League Photos

[bcap]

Hello All

I am relatively new into slr photography but have always had an interest in it. I have been playing with my new Canon EOS Rebel XT and 2 lenses: Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 and Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lenses quite a bit over the last while.

I am quite comfortable using the camera in Manual mode and have learned almost all of the photography skills. Again, practice makes perfect, so I have been practicing shooting everything I possibly can, and I am comfortable to say that my skills have developed quite a bit. Check out a customers photos here at www.memoriesinmotionnf.ca/Mitch

Anyway - back to the original topic. I am looking at getting into some league photos for soccer next year. I know the photographer who does it this year and he lacks in quite a few areas - specifically organization, customers support and turn-around time. I am looking to bid against him at an upcomming meeting and I am comfortable in my own photography skills, but am looking to throw something new to the board.

Someothing that will wow them - someothing that will convince them that I am better than the other guy. I knwo league photos are restricting, but if anyone has any ideas/speeches/comments that may help me out, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

Thanks so much!

Bryan

[Travis F]

I can't offer any suggestions, but I would like to wish you well in your endeavour.

I just talked with my daughters' league president tonight regarding the same thing. He seems to be all for it at this point, but I have to send a sample portfolio and business plan before he will sign off on the idea.

Hope everything goes well for you,
Travis

[ssim]

Offer to donate a certain percentage back to the minor soccer league or some other worthy cause to your local community. Don't make this a gimmick to ensure you getting the contract (even if this is the underlying theme to it). You want them to know that you are a civic minded constituent. Make sure to only committ what you can afford and price accordingly.

Good luck

[rrpruett]

I would like to know what your business model is. Are you shooting everyone in the league or are you doing T&I photos or are you taking pictures and offering them for sale the next week? There are may different business models in youth sports photography and I have seen and used different ones.

What does your competition do and how is that working for them? You need to ask yourself a lot of questions and have good answers before just throwing something on the table. Also do you know how much time it is going to take to process the images and what are you going to offer as a final product. After you have answers to these and many more questions like this, you can build a business case and present it to the league and determine what will separate you from your competition. I know it is not just a matter of taking better pictures it is the entire business model that will make or break you. I can tell you in the end, most parents do not care if little Johnny is a little soft or if the background is not perfect. It’s a people business and selling yourself and your concept is key.

Good luck.

Rick