Getty Images and Major League Soccer have announced a multi-year extension of the 2004 agreement that names Getty the exclusive commercial photographic partner to the U.S. professional soccer league. Getty will cover more than 480 events per year, including the regular season, playoffs, MLS SuperDraft, MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup.
The Seattle company said that this agreement underscores its position as the leader in the sports photography business. Getty Images is the accredited photography service provider to over 50 international sports’ governing bodies, with company photographers covering events in 130 sports across the globe each year.
The work of Getty sports photographers is frequently recognized inside the photo industry. This month, for example, Getty shooters swept the sports category of the National Press Photographers Association’s annual Best Of Photojournalism competition. Getty’s AsiaPac photographer Quinn Rooney took home the title of Sports Photojournalist of the Year, with Getty colleagues Al Bello and Cameron Spencer taking second and third prizes. Europe-based Mark Dadswell also earned an honorable mention in the BOP sports action category.