I've been asked to shoot a Golf Tournament...need help

now WTF do I do?

I'm not charging for it since my photog skills aren't mature enough to do so.

but I'm REALLY scarred.. seriously.. what if they don't like it? what if they love it?

any advice???

not charging??? WHY???

you are at least charging for prints right

do you know how long a golf game lasts??? not only is it long hours, it is a lot of work, the constantly moving to re-position yourself work.

google - http://www.golfsw.com/​profiles/photos.html

do you play, watch, understand golf?

if it's a non pro tournament, then the 75-300 will cover you.

go look at golf website and see what kind of images are there.

While it's not difficult to shoot golf, due to the slow moving pace of the game, it is also not easy to shoot golf, due to the slow moving pace of the game.

study, review, learn about the golf images from google and this forum.

Don't shoot in the back swing or Tiger will send over his caddy to destroy your equipment.

You have to decide what you are shooting. I'd recommend picking a tee and shooting the drive or roaming the course in a golf cart and taking posed shots. Follow the beer girl and find the golfers in a better mood.

Haa haa, how can I forget the beer girl, I was shocked to see that when I played my 1st round of golf here with some college friends,

Back home when I played golf, I had to be properly attired and the only thing to drink was water...

My college friend pull out a cooler with beer in it while we were loading up the golf cart and I was like WTF...

bwolford wrote in post #5197310
Follow the beer girl and find the golfers in a better mood.

Get as low down as possible so the brim of the golf cap doesn't obscure the view of the eyes and watch for the shadow the brim casts on the face. Find a commonly hit bunker that will allow for some good explosion shots (they are surprisingly easy to do). I would consider renting a 70-200 f/2.8 IS as well....its the perfect golf lens. Shallow DOF is a big advantage so you can blur distracting BG's (i.e. the gallery in a tournament). If you want some good shots of golf holes you will also need a WA lens so make sure you take your kit lens as well.

Well if you are not charging for the time and effort then there are no worries because they at least get what they paid for!

Seriously, I WOULD charge. Your time alone has got to be worth something? $200 a day? $400?

figure a game would easily last 4 hours, a half day rate or hourly rate, in the range of $400 - $500 would be right.

granted, i can't speak because I shoot my golf girls at no charge, but I do sell my prints, but that's not looking good either...

Naturalist wrote in post #5197475
Well if you are not charging for the time and effort then there are no worries because they at least get what they paid for!

Seriously, I WOULD charge. Your time alone has got to be worth something? $200 a day? $400?

- thanks for all the comments everyone... no, I'm not charging. This Golf Tourney is sponsored by one of my venders at work. so.... no charge.

I have asked them for recognition in their newsletter and ANY other posting for this event. At my skill level, that all I can ask for.

I shot 10-15 wedding videos before charging for 1... it's really no big deal.

I'd rather take this as an opportunity to learn and provide a name that IS available for photog work... just not this one.

- as far as equipment goes.. I'll be taking my full camera bag...maybe even buying another battery or 2 and memory card.

there's a thread about doing free work, it usually doesn't pay, even if you think you will get recognition or credit, no one usually cares.

i say, have whoever is producing the newsletter sign a form that the images provided are only for newsletter publishing and are not for sale.

Then you can sell the images should anyone see them and like them.

Aaagogo wrote in post #5197711
there's a thread about doing free work, it usually doesn't pay, even if you think you will get recognition or credit, no one usually cares.

i say, have whoever is producing the newsletter sign a form that the images provided are only for newsletter publishing and are not for sale.

Then you can sell the images should anyone see them and like them.

thats an idea... thanks

I've only shot golf a handful of times and that was just last year. But I learned that you shouldn't move around a whole lot while they are getting ready to hit. Also try not to blast the shutter as they're coming down. Do it before or after.

Everyone takes a couple of practice swings before teeing off, perfect time for a shot. You'll get some keepers by watching the greens as well, a lot of personal expression can be seen there just don't record voices. Follow the beer girl but not late in the day. A short par 3 is often a lot of laughs and is normally a choke point where play can really slow done, players waiting and if you do it right they won't even know you're there. even in the parking lot before the round if it's a shot gun start everyone will be waiting in one spot. Just get out of the way when the horn goes off, they'll be in a hurry.

I've never actually seen a beer girl or played golf myself but i did stay in a holiday inn.

I would seriously consider getting a monopod, as it will really help steady your cam. If you can get a helper a tripod would be even better I shot at Riviera when the Northern Trust was there on a Wed. and a pro w/Noink+300 2.8 had a helper carrying his gear,tripod, haha.

One thing you might consider is staying at the first hole so that you can get pics of everybody and then start roaming the course. See some of my shots here: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=455504

Random Thoughts for you to consider:
- Is it a "normal" start (every group tees off on #1) or "shotgun" start (one group on each hole and all start play at a given hour)?
- Do they want action shots?
- Do they want formal posed shots of each foursome?
- Pre round activities? (Warming up, etc...)
- Post round activities? (Beer + Awards if any?)
- Have you ever driven a golf cart on a course and do you know proper cart ettiquette (where to park, where NOT to park, where NOT to drive, etc)?
- Do they want prints to walk with at the end of the day?