My HS Sports Site - Sponsors???

[rrw4258]

Well I have some questions that somebody here can hopefully help me with. First of all, I run redmenphoto.webs.com and have been going to home games for most sports and have been paying for gear, admission to get into games (ususally $6 per game), and gas getting to and from the schools. I am doing this for free and am really enjoying myself doing it. The budget for myself is getting pretty tight, so here is an idea that I was thinking of:

Is it possible to get sponsors for my website on a sponsors page. I was thinking of $25 per local business, and their information would be listed with phone number, address, etc. Is this legal to do, and is there anything else I need to know about getting sponsors on a website??
Thanks

Ryan

[MJPhotos24]

OK - first thing I just have to ask is why the hell are you paying to get into these events if you're shooting them? Are you doing it for anyone or just randomly showing up and shooting to sell? Are you contacting anyone (Athletic Director/Principal/Board) to get permission to shoot in the first place and sell images?

As for the sponsor question, it is possible to get sponsors but you should be making money from your shooting first and foremost. I spend a lot compared to others on my sites and earn it back through photo sales - not sponsors. I'd feel weird approaching sponsors for my personal photography site! If it was a school or youth organization site I was running then fine, but not something where I'm just selling myself and prints.

Speaking of sites, honestly - I'd remove the Google ads as they scream amateur. Business is about trying to sell a product they need, even if they don't need it. A guest book is amateurish, an about page that says you're a hobbyist hoping to do sports photography is amateurish, even if it's true. Honestly on your site I don't see at all what you're trying to sell? Do you shoot games for fun? Are you selling prints? Will you shoot Johnny Jones in game action for x-amount? What's your sell and why would sponsors want to pay to be involved with it?

Along with that, how many visitors do you have? Well, I see the counter (sorry, but again that is VERY amateurish!) The counter is low when potential sponsors or customers see it so it waves a red flag, it's the amount you should get in a day in all honesty - and on the low end. My site averages more than double that a day for unique visitors and it's low compared to others. To gain sponsors you really have to have a reason for them being involved with you, but first and foremost you should be making money from your photography.

[canonnoob]

OK - first thing I just have to ask is why the hell are you paying to get into these events if you're shooting them? Are you doing it for anyone or just randomly showing up and shooting to sell? Are you contacting anyone (Athletic Director/Principal/Board) to get permission to shoot in the first place and sell images?

As for the sponsor question, it is possible to get sponsors but you should be making money from your shooting first and foremost. I spend a lot compared to others on my sites and earn it back through photo sales - not sponsors. I'd feel weird approaching sponsors for my personal photography site! If it was a school or youth organization site I was running then fine, but not something where I'm just selling myself and prints.

Speaking of sites, honestly - I'd remove the Google ads as they scream amateur. Business is about trying to sell a product they need, even if they don't need it. A guest book is amateurish, an about page that says you're a hobbyist hoping to do sports photography is amateurish, even if it's true. Honestly on your site I don't see at all what you're trying to sell? Do you shoot games for fun? Are you selling prints? Will you shoot Johnny Jones in game action for x-amount? What's your sell and why would sponsors want to pay to be involved with it?

Along with that, how many visitors do you have? Well, I see the counter (sorry, but again that is VERY amateurish!) The counter is low when potential sponsors or customers see it so it waves a red flag, it's the amount you should get in a day in all honesty - and on the low end. My site averages more than double that a day for unique visitors and it's low compared to others. To gain sponsors you really have to have a reason for them being involved with you, but first and foremost you should be making money from your photography.

I think MJ hit everything on the head right here. You need to be making money not asking for donations for a site.. It may be legal but a smart business aspect? I think not.

[rrw4258]

The main reason for the website is for the kids to go on and check out the pics of home games... Mike thanks for giving me the truth about my site and some of your comments are very helpful. Now as for the "Business end"... this is all new to me (photography, selling, websites) so I thought I should ask a few questions.

1. If I wanted to go into selling these pictures, It would probably be a disc for all one group of pictures... (Varsity Basketball Boys, Freshmen Girls Basketball, Wrestling, etc.) What are the legalities behind selling pictures? Does one have to get a model release form or something along those lines in order to sell the pictures from sporting events? Any other advice or things you think a total noob would need to know you could give me as far as starting to sell these images on disc would be apprieciated. Thanks

Ryan

[harlo]

What are the legalities behind selling pictures?

Read the sticky... http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73103

[rrw4258]

Well I read through the sticky and was wondering of someone here can elaborate a little more for me on this particular subject:

I want to shoot the local high school and sell to the players and parents. Do I need a release?

Technically, yes you might. However there is a thing called undue burden which could exempt you from getting a signed release from all athletes. In general your selling the images to the people themselves. Very few of these type images are bought by anyone other than the people in them.

Ryan

[Dennis_Hammer]

You DO NOT need a release to sell prints. A release is for commercial use of the photos (like someone wants to buy a photo to use in an ad or commercial). Selling prints requires no such paperwork, because mostly the people in the picture are buying the photo. But mostly importantly its not going to be used commercially and YOU are not selling it that way.

[MJPhotos24]

... this is all new to me (photography, selling, websites)

The stuff pointed out was all stuff I did with my first sites and was told by others all the same things I posted above...it's a learning process.


1. If I wanted to go into selling these pictures, It would probably be a disc for all one group of pictures... (Varsity Basketball Boys, Freshmen Girls Basketball, Wrestling, etc.) What are the legalities behind selling pictures? Does one have to get a model release form or something along those lines in order to sell the pictures from sporting events?

Selling discs can be tricky - one parent buys it and gives it away to the other parents even if they're not supposed to so you have to price accordingly. May want to think about doing it by file instead - so you sell an individual file for x-amount, 5+ at a discounted rate, 10+ at another discounted rate, etc. I don't do that model yet but have been looking into it and going to test it out with an event I just shot I do believe.

Legally you do not need a release unless you're selling it commercially as mentioned. This would be putting the image on a product like a mug, clock, blanket, etc. or allowing it to be used in advertising. Selling prints or digital files is not commercial use. You may wonder about photographers who sell novelty products like mugs, key chains, etc. Well since it's the parents or players themselves putting the photos on those products "on demand" it's not commercial use - very rarely will anyone else buy a photo of someone else kid.


Any other advice or things you think a total noob would need to know you could give me as far as starting to sell these images on disc would be apprieciated. Thanks

#1 - Make sure your images are better than what parents can shoot. If you're shooting the same or near quality of a PWC that is just handing it out to everyone free you're in trouble. You need files that will print poster size and be crystal clear.
#2 - Research pricing in your area, it's a thought out process and numbers are not picked out of the air. This includes day fees, print prices, digital file pricing, everything.
#3 - Make sure you have a site that sells you and what you're offering.
#4 - Be personable but don't miss the shots! I may be replacing a guy at a college because he spends all his time talking and not shooting which is not making the people paying him happy. There's time for promoting yourself at an event and time for socialization.
#5 - Better have backup gear - missing a shoot because something broke is unacceptable.
#6 - 9/10 photographers fail, and photography is like baseball - failure out weighs success at times. You hit a hot streak, then cold, you have to deal with people saying no and rejecting what you do, how it's the camera and not you taking the photos, etc. Really have to stay ahead of the curve, shoot what you love, find a niche and stick with it.