The reactions $gamma p rightarrow K^{+}Sigma^{pm}pi^{mp}$ were studied with the SAPHIR detector using a tagged photon beam at the electron stretcher facility ELSA in Bonn. The decays $Sigma^{-} rightarrow npi^{-}$ and $Sigma^{+} rightarrow npi^{+}, p
pi^0$ were fully reconstructed. Reaction cross sections were measured as a function of the photon energy from threshold up to $2.6,$GeV with considerably improved statistics compared to a previous bubble chamber measurement. The cross sections rise monotonously with increasing photon energy. The two-particle mass distributions of $Sigma^{pm}pi^{mp}$ and $K^+pi^-$ show substantial production of resonant states.
