SPORTS: Super League Photography

Apologies if I have posted on the wrong part of this forum. I dont post that often!

I am an amateur photographer that is presently using a Canon 350D together with a Canon 100-400 IS Lens. I am however looking to upgrade to the 1000D Body.

I say I am an amateur. However, for the past 6 months, I have been fortunate enough to cover the Celtic Crusaders away games at places like Widnes, Salford, Leigh, Featherstone etc etc). I provide the photographs for the club (free of charge) and gain experience into the bargain. I have also had a few photographs published - Not at the expensive of others who photograph for a living.

The Crusaders have today been granted a licence to Super League for the 2009 season and I wondered whether anyone has any experience as to whether there are any licence requirements to act as a photographer in Super League.

One additional question. Does anyone have any experience of using a laptop at sports events. What would be the ideal setup & software to get photos across to various media (whilst the game is still running)?

If your really serious about shooting super league you really need to upgrade to a 40D not the 1000D, the 1000D is an entry level camera that is not really that much different from the 350D, whereas the 40D is aimed at the more serious amateur and semi pro shooter

And ask for money this time don't short your self out this time.

Think youll find super league much like FA is only press accredited threw major picture houses there for youll have to get a job shooting for a Picture house then if you bought nearly £15k worth of gear you might be in with a chance of being allowed to go shoot this sort of event.

So the question Is if you haddent of supplied the image where would they of got it from? Chances are from a picture house libray where the photographer is freelancing and is only paid when a image sells so chances are yes you did take money away from a working pro

BTW welcome to POTN

Thanks for the responses I really appreciate it.

When I say I am not providing photos at the expense of others, I am confident of that. I am still learning - but I do not need to learn at the expense of someone else's mortgage!

I have an arrangement with the Celtic Crusaders RL Club to cover their away games. I am Welsh, but live in the North West - where most of their away games are played. Their home photographer (who lives near Cardiff) cannot travel - so the arrangement I have with the club is that I provide them some pictures free of charge and they sort out the accreditation for me.

I was recently at Featherstone Rovers RL club, where the Crusaders were playing. There were two professional photographers there and they were asked if they would take a photo of a new 16 year old they had signed terms with. The club, for whatever reason, were not able to pay for the photo (They are not the most financially well off) and the professionals refused to do it for free - which is fair enough. They asked me if I wanted to do it - which I did after checking that I was not stepping on anyones toes.

The picture was published on their website and in local press.

http://www.featherston​erovers.net/news14.htm

As for the camera, I certainly need to upgrade it - and the D40 maybe the answer.

If there are any sports photographers out there (particularly if covering football or rugby) that would appreciate an "Assistant" perhaps you could let me know.

At the moment, photography for me is fun (I work for a solicitors as a day job!) but I would like to get into it in a bigger way - and every opportunity/match is one for the learning curve.

Thanks again

Paul Keevil