The cameras rolled, capturing the candid and sometimes cringe-worthy moments behind the scenes of football's official World Cup photo shoot. With 1,248 players and 48 managers posing for their portraits, the result is a visually stunning collection that showcases the personalities and public personas of the tournament's stars. Lionel Messi presents a rigid posture, while Spain's Marc Cucurella whips his hair into a frenzy - it's like getting a glimpse behind the curtain at the world's biggest sporting spectacle.
The logistical operation, overseen by Getty Images on behalf of FIFA, involved photographing every single player and manager in recent weeks. The resulting collection is a broad spectrum of expressions and poses, each carefully curated to convey a particular image. And it's not just the portraits themselves that make for fascinating viewing - the behind-the-scenes shots shared by Getty give a glimpse into the intricate mechanics of these shoots and the off-camera demeanour of some participants.
To manage the sheer volume of subjects, two photographers were assigned to each team, enabling the rapid rotation of players and managers between opposing sets. The lighting setups were kept straightforward, with large studio strobes and softboxes creating a flattering light for the subject's body. But it was the special lens filters that added an extra layer of creativity, producing vivid images with unique blurring and kaleidoscopic effects - just look at Messi's portrait to see what we mean.
Tom Jenkins, sports photographer for The Guardian, highlighted the demanding nature of these shoots. "You've only got a few minutes with each player," he explained, "so you need to think on your feet to capture a range of shots from traditional 'school photo' styles to more emotive and fun poses." And it's not just the photographers who are under pressure - many players arrive with pre-conceived poses or goal celebrations, reflecting their heightened awareness of personal branding in the age of social media. Jenkins noted that players like Eberechi Eze (Burberry) and Declan Rice (L'Oreal) are increasingly comfortable in front of the camera due to prior experience with major brands.
But even the most image-savvy players can't help but raise a smile when they see their portraits. England's Declan Rice is sporting a rather fetching sunburn, while Anthony Gordon looks uncannily like Princess Diana - and Dean Henderson's 'disturbing side-eye' has become the stuff of legend. However, it's the more creative images that really showcase what photographers can achieve even when players themselves might lack a natural 'spark'. Take Jude Bellingham's portrait, for example - it's a masterclass in capturing personality.
And then there's Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay's manager, who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else. Shot by Michael Regan, his portrait captures his reluctance to engage with the process, looking down at his feet rather than at the camera - it's a refreshingly honest moment that shows even the most powerful figures in football can be human too.