How to get into sports photography?

flickserve wrote in post #11328629
How do you value the photo? Any sort of guidelines?

Yes - circulation, placement, size, etc. FotoQuote is a good program for it, though it tends to quote on the higher end that clients often are not paying. Getty you can also go to any editorial photo and put in the info to get a quote from their system.

DHMN wrote in post #11329337
I've now been at my website over 2 years, blogging and selling some shots through a photoreflect site.. and 2 months ago the once a week paper's sports writer (freelance also) asked for a few shots for his blog through their website. I joined Smugmug at that time (saves time over having to edit and re-upload shots the way photoreflect works) and then the editor started asking to buy shots.. and that's quickly turned into a freelance contract and the News Tribune (Duluth's daily paper, both papers are Forum Communications' papers) asking for stuff now also. Combined with the print sales to parents I'll be able to recover the cost of my new 7D in 3 months if not a bit sooner I think. Maybe I got lucky being in this area of Minnesota at the particular time I am?

I'd say so, many ask for free and then walk once you ask for payment in that situation.

slimenta wrote in post #11329442
Mike, you are absolutely correct on all comments. The SS post is a good one. A couple of added thoughts.

First, the public often does not know the difference between good quality and not. I was shooting a playoff game for a DI college about a year ago. The "official photographer" for the conference was there with a booth to sell pics. Lousy pictures, no cropping, but they sell. I am often struck that images that I would trash are purchased because they strike a cord for the purchaser.

Second, the proliferation of digital photography has allowed many to get "decent" action shots. You therefore must set yourself apart (contradicts point one). Depth of field, background, photo-journalistic quality etc. Develop a special and unique product.

Lastly, at sports shooter academy earlier this year a full time SI photographer noted the tough economic times for all doing sports. Many of the faculty also shoot weddings to make ends meet.

So do it if you love it and it is a true passion!

No cropping or anything, geez - all on site guys I know at least crop, correct, etc.

I have a phrase for those that want "good enough" (i.e. decent) shots and don't want to pay for higher quality, it's a simple phrase - "not my clients". Those are the ones who want to pay crap or will gladly cast you aside for someone who will shoot free. Not exactly the kind of people you want to be associated with business wise.

The economy has had an effect, and not sure how clear I was before, but you need to make up for it in other manners. Those guys are shooting weddings, I'm still strictly sports but changed how I do things a bit so the economy had no affect. Was still selling during the recession, but now things are changing so it's time for photographers to wake up to the rest of the business world and see what is happening.

Mike R wrote in post #11330332
I'll somewhat agree with you about T&I not being easy. My first one seemed like a lot of work, It was for football and cheerleading. And there were some mistakes with orders (all corrected) Once I got a system down, it became easy. I'm now shooting them for 7 teams.

You're right the economy is slowly recovering but as you go on to say, people get rid of "wants" Unemployment has affected a lot of families in my area, where both parents worked and now only one does. I have been with these families for 4 years now and many were repeat customers. These families still buy the T&I packages but forgo the action shots except for what the team club buys for the seniors at the end of the season. The ones that do purchase action shots, have cut back the amount they spend. I just completed a volleyball season and a parent of a senior convinced the parents club to purchase a 20x30 poster for each senior. The parents of these seniors have purchased action shots in past years.

I'll continue to stick by my teams,as long as it takes, knowing that things will get better.

Once you have a system in place it becomes easier, that's for sure. I've made so many mistakes (4th or 5th year I think) and still making some. Have to learn from every one of them and try to make it more efficient the next go around. Next season I plan on changing a LOT of the back end stuff to help that. It may include hiring someone to do the back end work after a shoot, a lot of the stuff that drives me nuts (sorting, checking organizing forms, packaging, etc). I'll still do the editing, but they'll do everything else after a shoot. That will allow to try and land more clients with duties split up.

Unemployment has affected everyone everywhere, it's higher in some areas than others, but still think many just use it as a crutch. Let's say underemployment/unempl​oyment is 25% - that leaves 75% of potential customers with the assets to buy images. If the sales suck when 75% of the potential clients have the assets much how much will that extra 25% improve the situation? If it's minimal, then I see no point in staying in it with the same model. The one league has zero orders this year (well one, but it's the first time EVER that this has happened), it's not worth going to games on 2-3 different Saturdays shooting and hoping when my time and effort could be other places I'm guaranteed to make more, like the rich schools outside the city that always do decent.

So, a deposit system will be established in the new year. I don't show up unless there is a deposit placed by someone or a group of someones, not sure how much but something to get me there and shooting to guarantee the money. I've told a few loyal customers things are changing, of course they haven't ordered yet either, so maybe this will give them the hint once I tell them what the change actually is. Sitting on the sidelines hoping and waiting is not acceptable to me, there's too much at stake when it's your entire living.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11330870
So, a deposit system will be established in the new year. I don't show up unless there is a deposit placed by someone or a group of someones, not sure how much but something to get me there and shooting to guarantee the money.

I do a similar thing, They agree to buying a slideshow and I cover most home games and any championships. At least you know in the wost case you will make something. Next year I'm raising the price.

Mike R wrote in post #11331851
I do a similar thing, They agree to buying a slideshow and I cover most home games and any championships. At least you know in the wost case you will make something. Next year I'm raising the price.

What is the price though, what's it work out to per game?

Our team here has no booster club, we used to but it has long since gone away. So for the local team at least it'd have to be a per game basis instead of a season thing.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #11331903
What is the price though, what's it work out to per game?

Our team here has no booster club, we used to but it has long since gone away. So for the local team at least it'd have to be a per game basis instead of a season thing.

PM Sent

If you look on the sidelines of most recreation league games you will see where you competition is you will see MWC (Mommies with camera) DWC (Daddy with camera), Video nuts (a vid cam about the size of a pack of cigarettes some have even mounted them on a mono pod. Some of them are standing at the fence line vs the sidelines. For the most part they do not have a clue how great sports shots should look. You have to set yourself apart from them you have to show that your images are sharper, better cropped, and don't have the clutter background that most of theirs will have.
If you find a league where you can shoot the T&I shots stay for the games, take some action shots also and get a website where you can post them for viewing and of course purchasing.
Look at who is shooting sports shots in your area, look at their prices. I have seen shooters show up at football, baseball and basketball tournaments hand out flyers I usually try to look at the shots they offer. Some are good, some are pitiful, I would not put them up on my site they would be trashed, but as mentioned some parents, if this is your choice don't have a clue. But if you take enough good images word will soon get around that you take great photos. You will develop repeat customers who will ask you to take photos of their child during the game.
Develop a business plan, find a website that will allow you to upload and preview your work whether paid, i.e. zenfolio (www.zenfolio.com) Smug Mug, Photobucket, find a site where you can select allows you to select fullfilment options i.e. prints, wall clings, buttons, cards, etc. In some cases you upload the photos, set the prices, and as orders are placed you receive the money, you don't have to deal with can I give you a check next week?, do you take post dated checks ? They view the images at their leisure and select the ones they want to purchase buy them, you get the proceeds after in most cases a handling charge if you choose not to print them yourself.
Don't give your images away, if you do they will not have any value, having said that if you have to give a coach a few images of his son, or a few prints of him during a game to show your work. If you give all your work away soon word will spread "You don't have to buy them, he gave me the ones I have"
Go find some templates not only for actions shots, but T&I shots also, you can start with Easy Digitals (www.easydigitals.com)
Yep, the economy is tough, those famous words IMHO people will find a way to spend money on good photos, actions shots, portraits. You have to create a need, advertise anyway possible, Facebook, Youtube,
What you think are great images others will have no idea the time and investment in equipment it took to get them, take as many as you can and edit them the best you can. Don't give you stuff away.

I mean I'm not sure about outsiders but I'm a student at Towson University with a D1 Lacrosse team and all I did was apply for the school newspaper. I do have some background in photography. The thing is, I was invited to a meeting to discuss taking photos for the school. Come to find out it was going to intro to photography. The photo editor was teaching some kids how to use their camera. I'm not saying every school is like this or that those kids will be shooting the D1 Lax. I'm pretty sure I will be.
But you'll be surprised how easy it is to get in.. especially with the equipment you have.. as long as you don't mind using your own equipment that is.. but like i said it differs from school to school.