I am seriously considering making the jump to becoming a pro sports photographer. any advice. please serious advice only. what to look out for, what to do or what not to do. any help would be appreciated.
tennfan1125 Member ![]() 161 posts Likes: 4 Joined May 2007 Location: lexington,ky More info | Aug 15, 2012 09:10 | #1 I am seriously considering making the jump to becoming a pro sports photographer. any advice. please serious advice only. what to look out for, what to do or what not to do. any help would be appreciated. canon 30d, canon 1d mkIII, 50mm 1.8, 18-55mm, canon 1.4 extender, canon 400mm f2.8 IS, canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II, Canon 16-35mm f2.8,Pocket Wizards,430 ex II, 580 ex II, Canon 430 EX, sigma SA-9, 70-300 5.6, 28-80mm(which I NEVER use)
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Aug 15, 2012 09:47 | #2 tennfan1125 wrote in post #14861298 ![]() I am seriously considering making the jump to becoming a pro sports photographer. any advice. please serious advice only. what to look out for, what to do or what not to do. any help would be appreciated. First, you need to find someone who will hire you and pay you for your work. That's the most difficult point, because there are fewer and fewer sources of income and and an increasing amount of competition. Nowadays, a customer may be a photo agency or publication or the customer may be an individual buyer. In any case,they're harder to find and keep than ever before.
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AvailableLight Goldmember 1,208 posts Joined Mar 2012 Location: Chesapeake, VA More info | Aug 15, 2012 10:04 | #3 ^^LIKE^^ AJ
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DC hit it right, I think, perfectly stated, and that applies to not only to photography, but to a LOT of businesses, I know I have found that to be exactly as he said. (I'm not a professional photographer) Most customers are this way, they don't know what is best, they only know what they want, and want it now.
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Aug 17, 2012 15:57 | #5 I agree that it applies to pretty much everything. You generally only worth what people "think" you are worth. Most of any job is making sure people know what you have done and develop a relationship with them. The guy sitting in the back corner may be brilliant and give perfect work, but people will never think to promote him because they don't ever think about him period. Granted I work in computers not photography, but I would think managing people, managing expectations and marketing is the largest part of going pro...not clicking the shutter button. Toolman21 - Canon 60d & T1i (sold) - Canon 17-55 | Canon 17-85 | Canon 50mm 1.4 | Sigma 10-20 | Canon 55-250
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ajaffe Senior Member ![]() 792 posts Likes: 1 Joined Apr 2010 Location: San Diego More info | Aug 17, 2012 22:10 | #6 Costs of shooting sports: www.jaffe.photo
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watt100 Cream of the Crop 14,021 posts Likes: 29 Joined Jun 2008 More info | Aug 18, 2012 05:29 | #7 ajaffe wrote in post #14872903 ![]() Once you cross that hurdle, get used to finding assignment for around 100-300 per event. Then figure out your cost of doing business, ie. rent, car, 3g cards if necessary, food, etc. and see if you can turn a profit at these rates. These rates are pretty average also, don't think there is bonanza out there. Once you cross your CODB hurdle and decide you are comfortable with those numbers, do a bit of market research to see what sports guys/gals in your area make. Then expect less than that since you are newer to the scene. It is not a glamorous lifestyle. yes, so I've heard
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rick_reno Cream of the Crop 44,642 posts Likes: 134 Joined Dec 2010 More info | Aug 18, 2012 18:37 | #8 tennfan1125 wrote in post #14861298 ![]() I am seriously considering making the jump to becoming a pro sports photographer. any advice. please serious advice only. what to look out for, what to do or what not to do. any help would be appreciated. what not to do? easy, stop skipping your meds.
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TooManyShots Cream of the Crop 10,203 posts Likes: 527 Joined Jan 2008 Location: NYC More info | Aug 18, 2012 18:48 | #9 ![]() Shooting what? All the major ball sports in America?? Don't we have plenty of those togs around here already??? One Imaging Photography
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MikeFairbanks Cream of the Crop 6,428 posts Joined Jun 2009 More info | Aug 18, 2012 22:52 | #10 Shoot surfing. The pay is horrible, the hours are long, but you travel the world. Thank you.
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xchangx Senior Member 507 posts Joined May 2007 Location: Mobile, AL More info | Oct 03, 2012 15:30 | #11 tennfan1125 wrote in post #14861298 ![]() I am seriously considering making the jump to becoming a pro sports photographer. any advice. please serious advice only. what to look out for, what to do or what not to do. any help would be appreciated. Without knowing your background, I wold rethink your question. You don't just "jump" it's more like a walk and depending on your skill level, luck and networking skills it could be a slow walk. Nikon D4s / 2x D3s / D3 / 17-35 2.8 / 70-200 2.8 / 600 f4
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watt100 Cream of the Crop 14,021 posts Likes: 29 Joined Jun 2008 More info | Oct 03, 2012 18:05 | #12 DC Fan wrote in post #14861482 ![]() First, you need to find someone who will hire you and pay you for your work. That's the most difficult point, because there are fewer and fewer sources of income and and an increasing amount of competition. The local newspapers are laying off sports photographers, "pro sports photographers" seems to be a shrinking industry.
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