School of Arts and Media graduate, Simon Stacpoole, chose our Photography degree course because of its balance between practical and theory-based study. He was also attracted to the community feel of our main Preston Campus.
After graduating, Simon set his sights on photographing sports events and built up his portfolio shooting local water polo, Sunday league football, hockey, rugby and lacrosse games. After contacting several newspapers, photo agencies and PR firms, Simon was offered some photography shifts and he began covering small PR events and met more influential figures within the industry.
Simon worked for a sports agency before joining the London-based agency Offside, who he continues to work for as a freelance photographer specialising in sport for clients around the world. Most of Simon’s work is football but he also photographs portraits, PR events and the occasional wedding.
Simon has shot a whole host of high-profile sporting events during his career, including three FIFA World Cup Finals. However, his major highlight so far was photographing the famous athlete, Usain Bolt, winning the 100 Metre Final at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
"I loved my time at UCLan. The course taught me a range of skills and it enabled me to gain more confidence in the rather daunting freelance world. I met my future wife there as well as some great friends both on my course and through the University and local hockey clubs where I was a member. The social side of University enabled me to forge friendships I still hold very dear to this day,"
Amongst his achievements to date, Simon has won two awards, 2014 Picture Editors’ Guild Sports Photographer of the Year and 2017 Vauxhall Football Wales Picture of the Year. He has also been shortlisted for awards including SJA Young Sports Photographer of the Year, Barclays Shot of the Season, SJA Sports Picture of the Year and SJA Specialist Sports Portfolio.