Sports Shooter Members

[blinking8s]

so how good do you need to be in order to apply? I have two college basketball games under my belt in the last two weeks, my first stab at real sports...after the 1st game I landed a job...so I guess thats a good sign. Pay isnt great because I am a student here...but I get some big publishing ops and get some awesome experience working with an editor and other photographers. I wanted to apply by the end of the season if its worth the effort and I just want to know what I need to look out for.

http://www.blinking8s.com/temp/bball...bum=vsTennTech

http://blinking8s.com/photos/etsu/bb...eston/gallery/

...from the last two games...im working on getting everything moved to one gallery though...just lack of time lately.

And what benifits from SportsShooter? jobs? learning? fun? not much?

[timmyquest]

Although i'm not a memember, i'm pretty much in the same shoes you are. The only difference is that i've got a full season of football and about 5 b-ball games (and some baseball too actually).

I dont even feel close to having enough. They want you to show them at least 5 of your best shots, i think it would look more impressive if they were 5 shots of different venues.

Thats about all i can add to this.

[primoz]

I have about same question as Blinking8s, just that I'm from opposite side of Atlantic I have enough material so this shouldn't be problem, even though most of my sport shooting is not US sports, but mostly European (xc skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing and ski jumping and cycling with few basket ball and handball events). But my question is (for those of SS members who are around here and are based in Europe) what are benefits for European sport shooter.

[IndyJeff]

Member here, sGu is also in Europe if I remember correctly and is a SS member also.

For me I have gotten a few jobs off it, made some contacts that may help me in the future. The cost was $25 and the first job I got off SS paid me back for that and left enough that I felt like I had been paid for the few hours I was there.

[primoz]

Indy that's exactly what I meant. In US I believe it's useless to wander if it's worth or not. It is... end of discussion. Afterall more then 90% of members are Americans and from that what I saw you have bunch of possibilities to get work/sell photos/get contacts etc. there. But most of US papers don't really care much about European sport, and when they do, then there has to be huge even. And on huge events there's always Reuters, Getty, AP etc.

[sGu]

IncompletePete, gmen and me are SS members here in UK, even though it's US based online resource for sports shooter, I find it very informative and helpful in many ways.

You can land jobs there, internships, you can learn, make new friends, read their equipment profile, check book section, vote in monthly contest or even send in your shots, especially if your images are being chosen to appear on the front page, you'll be expecting more than just a few phone calls.

A lot of benefits are only available to members so you wouldn't normally see when you browsing, such as discount price for buying camera equipment from sponsors like Penn camera and Sammy's, once you let them know you are SS member, they'd give you a price makes you smile.

It'll definitely help you if this is what you intend to take on as a career. For $25, it's worth every penny and more.

I had a brief look at your images, you definitely have some great action shots, however, when submit your portfolio for application approval, DO crop them as tight as possible, while keep face, ball and body in the frame, leave out the ones with untidy background, leave out the ones out of focus, even by a tiny bit, leave out the ones aren't telling a story, also be sure to include your Nissan shots

I'd sponsor you if I were a senior member

[gmen]

Originally Posted by blinking8s

And what benifits from SportsShooter? jobs? learning? fun? not much?

SS.com member here also...

The standard for joining is pretty high - it is possible to gain membership with a really good portfolio, but you may also need a 'sponsor' (i.e. a reference from an existing member that knows you well) to get in. You need to be pretty ruthless in deciding on your folio images - avoid any 'filler' pics - and try and show some variety.

I've found membership to be a hugely valuable resource. In particular being able to have your work critiqued by some of the best in the business has been worth the membership fee!

I've also had some good work opportunities via my sportshooter page - and this is despite being based in the UK. In fact, on one occasion I was contacted by an agency which has led to a contract and some significant sales.

So... jobs - yes, learning - plenty, fun - certainly.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[GenEOS]

SS Member here too.

Benefits of membership vary. But well worth the effort of joining.
Recently, the bar for membership has been raised. There was some issues with members on the message board. If I understand it, that caused them to re-think the whole membership process. A new member must now have a sponsor.

I have only sponsored one person for membership. He was denied, and I thought his work was the quality it took. I still do. I have not sponsored anyone since. I think things are leveling out though. I have noticed the number of new members increasing.

The resources on sports shooter are pretty good, most are available without membership. You can access all the messages on the forum, as well as all the videos and things.

You will get bumped up in the search engines though. That is a major benefit of membership. I have had many print sales from people searching via numerous search engines for me.

Select your images you submit wisely. Your very best stuff. Try to show some variety.
Submit at least the 10 images and no less.

Please do not use my SS page as an example... I need to update it..

[blinking8s]

well im sold on joining...been reading all the articles and studying sports magazines heavily lately. Being on the sidelines at the bball games is a rush, I take it a little more seriously that the press staff, but i've been getting a better range of photos on average

now just to get a good protfolio in record time...haha...yeesh, scary thought

if you get turned down, how soon can you apply again?

[sGu]

Right away if you want, there is no rules on that, as far as i'm aware.

[timmyquest]

Originally Posted by blinking8s

Being on the sidelines at the bball games is a rush

For sure!

I love being on the court when the music comes on and they are all warming up.

Or on the sideline when the band marches the football team onto the field. It's not quiet the same as being a player, but it's as close as i've found so far outside of coaching.

[IncompletePete]

In Europe SS' profile isn't as great and us Europeans are a small community. However SS.com provides and awesome resource of information for any budding pros, loads of big name shooters resides on there who have decades of experiance between 'em all.

It's also just kinda cool to be a member as well!