Croasdail wrote in post #3281188
Skill wise, I would absolutely say you have the skills to do what ya need to do. A couple of the shots are a tad over sharpened (it's showing up in the grass), but the timing and all else looks about right for the equipment you were using. So yeah, I am sure you could deliver good enough shots for a Division II school. Expectations from a Div 1 school is you would likely need a 300 or a 400 to get the expected shots at that level of play, but still not required. And I am sure you would do just fine there as well. My only cautionary note would be that you left because of some rain. As someone who does this all the time, you dream about games like this. I am so tired of sun shinny games, I could hurl sometimes. If I got a game like this, you would have to drag my soaked arse off the field before I would go home. I would find a plastic bag or anything to keep over my equipment so I could keep shooting. Images from games like this are the ones that will get an editor to stop and take a look. And I know you have what it takes to stick in there when things get tough. So I just wonder if you have the motivation to want to do something like sports photography. There is no right or wrong answer here. It is just that it does get repetitive, and you got to really love what your doing to keep the excitement showing in the images. Otherwise, it will be come just a job... and it will kill the fun of photography.
Hope I didn't cross any lines here. The skills are there, is the heart willing is the question. Not at all, brother! Considering I'm a Soldier first and a wanna-be photographer second, I can handle a little rain. Trust me when I say I've worked in much worse conditions. 
That day I shot the game on a whim. We had to provide the color guard for the game, so I didn't initially plan to shoot at all. After realizing I had an opportunity to practice on my sports shooting, I just ran back up to my office and grabbed whatever gear I had with me at the time. I was the only photographer on the field with no raincoat and my gear was getting drenched. A Nikon shooter came over and handed me his towel saying "Those things are weather-sealed, not waterproof." 
So that's pretty much why I packed it in. 
But there's always next season, and I will definitely get out there and get more practice as time permits! Thanks so much for the sound advice. I value every critique I can get around here.
jcpoulin wrote in post #3282554Lord M, you are definately worth hiring!!! You will be successful in any endeavor you try photographically because you work at it. There are many people on this forum whom I have great photographic respect for despite not meeting them....you are amongst them. How about letting the forum name your new sports business?
Thanks so much for the kind words. That really means a lot. I was just going to go with LM Photography as a name for all my photographic endeavors.
gmen wrote in post #3286470Absolutely... Mark is spot on.
Lord, you certainly have the technical skills and talent to make some cash from your sports photography... but keep in mind that the demands are slightly different from other areas of photography. For example:
>> Getting consistently good results from events that are inherently unpredictable
>> Dealing with very tight deadlines (sometimes during the match itself)
>> Surviving the weather conditions
...and so on...
Undoubtedly you can do very well indeed... but I'd advise building up your experience and portfolio across a variety of sports first.
This approach will stand you in good stead and will help you gain prominence in what is already a very saturated market... and to reiterate what Mark said, a passion for this type of shooting will show through in the end result.
The very best of luck. If you need more advice, this is certainly the place to come
---- Gavin
Thanks, Gavin! I do plan to get out and shoot more college sports and build up my portfolio. Working at the school, I'm sitting on top of a gold mine of opportunity! Thanks for the vote of confidence! In the future I'll be getting in touch with you and Croasdail for more business advice for sure.
superdiver wrote in post #3288252Great stuff LM...The only thing I would say is that on the 3rd one personally I would like to see the defender in focus rather then the reciever...but if the story is about the reciever, well then....
Anyway, sharp stuff man!
Thanks a bunch. I will definitely try to replicate that shot and focus on the reciever next time. I can definitely see how that would make a most excellent photo.
