John Todd, a veteran sports photographer, has spent three decades capturing the pulse of soccer across continents.
His lens first focused on the nascent MLS when the league arrived in San Jose in 1996, a moment that marked the beginning of a prolific career.
Early Foundations
Teaming up with his wife, Annette Shelby, Todd co‑owned ISI Photos, a repository that would become the most comprehensive archive of American soccer imagery.
The duo’s database grew to include thousands of images from the National Women’s Soccer League, the now‑defunct Women’s United Soccer Association and the short‑lived Women’s Professional Soccer circuit.
World Cup Footprint
Todd’s international credentials include coverage of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, where his photographs helped shape global narratives about the tournament’s emerging stars.
Four years earlier, he worked alongside the Brazilian beer brand Brahma during the 1994 World Cup, blending cultural storytelling with sports documentation.
Domestic Milestones
Closer to home, Todd served as the official team photographer for the San Jose Earthquakes, chronicling the club’s triumphs and its role in the Bay Area’s soccer renaissance.
His work has also appeared in landmark publications such as Time Magazine, The New York Times and Sports Illustrated, bringing the drama of the pitch into living rooms worldwide.
Legacy and Influence
Beyond individual assignments, Todd’s archive serves as a historical ledger for a sport that has evolved from niche to mainstream in the United States.
Fans and scholars alike reference his images when tracing the trajectory of American soccer, from the early days of MLS to the rise of global superstars who now grace the field.
Colleagues such as Brett Whitesell have praised Todd’s ability to blend technical precision with narrative depth, a skill that has earned him respect across continents.
As the sport continues to expand, Todd remains a pivotal figure, his photographs acting as both testimony and inspiration for the next generation of players and photographers.