Seattle-based photographer, filmmaker and creative director Reza Malayeri (@rmalayeri) specializes in hybrid photo and video storytelling. He regularly covers professional sports, music and commercial productions, and is passionate about using Sony’s latest technologies to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.
A recent assignment took him to the Leagues Cup Final to document the fast-action soccer competition. “The 2025 Leagues Cup Final was one of the biggest sports moments in Seattle history,” he explains. “The Seattle Sounders were facing Inter Miami and Lionel Messi at home, and my task was to capture everything from decisive plays, to emotional celebrations and everything in between. For a game this fast-paced and high-stakes, I needed a powerful Sony Alpha kit designed for speed, precision, and versatility.” Keep reading as he shares what he had in his bag for the exciting event.
Shop This Kit:
Cameras: Alpha 1 II, Alpha 9 III, FX2
Lenses: 28–70mm f/2 G Master, 50–150mm f/2 G Master, 300mm f/2.8 G Master
Cameras
Alpha 1 II (Buy Now): My primary body. Its high frame rate, high resolution, and pre-capture capabilities ensured that I caught critical moments, even before fully pressing the shutter.
In the photo below, Osaze De Rosario capitalized on a pinpoint cross from Alex Roldán, sending the ball into the net to give Seattle the early lead. Using my Alpha 1 II with pre-capture enabled, I captured the full sequence from the cross in flight, to the moment De Rosario struck the opening goal, giving me multiple decisive images.
De Rosario’s Opener. Photo by Reza Malayeri. Alpha 1 II. 50-150mm f/2 G Master.
Alpha 9 III (Buy Now): My go-to body for the fastest sequences. The global shutter sensor eliminated any distortion and banding, making it perfect for tracking quick plays, and shooting the big LED signage in the stadium.
See in the photo below, Inter Miami’s best chances came from Lionel Messi, who missed a shot, and Tadeo Allende, who missed a golden opportunity with only the goalkeeper to beat. Using the Alpha 9 III and 300mm f/2.8 G Master, I tracked the plays without distortion thanks to the global shutter. The 120 fps burst rate captured every expression of frustration and intensity as the chances slipped away.
Missed Opportunities from Messi & Allende. Photo by Reza Malayeri. Alpha 9 III. 300mm f/2.8 G Master.
FX2 (Buy Now): I love using this cinema camera for cinematic hybrid storytelling. It's perfect for sideline footage, crowd reactions, and situations where I need a video first camera that also excels at photography.
The photo below shows the moment the Sounders raised the Leagues Cup trophy, players and fans erupted in celebration, with confetti flying and pure emotion everywhere. This was the FX2’s moment. With cinematic video and wide-angle storytelling, I was able to easily capture the joy on the pitch.
Trophy & Award Celebrations. Photo by Reza Malayeri. FX2. 28-70mm f/2.8 G Master.
Lenses
28–70mm f/2 G Master (Buy Now): My versatile standard zoom. It’s tack sharp and has beautiful separation and bokeh at f/2.
Photo by Reza Malayeri. FX2. 28-70mm f/2.8 G Master.
50–150mm f/2 G Master (Buy Now): My favorite lens for low light and midfield action, giving me the perfect combination of speed and reach.
Photo by Reza Malayeri. Alpha 1 II. 50-150mm f/2 G Master.
300mm f/2.8 G Master (Buy Now): My favorite long telephoto lens; compact enough to move quickly, yet powerful enough to isolate players across the pitch, especially when paired with my Sony 1.4 or 2x teleconverters.
Photo by Reza Malayeri. Alpha 9 III. 300mm f/2.8 G Master.
Accessories
iFootage Cobra Strike Monopod: Essential for stability when tracking players at 300mm.
Extra Batteries & Sony Tough CFexpress Type A Cards: With the volume of high-speed bursts that I was shooting, I burned through batteries and media quickly.
Holdfast Money Maker Triple Camera Harness: Switching between bodies quickly was a non-negotiable requirement for this match, and my Holdfast harness kept my transitions as fast as the gameplay.
See more of Reza Malayeri’s work on Instagram @rmalayeri and at rmalayeri.com.
