About John Kelly Photos
John Kelly Photos is a race and event photography company based in Missouri. Since 2014 we have photographed endurance events in 40 states, from small local 5Ks to some of the largest races in the country, including The Louisiana Marathon, the Kansas City Marathon, Hospital Hill Run, The San Francisco Marathon, The Las Vegas Marathon, BolderBoulder, The Hot Chocolate Run and the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge.
Beyond road races, we cover obstacle and mud runs like Tough Mudder and Rugged Maniac, mountain and trail events like the Under Armour Mountain Racing Series, plus triathlons, bike races and fun runs. Whatever the size of your field, we plan the coverage to fit.
Since 2014Photographing races
40States photographed
220Photographers nationwide
85%Same-day galleries
Meet the Founder
John Kelly started John Kelly Photos after years of leading photography teams as an independent contractor for some of the largest races and race series in the United States. He has photographed events and series including the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, BolderBoulder, The San Francisco Marathon, The Hot Chocolate Run, The Las Vegas Marathon, Rugged Maniac, Tough Mudder and the Under Armour Mountain Racing Series.
On race day, John creates promotional images and coordinates photography teams on the ground. He is also a software engineer who builds and maintains EventPhotos IO, the bib tagging and photo distribution platform our clients use, along with the infrastructure that runs it.
Why John Started John Kelly Photos
After years of leading photography teams at some of the biggest races in the country, John kept seeing the same problem: race photography companies were hiring people who owned a camera, not professional photographers. The result was inconsistent coverage. One race might get fantastic photos and the next might get poor ones, and race directors never knew which they would get. John believed clients should know exactly what they are paying for.
He started John Kelly Photos to change that. He raised the hiring bar, set strict gear standards that require backup camera equipment, standardized shot styles and race-day logistics, and trained every team to shoot endurance events the right way. To keep the best photographers, he pays the highest hourly rates in the industry.
John also noticed that many photography companies claimed similar results but had no way to prove them. So he built EventPhotos IO, which gives every client transparent, quantitative metrics on how their event photography performed and holds our photographers to the same measurable standards.
Photographers Who Know Endurance Events
Over the years John Kelly Photos has built a team of about 220 photographers spread across 38 states, so we can cover events nationwide. Every one of them is a professional sports and race photographer with significant experience before joining our team.
We set the standards they shoot to. Every event is staffed with photographers who know how to work a crowded start, a fast finish line and a remote trail, and who carry backup gear so your photos are never at risk.
Our Own Photo Platform
Because the platform is built in-house, we can shape it to fit your event. Participants search their photos by bib number, location or time. You can brand your gallery, change watermarks at any time and sell photo sponsorships, even after photos are posted.
What Sets Us Apart
Our results come from experience, skill, equipment, policy and logistics, all working together.
- We own our platform. EventPhotos IO is built and run in-house by John Kelly Photos, so features get built around what events actually need.
- Experienced photographers only. All of our roughly 220 photographers are professional sports and race photographers who had significant experience before joining our team.
- Backup gear at every event. Every photographer carries redundant equipment so your photos are never at risk.
- Fast turnaround. Galleries go live the same day for 85% of our events.
- Real numbers. Clients see how their photos perform, not just a link to a gallery.
Our Values
- Quality over quantity. We would rather deliver great photos of every runner than thousands of forgettable ones.
- Participants come first. Every runner should be able to find great photos of their race, quickly and easily.
- Transparency with clients. You see how your photography performed, and we tell you plainly what we will deliver.
Let's Talk About Your Event
Tell us about your race and we'll send a plan for covering it, with sample photos and branding options. There's no commitment.
