passe‑partouts in black natural wood frames with visible grain and non‑reflective glass. A slightly beige passe‑partout works well with black and white or snowy photos, and testing combinations in the WhiteWall configurator works great.

What do you value most about WhiteWall?

What I appreciate most is the professional standard that matches my own. When I choose to print, it is always special. The complete workflow from upload to delivery is smooth, and the quality of frames and prints exceeds expectations. You can feel the care in every detail.

When you are not photographing the Olympic Games what else do you do professionally and who are your clients?

My clients include organisations such as the German Football Association, the German Olympic Sports Confederation and brands like Mercedes, Porsche, Adidas, Nike, Puma and Leica. I work on national team shoots, studio campaigns and documentaries with athletes across basketball and football, in Germany and internationally.