Your Experiences with MaxPreps

[Chris Talley]

Last week I was shooting a high school baseball player with some high draft potential so I could have some stock in case any of my clients ask for him later. I was planning on only shooting him but I got bored and ended up shooting most of the game. I wasn't sure what to do with the rest of the photos so I joined MaxPreps and put them up there.

Has anyone had good sales from them or do the kids/parents just go and grab the watermarked images and live with those?

Thanks,
Chris

[BenJohnson]

I use SmugMug and I have seen a lot more of my watermarked images posted online than print or download sales...

[AdamLewis]

I use SmugMug and I have seen a lot more of my watermarked images posted online than print or download sales...

Get the better version so they cant right click and save...

[Chris Talley]

Get the better version so they cant right click and save...

Then they'll just do a screen capture and past it into a photo editor. The right click defense is only useful against people with little computer skills.

[MJPhotos24]

I do some stuff on MaxPreps and it just depends on several factors. You're supposed to be handing out flyers they send you to promote the site and drive traffic there as you would on any site. Of course it helps if the coaches use the site as well so check for a roster/coaches info to see if they do use it. Also use the school search to see how many kids from the school are signed up along with team and school galleries. MaxPreps is more popular out west than here. I know for the local team they always just use my site, the away teams though have had some orders through MaxPreps as they don't know about my site. Shooting games that are not local also have done OK on MaxPreps, however again you can't just shoot and do nothing - you need to promote.

Also, no matter where you put your images - your own site or smuggie or EM or MaxPreps they will always be able to grab it somehow. Only choice is don't put them on, but if you don't you get no sales. So it's a no win situation.

[Chris Talley]

I do some stuff on MaxPreps and it just depends on several factors. You're supposed to be handing out flyers they send you to promote the site and drive traffic there as you would on any site. Of course it helps if the coaches use the site as well so check for a roster/coaches info to see if they do use it. Also use the school search to see how many kids from the school are signed up along with team and school galleries. MaxPreps is more popular out west than here. I know for the local team they always just use my site, the away teams though have had some orders through MaxPreps as they don't know about my site. Shooting games that are not local also have done OK on MaxPreps, however again you can't just shoot and do nothing - you need to promote.

Also, no matter where you put your images - your own site or smuggie or EM or MaxPreps they will always be able to grab it somehow. Only choice is don't put them on, but if you don't you get no sales. So it's a no win situation.

Yeah, I wasn't out there to shoot for MaxPreps and signed up with them after the fact so I don't think I'll get too many sales from that game with them.

I guess for future high school games I'll have to let more people there know that I'll be uploading to MaxPreps but I'm not planning on shooting too many more high school games this year with the MiLB season starting. There are two more high school kids that are in the top 50 rankings for seniors that I need to get and then I'll more than likely be done for this year.

[dmwierz]

I have always found MaxPreps to be top notch and good folks to deal with. Last game I worked for them has made me >$400 and counting.

[liam5100]

I have always found MaxPreps to be top notch and good folks to deal with. Last game I worked for them has made me >$400 and counting.

I'm curious, do they send you to particular games. Can they get you credentialed?

[dmwierz]

Bill,

Nope. You pick your own games and work whenever and wherever you want. Occasionally, for big events, they will interface with AD's to get you access.

What MaxPreps is about is purely Marketing. You use their site, their advertising, their brand name, their fulfillment, etc...Players and teams all (most) know MaxPreps and spend time on the site.

Yeah, before you say it, of course you could certainly do this yourself, but like most things, there is a price to everything you do that isn't directly photography-related.

MaxPreps is pretty well known among High School athletes, and they do a good job of maintaining the quality of their product. In return for this a shooter gives up a minority percentage of their sales (BTW, you retain all rights to image so even if you submit to MP, you can still post the and sell them on your own site). To me, the few times I've worked HS events in the past 6 months, it's been worth it. YMMV.

[liam5100]

Thanks for the info Dennis. I've had a few others recommend I join up as well. Do you think its as widely known here in the midwest area I'm in? KS/OK?

Also someone told me the only accept images ISO 800 or below? I hardly ever shoot that and shoot almost ambient only.

[Huskers69]

Bill,

Occasionally, for big events, they will interface with AD's to get you access.



what about small events? Just regular HS FB games? Can they get credentials for you?

[MJPhotos24]

Yeah, I wasn't out there to shoot for MaxPreps and signed up with them after the fact so I don't think I'll get too many sales from that game with them.

I guess for future high school games I'll have to let more people there know that I'll be uploading to MaxPreps but I'm not planning on shooting too many more high school games this year with the MiLB season starting. There are two more high school kids that are in the top 50 rankings for seniors that I need to get and then I'll more than likely be done for this year.

Well it could depend heavily on who uses there sites as to what sales you make, it's something you check out even after the fact. Last year I shot games "for them" (use that in quotes because I just shot them for the heck of it and submitted to them) and did pretty good sales wise just because there was a lot of members for particular schools so it turned into sales. I did little promotion (there flyers basically) and it worked. Sometimes it works while others it may not and depends if coaches for that team are pushing the site as well as the photographers.

Either way though if you want to compare the people at MaxPreps, the ones who run the show they are top notch. The guy I deal with is excellent at his job and all in all has been a pleasure to deal with. Again though, when you're shooting for a company or yourself you better be a good promoter because without it how is anyone to know? I work for several companies and people know exactly how I feel about them because I'm not shy in telling them if I like or don't like them - and btw, if I don't like them IDC how much they're paying I am not shooting for them.

what about small events? Just regular HS FB games? Can they get credentials for you?
Here's something that annoys me - and if you don't think it annoys other editors you're dead WRONG - but, someone who can't ask for a pass and do the leg work themselves. Not saying that's you or anything like that but I know a LOT of people who think that everyone else has to get them passes and they can't dare ask for themselves. I work for a lot of companies on a regular basis, one magazine for example I've been shooting most of my "career", 7/10 years. Do you know how many times they've had to ask for a credential for me? I can count it on both hands over those 7 years and easily shoot 100+ games a year - so 700+ games less than 10 times had to have someone ask - and that's off because I know I'm approaching my 1,000th game this year shooting. When it comes to MaxPreps you should be the one contacting the schools AD or coach and asking permission to shoot the game. It all depends if the school recognizes them as a legit place to allow you to shoot but you as a shooter should not be relying on them to make contact IMO. Most schools do recognize them, and as a high school coach in volleyball, basketball, and baseball I know I wouldn't turn away a MaxPreps photographer knowing there high standards. So yes, the name may get you in to shoot but it's still you doing the leg work. Think about how many people they have for the entire country and how many schools there are - mathmatically it's impossible for them to do it all so a photog has to be self-sufficient.

[MJPhotos24]

Thanks for the info Dennis. I've had a few others recommend I join up as well. Do you think its as widely known here in the midwest area I'm in? KS/OK?

Also someone told me the only accept images ISO 800 or below? I hardly ever shoot that and shoot almost ambient only.
As mentioned you need to promote as some areas are better than others. You're not going to shoot and sit back hoping they are members, you need to do some leg work.

As for the ISO 800 thing, it used to be true but I don't know if it is anymore as newer bodies handle higher ISO's a lot better. With the Mark IIn I was shooting ISO 1250 and submitting without a problem, even some at ISO 1600. Of course, as most know, it's how you deal with it because wrongly exposed images at higher ISO's will not turn out good and appear to have a lot more noise than they should. The basic key is you need to have them right, I don't think they mention ISO anymore in particular but haven't checked there regs in awhile as now I just crop to there specs and upload.

[Mark]

Get the better version so they cant right click and save...

Or just watermark with buisness name, PH number, website, email.... Then think of it is free advertising ;)

[dmwierz]

Mike,

Used to be they required flash and strobes. Even with the better ISO capabilities of "modern" cameras I can't imagine that's gone away, has it?

And to second what Mike says, the only time I won't get my own "credentials" is with the pro events and most NCAA. My experience is PR departments and SID offices don't want to hear from random photographers and, in fact, a couple of our local pro teams don't even like freelancers, even when you ARE shooting for a wire service (I said they didn't like them, not that they won't credential them - you get in but grudgingly).

High schools are a lot more lax but not pushovers. I usually wear my MaxPreps shirt and/or hat to any outdoor event. MP also used to provide an ID that you can wear that can make it easier to get past the gate people. However, I have never been stopped at any HS football game - the 400 is a credential all to itself.

With indoor sports like basketball, I always contact the AD's office as I strobe these events and will inform the AD of my intent to use artificial lighting as the IHSA rules allow me to.

And to what Bill asked - MaxPreps is pretty well known even here in "flyover" land. They sponsor a lot of national events - you can see the MaxPreps name at the bottom of the screen for many CBS (they're part of CBS) college football and basketball games.

Like Mike said, they've always been top notch, and held their quality standards very high. It takes some doing to get in, then once you're in, it can take a little work to get the approval to submit your images. However, all this is to help you shoot more marketable images and in the end you win and MaxPreps wins. They've been doing this for a while and pretty much know what they're doing.

[MJPhotos24]

DW - I believe they still require strobes/flash but I don't see the ISO mention anymore. It used to be right in the photo requirements but is not there anymore, I can't find it anywhere at least. I know they still don't want high noise images but probably ditched the ISO 800 rule because many cameras ISO 1600 is just as good as older cameras 800.

The only games/events I don't get a pass myself is the major sports as most require it submitted by an editor, not a photographer. That's the NFL, MLB, NHL even though sometimes once you get to know the media guy a bit you can just email them yourself depending on there process. MILB, NCAA, High School always contact myself and usually never run into a problem because of who I shoot for. There is of course a big difference between someone asking to shoot who works for outlets and those just wanting to shoot because it's fun. Media Directors, SID's, AD's know the difference.

I do wish MP was known more around here, and used. I used it as a coach and directed my players there when doing v-ball but none of the other coaches in our league used it that much. We used it for everything, others either didn't touch it or just put in a roster and no stats. In some areas it's great, I talked to one guy down state who says he lives in a part where it's well known so his sales are good. Our leagues around here - not so much. However, I'll be driving a bit more to get to the leagues that do use it a lot and trying to double dip, shoot the HS game and then my pro game or vice versa.

[BenJohnson]

I use SmugMug and I have seen a lot more of my watermarked images posted online than print or download sales...
Get the better version so they cant right click and save...
Then they'll just do a screen capture and past it into a photo editor. The right click defense is only useful against people with little computer skills.
I have a pro account. I had right-click protect on, but with a decent browser (Firefox)
you can just look at the source code for the page and get the actual image file (not a print
screen). I gave up on right-click protect because a lot of people were just using
print screen, saving with MS Paint, cropping out my watermark, etc. Overall it just made
the pictures look even crappier after they "stole" them.

Or just watermark with buisness name, PH number, website, email.... Then think of it is free advertising ;)
My name and website are on each photo in the unpaid galleries. I definitely think it has
helped get my name out there!

[Chris Talley]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I may go shoot a local high school game when I have nothing else to do and see if I can make anything out of it.

Mike, I'll have to go see if any of the players on the teams I shot are on the site. I know one of the teams uses the site because when I sent to the press box to get a roster they handed me a MaxPreps printout.

[asysin2leads]

Thanks for all the good advice. I spoke w/ MP last year and they wanted to see a variety of sports rather than just football (probably because everyone and their brother shoots football) and to apply later. I gladly accepted their advice and will be re-submitting my portfolio after the spring sport season. I figure baseball, softball, track, cross country and tennis should be a variety. I have some some college basketball pics at iso 1600 (MkIIn) that I'll submit as well. Having officiated football for 13 years, I have the privilege of knowing some ADs in the area and have a good relationship with them, some of whom were my team mates in school.

[Chris Talley]

I was just going over the Google Analytics data for my website and I've gotten a few hits from the city of the visiting team. At least I know they've seen the photos even if they haven't bought any yet.