Women in sport: breaking into the boys’ club

Auckland sports photographer Hannah Peters is always mindful of the bigger picture in her competitive job, reports Olivia Caldwell.

SPORTS photographer Hannah Peters has been a part of the ‘‘boys’ club’’ for 17 years and remains the lone female in this space.

Growing up in Auckland, Peters was always into sport and by chance stumbled across photography in her senior years at high school, pouring her heart into it, and is now one of New Zealand’s best-known sports’ photographers.

At 32 she is now balancing her work with motherhood, which she says has its challenges in a job that requires working around the clock and, at times, around the world.

Peters took her first role at Getty Images in 2001 and admits breaking into what has traditionally been a boys’ club was difficult, and still has its challenges. personally. You’ve got to trust yourself and know that you are good enough, so it doesn’t affect me much.’’

Peters says it helps that she is often requested for jobs from different organisations and that her predominantly male colleagues are all young-minded and fun to be around.

Peters is the only female specialist in sports photography at Getty and one of two female sports’ photographers nationwide.

Becoming amother 18 months ago has changed her perspective.

‘‘It’s a change for anyone who has had kids, but for me travelling on the job, it has probably made me more productive to be honest.’’

Both her and husband Harley Peters, who is a cameraman himself, went to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast last month. Peters said