SportsShooters.com

I went to this forum to join and it says you now have to be sponsored by a senior member. So if anyone here is also a senior member and would like to look at my pics and sponsor me let me know. It looks like a great forum to belong to.
Thanks,
Clay

Kind of a pain to get into your galleries. I'd bet you'll get a better response if you posted your ten best that you think would make for a strong portfolio here and ask for critique.

Just a suggestion and I am not personally a member of sportsshooter, but a lot of folks have posted portfolios for C&C and received valuable feedback.

Regards,
Jeff

Good advice I'll do that.

Here is a sample of my work. Keep in mind I've only shots sports 3 times. Some night football shots with flash.
http://www.cewills.com​/index.cfm?pid=1708
Click on the thumbs for larger image.
Thanks,
Clay

Clay,

I'm a member but not a senior member, I applied without a sponsor and was accepted. I would suggest to shoot more sports and keep an eye on your backgrounds (clean as possible), focus, color, and crop. Try to show the players face in the pictures.

http://www.sportsshoot​er.com/members.html?id​=6850

Clay
I will second what Chris had to say, shoot more sports. Also by doing this you may run into some SS members. I was invited by a member to join, and this was after he had seen my work thru my portfolio and pics that were published and only after he thought I was ready he approved me to try and join. I for one have had several people ask me to sponsor them, which I declined, not there pics were not good, but for the most part I did not know them. Best advice get to know a member that can guide you.
Romeo

As a senior member I would have to agree with the other comments. Your subject needs to really stand out from the background. Try using a larger aperture to get a shallower depth of field. You are on the right track. The best advise that I give anyone who wants to join sportsshooter is to submit the best 6-10 shots that you have ever taken.

Michael

Clay,

As far as I know, sponsorship has always been required.

Here's a little SportsShooter story about this topic, entitled "What's the secret handshake? - Becoming a SportsShooter.com member only requires good images. Handshake optional.":

http://www.sportsshoot​er.com/news/1127

I joined SS long after I started shooting, at the urging of (I believe) the same photographer who suggested Romeo join (hey, Romeo, how are Devlin, Todd, Mike, Beau, Dyann, and of course Gray, et al?)

There is no secret to getting into SportShooter. You've already gotten some excellent advice from experienced pro's and I can't add to this. Just shoot good solid images of as many different sporting events as you can, pick your top ten, and submit. A sponsor helps, but I think it's more important to meet as many pro and experienced shooters as you can and have them critically review your portfolio before submission.

Dennis

Thanks sledhed, gromeo, Michael, and Dennis,
Advice is always welcomed. Due to some circumstances beyond my control I am no longer going to be shooting the football team I was, but hey today I picked up a new one (the reigning WV class AA state champs), and their girls volleyball. Just hope I can do a good job. I'll work on my isolation.
Thanks everyone,
Clay

You could always join SS without a sponsor, but it was always easier with one. They tightened this up again a couple of years ago.

Here is the link to joining without a sponsor.

http://www.sportsshoot​er.com/join_nosponsor.​html

Hey, Dennis
The group is doing well, I actually been doing alot of work with them. We all just put in a 12 hour day yesterday shooting the UCF vs Texas at the new stadium, sure beats the Citrus Bowl. My sponsor was actually someone I met at one of the UCF games the first year I started shooting with one the the weeklies here. During the second year he said that he saw some of my work and asked if I wanted to join and to send him 10 photos, he approved the 10 got denied the 1st go round made the suggested changes and all is well.

Romeo

Romeo,

Saw you on ESPN HD last night next to Gray with Kamar Aiken flew by and almost landed on him ! He tells me you were the one standing up behind him.

Dennis