Sportsshooter.com

[liam5100]

Getting accepted to be a member of sportsshooter.com is a goal of mine, do you members or experts think being a published professional sports photographer would help? Or does it really matter?

Thanks.

[clarence]

You've got some nice images on your site. Although a lot of your text overlaps... like a double overlay.

Do you have and Div 1 or Pro events?

Instead of clicking through 100's (1000's?) of images in dozens of galleries, I think it'd be interesting if you presented your "Top 10" images a la sportsshooter.com

[DC Fan]

What helps most with Sports Shooter, (http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_index.html) of course, is to be sponsored by a photographer (http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1279) who is a senior member of the forum. That means you need to know - and be trusted - by someone who has some experience as a real-world working professional.

[liam5100]

What helps most with Sports Shooter, (http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_index.html) of course, is to be sponsored by a photographer (http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1279) who is a senior member of the forum. That means you need to know - and be trusted - by someone who has some experience as a real-world working professional.

Yeah, and I dont know any at all.

[liam5100]

You've got some nice images on your site. Although a lot of your text overlaps... like a double overlay.

Do you have and Div 1 or Pro events?

Instead of clicking through 100's (1000's?) of images in dozens of galleries, I think it'd be interesting if you presented your "Top 10" images a la sportsshooter.com

Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure about the site, It always seems to work fine on wide screen monitors, the only other person that said something like that to me was on their 15" square work monitor.

I appreciate the feedback, if you'd be so kind PM me and let me know what size monitor you looked at it on, I do the site myself, so any input is greatly appreciated.

[gromeo]

Bill, if you go to the SS web site, go into the members index and click on the state to sort by state this will list members in your area, you might have run into one of the members already at one of events you have covered. I met my sponsor at a football game and became friends with him. I ran into him a few more times at other events during the summer, but it was the next FB season (we both cover the same college) he mentioned that he saw some of my published works and invited me to join, he worked with me and my portfolio submission and gave good advice not on pictures I choose but on the captions for the images. Remember it does not have to be all sports photos, SS is a community for all working photogs.

Good Luck

[clarence]

I'm not sure about the site, It always seems to work fine on wide screen monitors, the only other person that said something like that to me was on their 15" square work monitor.

I appreciate the feedback, if you'd be so kind PM me and let me know what size monitor you looked at it on, I do the site myself, so any input is greatly appreciated.I have a 20" HP monitor at 1600x1200. Here's a screenshot...

[liam5100]

Thanks Clarence, I appreciate it. Not sure how to fix it, but I'll look into it. Your monitor has a square ratio, I think that has something to do with it. The two I have are 1900x1200 and 1680x1050

[DDCSD]

Works fine on my square 17 & 19" monitors. The 19" one is 1280x1024, not sure what the 17" one at home is set to. Both running firefox 3.

[Dan-o]

It is probably a browser issue.

[tomd]

I used to get a lot of that sort of problem, now I run some web sites in compatibility mode and they are fine. (Vista 64, explorer)

[Dan-o]

Yeah it sucks setting up a site and trying to get it running on all the different browsers.

[liam5100]

Guys, thanks a million for the feedback. But I'm more confused how to fix it now than ever. I checked with several other friends, square ratio and wide screen monitors and it seems to work on theirs as well.

Although I have heard this from people before, so I know it happens.

[MJPhotos24]

Yeah it sucks setting up a site and trying to get it running on all the different browsers.
True, I just found out part of my site doesn't work to well on FireFox. Luckily most use IE.

As for the original question about being published would help, it may or may not. They do allow learning students to sign up but you need to show a few things first. A) Image quality of course, being spread out and not just uploading 10 standard basketball shots - show you can shoot different sports and different type of images (sports scenes, action, portraits, whatever). B) AP quality captioning - "this is some 7th grader from a school taking a shot" is not good. Even if you make up the names you just show you can write them. C) Good bio that shows you want to be part of the community in a respectful manner and are there to learn and share what you've learned. However, even if all three are good be prepared for rejection as they reject a lot the first go around.

[namasste]

Bill, if you go to the SS web site, go into the members index and click on the state to sort by state this will list members in your area, you might have run into one of the members already at one of events you have covered. I met my sponsor at a football game and became friends with him. I ran into him a few more times at other events during the summer, but it was the next FB season (we both cover the same college) he mentioned that he saw some of my published works and invited me to join, he worked with me and my portfolio submission and gave good advice not on pictures I choose but on the captions for the images. Remember it does not have to be all sports photos, SS is a community for all working photogs.

Good Luck

excellent advice G. I'll add that solid caption writing is as important as good images. best of luck!

[Dan-o]

Luckily most use IE.

Actually it is pretty much dead even right now.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

I know that on my site using Google Analytics it is FF 48% and IE 45%.

[SoundsGood]

Although a lot of your text overlaps... like a double overlay.
Is your browser set to Zoom by "x" percent? Do you use No Squint with Firefox? Either of these would cause the text overlap problem.

By the way, what is the criteria to join SportsShooter.com?

[DC Fan]

By the way, what is the criteria to join SportsShooter.com?

The instructions are hidden at the link earlier in this thread: (http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1279) "New applicants will now require a `sponsor' -- the endorsement of an existing member in good standing...Being accepted as a member of SportsShooter.com is not supposed to be easy."

The idea behind that web site is that it's a gathering place for experienced, working professionals who are looking for assistance in handling the demands of daily deadline life. They're trying to stay away from less experienced people, such as the person from another thread in these forums who owned a $2,300 1D Mark II N and didn't know how to use it.

[gromeo]

A news letter from one of the founders of SS

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2097

[AdamLewis]

You dont need a sponsor.
You dont need to be published.
No, it wont help if you are.
I joined without a sponsor.
They let pretty much anyone on now-a-days.

Just do it.

Youll get accepted.

[MJPhotos24]

You dont need a sponsor.
You dont need to be published.
No, it wont help if you are.
I joined without a sponsor.
They let pretty much anyone on now-a-days.

Just do it.

Youll get accepted.
Ummm, not true and not exactly the image they try to portray as being an open door with no standards. 80% are still rejected on the first time around.

[primoz]

Ummm, not true and not exactly the image they try to portray as being an open door with no standards.
I agree it's not image they want to show, but following SS for quite some time, and being member for few years now, I somehow agree with Adam... quality is getting lower, and maybe they don't accept exactly everyone, but they still accept way too many, and more important way too many that have nothing to do with this business... at least for my taste.
PS: Yes I know, this is not place to complain about this, and I don't really complain now... it's just my opinion nothing more.

[AdamLewis]

Ummm, not true and not exactly the image they try to portray as being an open door with no standards. 80% are still rejected on the first time around.

What isnt true? Im not talking about what they try to portraty...
Im simply talking about what it takes to get in with regards to the OP's question.
Nothing I said is untrue.
The only thing Ill say I could be faulted for is overgeneralizing. Perhaps they dont let in "just about anyone", but the standards have become very lax.

I agree it's not image they want to show, but following SS for quite some time, and being member for few years now, I somehow agree with Adam... quality is getting lower, and maybe they don't accept exactly everyone, but they still accept way too many, and more important way too many that have nothing to do with this business... at least for my taste.
PS: Yes I know, this is not place to complain about this, and I don't really complain now... it's just my opinion nothing more.

I agree completely. And I, like you, am not complaining about it but am simply talking about it realistically. When I first wanted to join, I too thought it was this really prestigious thing that took years of work and a serious sponsor to get in. As it is now, that is simply not the case.

That being said, I still enjoy my membership and visit the site a couple times daily.

[MJPhotos24]

They definitely have gotten more lax, but the part of everyone as stated is still untrue. Seen plenty of shooters on there asking myself how they even got on there so do see the point. I got accepted the second time, but the first time I wrote a bio that should have gotten me denied - just wanted to make sure they were actually reading them and not random selection. From the email I got, oh they were! That was a few years ago though. They have rejected a few people I know of that should be rejected, so there's a little hope in there.

[liam5100]

As for the original question about being published would help, it may or may not.

I'm a working sports professional, I've been published more times than I can count, all the way from ESPN magazine to local papers.

[Sledhed]

I applied without a sponsor and was accepted on the first try. Also only a senior member can sponsor you.

[HuskiesD1]

Accepted the second try and after using an errant link.

My advice: Get your ten best images, caption them well, make SURE the editors can find the photos and submit. Mostly depends on your definition of best, but good luck.

[MJPhotos24]

I'm a working sports professional, I've been published more times than I can count, all the way from ESPN magazine to local papers.
Same here...though not ESPN yet - SI, yes - but ESPN I asked about payment and they never responded which I found very strange. Anyways, all I do is sports and make a living off it from major leagues to the local youth leagues. Doesn't matter though - SS wants you to match up on three levels - images, captions, and bio info., or at least used to.

I hope you didn't think I was insinuating you would not be accepted when I was talking about "everyone" as that was a general statement. If so, it was never meant to say that as I think image wise you would definitely be accepted easily...others haven't seen so can't judge.

I applied without a sponsor and was accepted on the first try. Also only a senior member can sponsor you.
Will you sponsor PG?

[SoundsGood]

...all I do is sports and make a living off it from major leagues to the local youth leagues.
Cool. Got any tips you can PM me with? I'd love to know how to go about selling a few pics to the parents of 5 year old kids. :)

/ end of off topic request. ;)

[Sledhed]

Will you sponsor PG?

Uhhh, NO!

[tomd]

What is "PG"?

[tomd]

post deleted: I found my own answer. :oops:

still looking for: What is "PG"?

[Dan-o]

I noticed that SS charges $25/year to be a member. Is that new? I don't recall seeing the fee in the past.

Maybe that is why there standards have went down.

[liam5100]

I hope you didn't think I was insinuating you would not be accepted when I was talking about "everyone" as that was a general statement.


No I didnt take it personal at all, I was just a little confused, like if you could prove you worked as a published pro, does that make it easier etc. I've been informed it really has nothing to do with it.

My only concern is captioning, I've never had to caption my shots. Most of my assignments are with a writer, thats their job, I just took the shots.

[DC Fan]

My only concern is captioning, I've never had to caption my shots. Most of my assignments are with a writer, thats their job, I just took the shots.

At most newspapers, captioning is the photographer's job, and an important one. The information you see in a newspaper photo caption came from the photographer, who needs to get the names of the people in the picture, the name of the location and the event. That work generally has to be done on the fly, from the front seat of a car, using a Macbook with a wireless internet link, and it has to be done quickly so the photographer can go to their next assignment.

In the real world of deadlines, captioning is as much a skill as photography.

[namasste]

At most newspapers, captioning is the photographer's job, and an important one. The information you see in a newspaper photo caption came from the photographer, who needs to get the names of the people in the picture, the name of the location and the event. That work generally has to be done on the fly, from the front seat of a car, using a Macbook with a wireless internet link, and it has to be done quickly so the photographer can go to their next assignment.

In the real world of deadlines, captioning is as much a skill as photography.yep, its a main reason the 1D series have a voice recorder. my advice to learn it would be to simply browse some portfolios from SS to see examples and emulate.

[MJPhotos24]

Cool. Got any tips you can PM me with? I'd love to know how to go about selling a few pics to the parents of 5 year old kids. :)

/ end of off topic request. ;)
The 5 year olds parents are the easy ones! It's all new to them and they usually are quick to buy - business section has the best advice on selling to them as heavily dependent on area and everything.


Uhhh, NO!
That guy can't catch a break...

still looking for: What is "PG"?
A reference to an individual...

Maybe that is why there standards have went down.
They've charged for as long as I remember...but then again never payed much attention before maybe '05 to the site.

No I didnt take it personal at all, I was just a little confused, like if you could prove you worked as a published pro, does that make it easier etc. I've been informed it really has nothing to do with it.

My only concern is captioning, I've never had to caption my shots. Most of my assignments are with a writer, thats their job, I just took the shots.
I would say it doesn't have anything to do with it just because there's so many out there that give there stuff away just to have it "published". Which is counter productive IMO, or least in my experiences.

Captioning is pretty simple, for stock stuff I use a basic caption that goes something like this (taken from a stock baseball photo). I have a pre-set data form to use with Photo Mechanic to tag and caption everything quick during/after games. Just throw in the name pretty much of the player and quick description of what's going on...

September 7 2008: Xavier Scruggs of the Batavia Muckdogs, Class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, celebrates winning the Pinckney Division after a game in the locker room at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, NY. Photo by: Mike Janes/Four Seam Images

yep, its a main reason the 1D series have a voice recorder. my advice to learn it would be to simply browse some portfolios from SS to see examples and emulate.
I use that thing all the time when shooting, especially if submitting to a paper and need to know exactly what was going on and write the caption for them. They edit it to make it fit but almost always identical.

[clarence]

...a game in the locker room...

:lol:

[AdamLewis]

:lol:
I got to admit, I would probably reword that caption a little bit too.
Captioning is easy though. Just make sure you name the player, the event, whats going on, and when it was.

[MJPhotos24]

:lol:
What, you never played poppin' tops in the locker room?

Darn dyslexia, I switched that - supposed to say "in the locker room after the game" though. Clients got the right caption, not that one.

[DDCSD]

Sword fight!!!