Event photography

[IndyJeff]

I got an idea, the skatepark that I have been frequenting is going to be having competetions this summer. I am thinking about shooting the event and then posting the images on a website. Thing is, I would like to post them on a website where I could have a URL in advance and hand out cards to the participants. They could get home and look at the images on the net and then, if they are so inclined, purchase copies.
Now I know I could do this with my own website but, I would rather find some site that will take and process the orders and then do all the shipping etc, for a percentage of the sale. All I would have to do is upload them. Aslo I want a site that when the images are displayed has a big PROOF across it.

Thanks.

Jeff

[Conk]

May not be a bad idea. I have a skate park 2 blocks from my house and have consider shooting there also. A lot of kids on bikes frequent the park also.
I have two websites that I considered selling photos from. Right now I need to get search engine submissions going.

[mson]

IndyJeff,

A little OT, in some of your other posts you have mentioned shooting at your local skate park. Do you just go out and start shooting or do you approach people and ask them if they mind you taking their picture?

[IndyJeff]

mson I just walk up and get off to one side and begin shooting. Usually tho I will stand and watch to see who is doing some stuff worth shooting and who is just riding around.
Yesterday with my new L lens I had a lot of the kids and one parent come up and ask who I was shooting for. I just said I got a new lens and was just checking it out. One parent asked if I could shoot some of her kid. I told her I would and then email her some to look at. I also expalined that if she were interested in buying some high res shots she could contact me and gave her a business card.
One of the kids, well he was 18, said he and 2 others were interested in getting into some serious competitions and asked what I would charge for some good action shots. First thing I did was hand him a business card, then told him it depended on what he was wanting. Came down to his buddies mom was looking for an agent to represent them and wanted some good photos for soliciting sponsors. I told him what I would do is give them 4 hours, 3 shooting and 1 editting and then put together a CD for $125.
I told him to give me a call next week and we could all sit down and go from there. My suggestion was to get tee-shirts with a logo, front and back, and show them prominately in the shots. This would give sponsors an idea of what they would be getting. I also said that I would retain all rights to the photos and if a sponsor wanted to use them for ad purposes I would deal directly with them to negotiate a deal. If they, the kids, want to buy the rights outright, it would be on a "per image basis" and he could figure on about $500 each.
May turn into something, who knows. One thing tho is if this kid, or his buddies mom is serious, it could turn into a good money maker and establish me there as the "go to guy" for your photo needs.

[IndyJeff]

Well I just got a second email from the mom of the skateboarder. I got one last night and emailed her 3 low res shots. This is her reply today


Jeff,
WOW what great shots. Josh wants to know if he can get a poster made of the one where he is coming up over the cone? How much would that cost? Remember I am a single mom. I have taken pictures of him before but yours are so much better than mine. Let me know how I can pay you and we can meet up.
Can Josh email the ones you sent to some of his friends?

Jenny

So I guess all in all it wasn't a bad day huh?

[Gibmeister]

Jeff,

Thanks for sharing this information and experience. At what resolution would you put these on a site to allow the people to look at without being able to just print them off themselves? Thanks.

Gib

[IndyJeff]

Gib so far I am finding that most sites that host like that post a thumbnail and when you click, it comes up a good shot but the print res would be very poor. If they wanted a 3x5 or 4x6 it may make a decent print but anything larger would look like crap.

I have an account with dotPhoto.com (http://www.dotPhoto.com) but, printroom.com (http://printroom.com/) has been recommended by some guys who shoot event photography and I like their site. Both places allow you to set your own prices. Printroom takes 13% commission and 3% for credit card plus printing costs. Still comes out to a pretty decent amount left over.
DotPhoto does basically the same type of hosting and I think they take 15% and 3% for credit card. The only thing I don't like about dotPhoto is they have their regular print prices all over the place for the customer to see.
I see this as a viable way to deliver the final product and the simplest way for me. No having to meet with someone to show them the product. Everything I have gotten from dotPhoto in the past has been as good as any film enlargements I have ever done. No delivery concerns. No collecting money from the public.
I got some time to think it thru and may even do it on both sites, they both look easy to do.

[IndyJeff]

Went over again today. Was supposed to meet with this bike guy and do some shots for display. Well what can you expect from a 20 year old with an arm full of tattoos? He didn't show but, I did get to talking to one boarder that was there and he told me who to talk to about shooting the competitions they have there.
As luck would have it, she and her head grounds guy were right next door at the BMX track. I put the camera back in the car and went over to chat with them, business card in hand.
I introduced myself and asked if they have anybody shooting the competitions. She said no and I asked if she would be interested in having someone do it. About as quick as any human could respond she said, "we can't pay anything but, we would love to have someone do it."
So here is what we worked out......I will shoot the competitions. I will then post the photos on my website where the participants can log on and purchase prints. I keep all the money and in return for access, I will provide the skate park with photos for their website, at no cost to them.
Then the best line of the day came when her grounds guy said they saw me shooting and she wondered what I was doing. He said "I don't know but by the look of that lens, he is either a pro or he has spent a bunch of money on an expensive hobby." LOL I guess when they see the white lens body everyone thinks PRO!!!

I will keep you guys updated as to how it goes and maybe you can set something up with a skate park near you. Nothing happens until June so I got plenty of time to prepare.

p.s. Anybody done any event shooting that might be able to give me a heads up on some bugs to look out for?

[IndyJeff]

Oh almost forgot, here is a link to the site I am setting up. Only 3 shots there now but, it was just for test purposes.

This is a test, only a test (http://printroom.com/pro/indysportphotos)

[mson]

Congrats Indy! It sounds like it could turn into a good opportunity for you.

[PhotosGuy]

Good luck! Keep us updated on your progress.

[G3]

Cool deal! That's the way you do it! Good luck...it sounds like that has some potential.