Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
As the world gets ready for the biggest soccer tournament on the planet, we sit down with photographer Sam Robles to explore the deep connection between football and photography that has shaped his life and career.
From playing soccer in the streets of Brazil as a child to photographing some of the greatest players in the world, Sam shares the journey that took him from a passion for the game to becoming one of the sport's most respected visual storytellers, all while building a life and career in the United States.
In this conversation, Sam also discusses his latest book, a project that took him around the globe documenting children playing soccer in streets, neighborhoods, and communities across different cultures. Through these images, he captures the universal language of the game and the joy, hope, and connection that football inspires everywhere it is played.
This film was produced for Adorama as part of our kickoff to the World Cup in the USA.
Sam Robles is a self-taught photographer and director working worldwide, specializing in portrait, sports, fashion, and advertising photography. Based in Miami, he has built a career shooting top athletes and models across the globe, bringing a distinctive creative eye to both commercial and artistic projects. He previously served as Global Creative Director at The Players' Tribune, where his work earned a Webby Award for the sports series My Dream featuring Dani Alves. He is also the author of Football Roots: The Spirit of the Game. Today, he runs his own photography studio, continuing to create compelling visual work for clients around the world.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:06 Meet Sam Robles
00:25 The Mission Behind Football Roots
02:19 From Brazil to Miami
02:53 The Sony Mavica & Turning Pro
03:35 3 Camera Setups for Football Photography
03:50 First Camera Setup Breakdown
04:36 Second Camera Setup Breakdown
05:08 Third Camera Setup Breakdown
05:50 From Nonprofit Work to the Football Roots Book
07:27 Outro
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➥ youtube.com/user/adoramaTV
__________________________________
Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama! adorama.com/MyAccount/Login
🔷
Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: adorama.com/g/adorama-credit.
__________________________________
✘ Sam Robles' Gear:
Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera Kit
adorama.com/canon-eos-r5-mirrorless-camera-control-ring-adapter-128gb-bundle/p/car5a
Lowepro Whistler RL 400 AW II 40L Rugged Roller Backpack
adorama.com/lowepro-whistler-rl-400-aw-ii-roller-backpack-40l/p/lp37280grl
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM Lens
adorama.com/canon-rf-28-70-mm-f-2-l-usm-lens/p/car28702
Canon RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
adorama.com/canon-rf-400-mm-f-2-8-l-is-usm-lens/p/car40028
Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM Lens
adorama.com/canon-rf-135-mm-f-1-8-l-is-usm-lens/p/car13518
✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:
Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera
adorama.com/sony-a1-ii-mirrorless-camera-body-only/p/isoa1m2
Sony FE 28-70mm f/2 GM Lens
adorama.com/sony-fe-28-70-mm-f-2-gm-lens/p/iso2870gm
DJI Mic 3 2-Person Advanced Mini 2.4GHz Wireless Microphone
adorama.com/dji-mic-3-2-person-wireless-microphone-system-charging-case/p/djimic32
#SoccerPhotography #SportsPhotographer #adorama
__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏
➥ TikTok tiktok.com/@adoramanyc
➥ Facebook facebook.com/adorama
➥ Instagram instagram.com/adorama
➥ X https://x.com/adorama
➥ Discord adorama.com/discord
❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏
➥ Shop adorama.com
➥ Blog adorama.com/alc
➥ Adorama Events youtube.com/@AdoramaEvents
__________________________________
Discover more about photographer Sam Robles
instagram.com/samrobles
samrobles.com
__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
As the world gets ready for the biggest soccer tournament on the planet, we sit down with photographer Sam Robles to explore the deep connection between football and photography that has shaped his life and career.
From playing soccer in the streets of Brazil as a child to photographing some of the greatest players in the world, Sam shares the journey that took him from a passion for the game to becoming one of the sport's most respected visual storytellers, all while building a life and career in the United States.
In this conversation, Sam also discusses his latest book, a project that took him around the globe documenting children playing soccer in streets, neighborhoods, and communities across different cultures. Through these images, he captures the universal language of the game and the joy, hope, and connection that football inspires everywhere it is played.
This film was produced for Adorama as part of our kickoff to the World Cup in the USA.
Sam Robles is a self-taught photographer and director working worldwide, specializing in portrait, sports, fashion, and advertising photography. Based in Miami, he has built a career shooting top athletes and models across the globe, bringing a distinctive creative eye to both commercial and artistic projects. He previously served as Global Creative Director at The Players' Tribune, where his work earned a Webby Award for the sports series My Dream featuring Dani Alves. He is also the author of Football Roots: The Spirit of the Game. Today, he runs his own photography studio, continuing to create compelling visual work for clients around the world.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:06 Meet Sam Robles
00:25 The Mission Behind Football Roots
02:19 From Brazil to Miami
02:53 The Sony Mavica & Turning Pro
03:35 3 Camera Setups for Football Photography
03:50 First Camera Setup Breakdown
04:36 Second Camera Setup Breakdown
05:08 Third Camera Setup Breakdown
05:50 From Nonprofit Work to the Football Roots Book
07:27 Outro
SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY:
➥ youtube.com/user/adoramaTV
__________________________________
Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama! adorama.com/MyAccount/Login
🔷
Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: adorama.com/g/adorama-credit.
__________________________________
✘ Sam Robles' Gear:
Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera Kit
adorama.com/canon-eos-r5-mirrorless-camera-control-ring-adapter-128gb-bundle/p/car5a
Lowepro Whistler RL 400 AW II 40L Rugged Roller Backpack
adorama.com/lowepro-whistler-rl-400-aw-ii-roller-backpack-40l/p/lp37280grl
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM Lens
adorama.com/canon-rf-28-70-mm-f-2-l-usm-lens/p/car28702
Canon RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
adorama.com/canon-rf-400-mm-f-2-8-l-is-usm-lens/p/car40028
Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM Lens
adorama.com/canon-rf-135-mm-f-1-8-l-is-usm-lens/p/car13518
✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:
Sony a1 II Mirrorless Camera
adorama.com/sony-a1-ii-mirrorless-camera-body-only/p/isoa1m2
Sony FE 28-70mm f/2 GM Lens
adorama.com/sony-fe-28-70-mm-f-2-gm-lens/p/iso2870gm
DJI Mic 3 2-Person Advanced Mini 2.4GHz Wireless Microphone
adorama.com/dji-mic-3-2-person-wireless-microphone-system-charging-case/p/djimic32
#SoccerPhotography #SportsPhotographer #adorama
__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏
➥ TikTok tiktok.com/@adoramanyc
➥ Facebook facebook.com/adorama
➥ Instagram instagram.com/adorama
➥ X https://x.com/adorama
➥ Discord adorama.com/discord
❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏
➥ Shop adorama.com
➥ Blog adorama.com/alc
➥ Adorama Events youtube.com/@AdoramaEvents
__________________________________
Discover more about photographer Sam Robles
instagram.com/samrobles
samrobles.com
__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
