Trackday Photogs......advice appreciated!!

[fortisi876]

Hello all!

Im interested in starting up a part time photography business, specifically for trackday/roadracing events. I have a few more yrs before I can make a full time effort so in the meanwhile Id like to take on some work part time to 'hone in' on my amateurish skills.

A trackday friend of mine has started a new business/program involving Mini Roadracing/SM bikes on karting tracks for younger folk (5-15yo) to explore their racing ambitions. After speaking to him, he's interested in me covering the events.

Being new to the business side of this, I was hoping you experience folks can give me some pointers/advice on pricing, selling points, etc.....????


ANY thoughts really would be appreciated!

[old git]

Hi

I started covering MX tracks, I now cover two tracks on a regular basis & cover a Club's Race Meets during the season. We have a large van that has been converted to carry my sons race bikes at the rear, the centre area is kitted out to carry two laptops & three printers, two px700 & r1900.

How we work, we cover the mornings sessions, download & print contacts at lunch, & sell all afternoon. Obviously all photo's from the day are then uploade to our site (watermarked), so a few further sales are made during the week.

I do the days on my own, my lad helps out giving out cards, but other then that one person can do it.

I know a few others that do this, but without the onsite printing thier sales are well down. Here's what we do, have a look, might give you a few ideas

http://www.imagemx.webs.com/

Hope this helps

[fortisi876]

It does help....THANK YOU for sharing.

I wish I could offer to sell prints onsite but truth is I dont have the funds to invest in that sort of set-up, I have the equipment but no way to transport it or set it up really. Maybe I'll consider taking my laptop and offer selling CD's.....:confused:

I have a question for you after overlooking your site, on your internet sales, do you send them full rez or lower?



Anyhow that's why I started this thread to get some ideas. Thnx again!

[old git]

CD's are ok, not a big seller, mainly down to price, but have sold a few more then normal this yea., Do they have any office area you could use? even a hut as long as you can keep the dirt down. Unfortunately 10% of my sales come through my site, 90% on the day.....

Saw one bloke, doing them from the back of his car.

[fortisi876]

Ya know, that hasnt even crossed my mind.......Im gonna give the facilty a ring and ask if it is at all possible to get some office space.

TY!

[imager993]

Instead of typing a bunch of stuff on here, I'll point you to an interview that PhotoShelter recently did of me. I've got all sorts of things in there. I sell 100% online with PhotoShelter.

PhotoShelter Interview (http://blog.photoshelter.com/corp/2009/02/my-nose-your-business-talking-2.html)


.

[fortisi876]

Thnx for the link will read in the am.


So I called the track facility and asked about selling prints on the premises, they were going to refer me to the vendor manager, iirc, they actually charge their regular daily vendors fee which is in the ballpark of $250. Gonna have to pass on that feature cuz quite frankly I dont even know if I'll make that much in sales.

Is this normal practice?

[DennisW1]

Thnx for the link will read in the am.


So I called the track facility and asked about selling prints on the premises, they were going to refer me to the vendor manager, iirc, they actually charge their regular daily vendors fee which is in the ballpark of $250. Gonna have to pass on that feature cuz quite frankly I dont even know if I'll make that much in sales.

Is this normal practice?

Yes it is. If you're selling online and off the premises you won't have this problem. If you're setting up shop on their track property then you're considered a vendor, just like the guys selling anything else on a race weekend.

If you think $250 is high, checking their website I found Road America's 2009 Vendor price list runs from $500 for a SCCA Club racing weekend to $1100 for the AMA Superbike weekend, $750 for the SCCA June Sprints, $1700 for the Vintage weekend and the ALMS/World Challenge weekend, to $1500 for the SCCA Runoffs. The Vintage weekend price includes a tent. (woohoo!)

They had the following addendum to the price list
"....includes maximum of 4 daily passes and 1 car pass. Corporate discount will apply to additional passes. Tents, tables, chairs, electricity and fencing are available at additional charge. No shared spaces...."

Road America Vendors Price List (http://roadamerica.com/hospitality_vendors.htm)

[fortisi876]

Thnx for your post Dennis!

If you dont mind can you clear something up for me?

I completely agree with your post and the fact they charge photographers for selling prints for the events mentioned in your post BUT :D.......Im specifically speaking of trackday clubs/orgs.

IMHO, there is a huge difference in selling prints to participants of a trackday event (usually a 100 at most) than to fans who show up for a 'featured event' like the AMA, ROLEX, SCCA, etc.....

And you might be right about NJMP's vendor fee being on the low side, Im probably wrong about that figure.

Thnx again for sharing.

[imager993]

It all depends on what you can work out with the track day club/org. I have a deal worked out with the group I shoot for. It is all about building up that relationship with them and I used to drive a lot so I already knew the main guy pretty well.

On top of anything that the organization charges, some tracks charge a vendor fee as well. Two of the four tracks I could shoot at charge me a vendor fee of per weekend ($300) and the other two don't. Even though I don't sell anything on site, I am still making money off of events at their track, so they want me to pay. I only shoot the events at the tracks that don't charge me any extra.

[old git]

Wow guys, you do have it hard in the US, i get charged £35, includes ad in race programme, practise days I dont pay as i'm advertising the facility.

[fortisi876]

TY imager!

And yes OG, here in the US everyone wants their cut. LOL!

[old git]

it might be muddy, but i think i'll stay over here..

[fortisi876]

PhotoShelter Interview (http://blog.photoshelter.com/corp/2009/02/my-nose-your-business-talking-2.html) I FINALLY got around to reading this article today, excellant read and pretty much nails what Im hoping to do this season.

Just in case someone in my shoes finds this thread in the future, definitely read the article in the above link.

Thnx again imager!

[WRCfan]

Yeah that article is brilliant. A must read!

Thanks imager!

[imager993]

Thanks guys, I thought it was pretty cool when they approached me about the interview. Glad you found some useful information in there.

Aaron

[fortisi876]

Hey guys, hope you dont mind but I have another question.



I reached out to a racing organization regarding their policies on shooting one of their race events.
I was advised that technically they own the rights of all images taken and in lieu of receiving permission to shoot their event, I could resell those images but anything requiring licensing (ie. magazine) would require their written approval. Also, any image they want to illustrate a story I would need to provide asap, I would receive a credit line for the image used.

I realize typically the reply would be 'credit lines dont pay the bills' but in this type of event (not pro) I believe the bulk of sales would be selling images to the racers themselves and they seem to be ok with that.


Is this sorta thing standard for this type of racing?

[OctanePics]

The article is great. Helped me with a lot of my question. I am selling by cd's but this I think will make it a lot easier.
Thanks for the information.
Jennifer

[jdmcelica]

Instead of typing a bunch of stuff on here, I'll point you to an interview that PhotoShelter recently did of me. I've got all sorts of things in there. I sell 100% online with PhotoShelter.

PhotoShelter Interview (http://blog.photoshelter.com/corp/2009/02/my-nose-your-business-talking-2.html)


.

great site!