Chelmsford teen football photographer ‘living the dream’ at Bernabeu

From taking photos of grassroots football matches up to Champions League games - all by the age of 18 - Tiego Grenho says he is "living the dream".

The teenager from Chelmsford started taking photos of lower league football in 2023, before becoming Chelmsford City's club photographer for the 2025-26 season.

Now he has started taking photos of Premier League and European matches, including Arsenal's recent away fixture against Bayern Munich.

"I just want to be everywhere, every single day if it's possible," he told the BBC.

Grenho started work with a photography agency aged 17 which was something he says came with challenges, given his age.

"Many of these stadiums don't allow anyone under 18 to work in those environments, so I had to be restricted," he told BBC Essex's James Patient.

But his work began to speak for itself. Just three days after his 18th birthday, he won the sports category at the East Anglian Photography Awards, with his photo of Southend United players crestfallen as their opponents Oldham Athletic celebrated promotion back to the Football League at Wembley Stadium in June 2025.

"I think that picture really summarised what can happen in the sport - you could be winning for the entire game and then in the last minute it all turns around," he said.

Grenho says he is grateful to his family for being able to afford his camera equipment, especially his father and fellow photographer Antonio.

"Without him, probably I wouldn't be where I am right now," he said.

Antonio said it was "impossible not to be proud" of his son.

"For me, this journey has been… more than photography, it's been about watching my son discovering what he loves and, most importantly, having the courage to follow," he told the BBC.

His son said: "I'm already living the dream. It's just keeping it really consistent and if I can do it every day, perfect."

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