Friday night Football

I'm trying to expand into local sports. Looking for for ways to convince the school thats its a good thing to have me there. I have tried before once They let me come in for 3 games. Then I was told that they had complaints from parents (lie). Then told they didnt know I was chargeing for the pictures(lie). I told the AD that up front. They looked at my web site. I was finally told that I could shoot but I had to sit in the stands and I had to give them way.
Well now the school district has a new superintendent. Any good arguments I can use to convince them. Other than that i have had several parents ask to have me there.

Do you have insurance? (Equipment/liability)?

Yes I do

Unfortunately, I don't think the super can help you in this case. He may be able to pull some strings, but I'm guessing the ultimate decision will be with the coach/ad.

You could try to offer to give them some photos for the yearbook. Have you tried talking to a paper in your area?

The super has the ultamate say. That's who kicked me out last time. The AD is the one who last time said I could. An I'm sure its not a safty issue like the also told me. Because there are 6-10 moms and dads on the sidelines.
As for the paper that is the problem last time. The told me that they don't allow anyone to make money of the students. Then at the same time said the paper is the official photographer but they are allowed to sell to the kids. Don't make sence to me.

You may want to have a sitdown with them with your proof of insurance and some examples. Do you guys have an official photographer for the highschool association?

I do not know of any offical photographers. Just local papers.

Join MaxPreps.

I said something to them about that when they ask what othe schools had photographers coming in. . They don't recognize them. Also last time I looked only like 2 schools around here have used them.

Man... I thought Alabama schools took football too seriously!

You are going to have to think about how you can help them. That's really all the care about.

I guess just try to keep the lines of communication open. This is a tough one.

The last supper didn't care what I had to say. It came down to if they we're not the only ones getting the money they didn't want me there. She even compaired me to having a food vender in the parking lot at luch time. They don't alow that either she said. She didn't have an answer for me when I asked then why do you pay for a photographer for prom. The phone whent very quiet.

It does not sound like you any real angles to convince them to give you access. And...since there are MWC's, I'm not sure who you'll be selling to as they'll be giving them away. Personally I'd move on to another school.

Only angel I see is meet with the booster club. Offer them a certain % of sales and let them put pressure on the administration. Or another avenue would be have the booster club pay you a game rate for one or more games and guarantee shots of all players and hand them a CD with print rights. That's worked well for me in the past at a few schools. The plus side is your guaranteed a few hundred dollars for whatever event it is.

I've seen your rodeo pics and I suspect that you would do a pretty good job for them at football games. I also suspect that the newspaper leaned on the school superintendent, since they want to be the big dog on the sideline. Find out what they're charging for photos, figure out what you can do it for, and offer something back to the school district. Then if they still want to keep you out, try the next county.

Yea I wondered the samething. The charge like 5 bucks last time I looked. Would love to go to the next county but the next county a large city that I have no intrest in. Plus they have many photographers already.

Like I said, join MaxPreps then you have lot better chances of getting access. Start with something that nobody covers. Be nice, make friends.