Youth Sports Photography

Hello!

I've been working in Tallahassee, FL as a professional photographer for about a year now. I work for a company who does school pictures, senior portraits, and sports photography (my job) for yearbooks. A co-worker of mine who's been in the business for 20+ years has wanted to do some work on the side and both of us have recognized a demand for professional youth sports league pictures.

Now, with a professional grade DSLR at the fingertips of almost every parent, we need a marketing strategy that values our work superior to those around us. Both of us have notable action sports portfolios, so the quality of our work is not at question here, but the way we value it at the highest level without being unreasonable and losing potential customers.

With that being said, we've been thinking about ways to market our services and how to charge and all of that. Please keep in mind that both of us treat our work like art and are not willing to degrade its value by giving it away.

Any suggestions on how to charge or go about this situation?

Hate to break it to you man, but if you have to ask on a web forum what you should do to market and price yourself, then you've got a long road ahead of you.

A good first step would be to take a few business courses from a community college.

On top of that, I'm not sure what gear your friends have, but only having a 70-200 and a 40D may not cut it either. Most parents can get decent enough shots with a 70-300 during the day, to set yourself apart from others is going to require you to have better gear.

Well first off, my partner is the one who is pretty much heading the whole operation and he's pretty much got it all figured out. I just wanted to see if anyone had ever had direct experience with doing this and wouldn't mind sharing some know how on the best way to do it.

Secondly, I'm in the market of purchasing a 7D and once I do that, we will be leasing a 300mm f/2.8.

Since you used a descriptive title, the forum has done a mini-search for you. Look at the links at the
very bottom left hand corner of this page.

LoganStanford wrote in post #14440270
Well first off, my partner is the one who is pretty much heading the whole operation and he's pretty much got it all figured out. I just wanted to see if anyone had ever had direct experience with doing this and wouldn't mind sharing some know how on the best way to do it.

Secondly, I'm in the market of purchasing a 7D and once I do that, we will be leasing a 300mm f/2.8.

Ah ok. Careful with the leasing, it may be a better decision to just buy it.

First I would talk with the school's athletic director to make sure you have access to the games etc.

Second, look into what types of release you will need.

Third, what sports are you going to concentrate on? HS Football...good luck. Every GWAC is there, as well as local sports reporters and photogs. I would look into some of the less 'visable' sports where parents would be thrilled to have some pictures of the kids.

Fourth, how are you going to market them? Print them onsite, or direct people to the website?

Fifth, you say that currently you are the sports photog for a yearbook company. Better check your contract to ensure you are not breaching it by doing a 'side job' taking pictures for the same events you are taking them for your company.

Sixth, don't be so quick to dismiss parents as unqualified photographers. While your pictures I'm sure are very good (can't see your work, didn't post it up) there are lots of people that attend events and take excellent pictures. And regardless of how much you desire to call your shots 'art' these are NOT world class athletes competing for gold in 2012. You need to be mindful that you will get whatever the parents deem 'fair'.

Good luck. And make sure you have lots of insurance. Both for your equipment and liablity.

CMfromIL wrote in post #14440788
Fifth, you say that currently you are the sports photog for a yearbook company. Better check your contract to ensure you are not breaching it by doing a 'side job' taking pictures for the same events you are taking them for your company.

Sorry, I guess I didn't make it clear. Right now, I'm shooting HS sports for the schools yearbooks. We are wanting to do other youth sports like little league baseball, soccer and that sort of thing.

LoganStanford wrote in post #14440935
Sorry, I guess I didn't make it clear. Right now, I'm shooting HS sports for the schools yearbooks. We are wanting to do other youth sports like little league baseball, soccer and that sort of thing.

Good luck with that. How many games will you be attending? I would suggest talking to the athletic director of whatever league you want to follow. They may already have a contract for someone. If not it would be a good place to start.

My kids youth soccer league had a photog come in once a season to take a 'team photo'.

Honestly though that's about the only time I would have paid for them. Action pictures of the pee-wee soccer games would not be very exciting.

You need access to the tournaments. I would find out what is playing in your area for indoor and outdoor club sports. I would try to get to know the directors of the tournaments, present your plan to them and see if you can get in.

I think you will have best luck early in the season and with younger athletes. Kids are over photographed these days, but for first time club parents they will enjoy getting photos.

Every club has an online presence that should get you started with who to contact.

Ask yourself this question:
If there is such a demand, why aren't there pros already doing it?

Probable answer:
No $$$

mobei wrote in post #14441266
Ask yourself this question:
If there is such a demand, why aren't there pros already doing it?

Probable answer:
No $$$

Come ON! I'd pay at LEAST $5.00 for a glossy 8x10 of my 7 year old scrumming in the middle of the field with all of the other kids. That's golden stuff right there.

I wouldn't print but rather make the images available electronically. The kids and parents will want to post them and you do not need to hassle with printing.

Unless you're printing onside for immediate impulse purchase there's little business to be had shooting & selling images from little league games. If you're looking to shoot team & individual shots on 'photo day' for the little league associations you need to submit a proposal to the association likely for next season, and they probably already have a photographer they use.

We're shooting T&I starting in mid June. Once the orders are delivered back to the league we'll be securing 2013.