Leonfoto

Hi Guys.

I'm a semi professional photographer from Bolton, near Manchester in the UK.

I shoot with a very used Canon 70D and a new 80D (bought just before the 90D came out)

if I had the contacts and luck my dream would to cover BTCC for a living...or Rally. (never going to happen!)

Welcome! Never say "never". I would had never guessed that I'd find a job at a small newspaper, allowing me to cover many sports I love, including some professional.

it would be interesting to listen to how you got started.. by PM if you prefer.

leonfoto wrote in post #18943614
Hi Guys.
I'm a semi professional photographer from Bolton, near Manchester in the UK.
I shoot with a very used Canon 70D and a new 80D (bought just before the 90D came out)
if I had the contacts and luck my dream would to cover BTCC for a living...or Rally. (never going to happen!)

leonfoto wrote in post #18947588
it would be interesting to listen to how you got started.. by PM if you prefer.

.
I gave a detailed response in the other thread you started on this topic of getting started. Hopefully you can find my post there.

I am interested in knowing why you think that your dream of covering BTCC is never going to happen. . If someone has that job, then why couldn't that someone be you?

I think that if you dedicate your life to getting into that position, and everything you do every day is toward that goal, then it has a high likelihood of happening. . The old saying comes to mind, "if you want something badly enough ..... "

Perhaps you just don't want it as badly as some other people do, and they will make enormous sacrifices that you aren't willing to make. . And that's okay! . We all have priorities and we need to be true to them.

I just don't want you to think that it is impossible to manoeuver yourself into that position, because it isn't (so long as that position actually exists).


.

Sure. Luck has much to do with it as there are many knowledgeable photogs out there. Right place, right time kinda thing. A website or online portfolio is a must! The first words out of everyone's mouths were, "Do you have a website?" The next thing was some business cards, which was followed by giving them out EVERYWHERE. Finally, my "day job" took me into the newspaper & I asked who I could see or give my business card to. The editor took my card, said "Thank you.", and walked away. I thought nothing of it but he called 2 weeks later.

It is very difficult to do, but not impossible. It'd be one thing if you just had to compete with other photogs, but there is much BS that goes on. Nepotism: someone who is a great salesman for the ad department has a nephew with a camera. I have also heard stories of guys doing it at no cost just to get the credentials. Even heard once of someone offering the credentials to the highest bidder!! It took me a while to understand why I get paid more money to photograph a local festival's parade than I do to cover a professional football game. Simply because nobody wants to cover the parade, but everyone wants to cover the professional team.

I recommend that you NEVER do an assignment for free (for many reasons). I would also recommend that you be willing to take the assignments nobody else wants.