How do you get into Sports Photography?

joshiejp

joshiejp

Suspended / Banned
Messages
12
Name
Josh
Edit My Images
No
Hi guys,

I've been looking around on the forums but can't really find anything relating to myself. I have been doing bits of bobs with photography for a while but it would be my dream job to get into sports photography as I have a passion for tennis!

Therefore im wondering if there is anybody on this forum who does tennis photography and how they first started out?

If so is there any chance I could have some advice on how to actually get started and any kit they would reccomend.

Thanks in advance for any replies !

Josh :clap:
 
Are there any tennis clubs near you Josh ? If so why not aproach them and ask if you can cover a few games... Once you have some images, post them in the critique section and take it from there. Your passion for the game will be a big plus as you will already know the etiquette of the game. Make sure you tell the tennis club this too.

What kit have you got already ?
 
Last edited:
hi,it really is that simple,go along to the nearest tennis courts, clubs,chat to the guys,take a few pix ,email the players your shots and they will soon be inviting you along for club matches etc.
the difficult part is when you want money to shoot,thats a different ball game entirely .
 
Here's a link to Duncan Grove, a well-known Tennis photographer for inspiration,.
 
stephen g said:
hi,it really is that simple,go along to the nearest tennis courts, clubs,chat to the guys,take a few pix ,email the players your shots and they will soon be inviting you along for club matches etc.
the difficult part is when you want money to shoot,thats a different ball game entirely .
Click to expand...

When you approach the club, as hard as it may sound, be very careful how you set out your stall with respect to providing/giving/selling your images.

If you start out free, it is very difficult to then charge for them later...Not impossible but very difficult. It may be worth having a read through other posts on the site about starting out... Also look in the business section as you will find a whole host of very good info and advice.
 
Hi guys, thanks for all of your replies. I currently have a Nikon d3100 with a kit lens but have been waiting to see what people have recommended me before I go and splash out. I'm a tennis coach so getting access to tournaments and clubs will be no trouble but i feel it's just finding the right way to go about doing it and i want to have some basic kit before doing so! Thanks guys!
 
joshiejp said:
Hi guys, thanks for all of your replies. I currently have a Nikon d3100 with a kit lens but have been waiting to see what people have recommended me before I go and splash out. I'm a tennis coach so getting access to tournaments and clubs will be no trouble but i feel it's just finding the right way to go about doing it and i want to have some basic kit before doing so! Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

On this note what body / lens would you recommend to get me started? Cheers guys:)
 
joshiejp said:
On this note what body / lens would you recommend to get me started? Cheers guys:)
Click to expand...

I find a 70-200 perfect for tennis.. if your going to be doing any indoors then you will need a f2.8 .. so 70-200 f2.8

I find tennis a bit of a bore to photogrpah.. Great for first ten minutes then all the shots look the same after that
 
i am not a nikon user but i have used the canon sigma 70-200 and its a great lens.
 
joshiejp said:
Are they not the same but just for diff bodies?
Click to expand...

no idea..you would think.. but i only really comment on what I know rather than guess.. I know canon not nikon..plus mine was quite a few yrs ago.. they added a few letters on the lens since then :)
 
joshiejp said:
Are they not the same but just for diff bodies?
Click to expand...

Not really, the Nikon has an aperture ring, the Canon doesnt but its a good lens all the same, the one you linked to is expensive though, theres one in the classifieds for £330, paints peeling but thats nornal on Sigma lenses.
 
Josh nice to see someone interested in sports photography rather than the usual wedding stuff. (no offence intended towards wedding togs, I just get a bit bored as it's the only thing that seems to come up on the business section these days. :D).

I can't really offer any advice that will be better than others will give you. I had a few paid gigs a while back but since getting back into photography and wanting to go down the sports route like you I have found it VERY VERY hard to find a way of getting people to pay anything let alone make a wage out of it. :(

I too will be interested in the advice given here. I mean it's got to be possible to make some money at it but I just can't see how. Advice? :D:bonk:
 
EMA747 said:
I too will be interested in the advice given here. I mean it's got to be possible to make some money at it but I just can't see how. Advice? :D:bonk:
Click to expand...

I make a living.. But not sure what advice I could give... I am well established around here.. all the leagues know me.. most various sports teams.. Even refs know me :) I ahve learnt over the years what sells best for games I do on spec and I have made contacts for paid work... Schools, Colleges and Newspapers

Tried a lot of stuff that hasnt worked.. For example I loved doing basketball but apart from a few quid here and there it doesnt pay.. yet there is another forum member who makes most of his money from basketball... my point being what works for one might not work for another...

To make a living you need regular income.. I ahve that with papers and college work... I spend the rest of my time looking for and finding work.. I work year to year rather than week to week.. I might make minimum money one week and masses the week after... I ahve busy periods and quiet periods... so long as it all works out over the year..

get established (can take years) get the right contacts and look after them..

Too many poeple have dreams of starting out.. going to old trafford and making money selling pics of wayne rooney.. personally I stay well away from top flight sport for the most part...

cant think of owt else :)
 
Well the video/DVD side of my business plans (nothing to do with sports of photography) is shaping up quite nicely so I think the bulk of income will come from that but I am looking to make some off photography too. Multiple income streams are better than one.

Any advice Tony on how it's best to go about enquiring with local sports clubs/leagues etc about working with them? I'm in Nottingham so no competition to you :D. As people have said (and I have experienced) if you start free it's hard to progress but on the other hand I am looking to get known at the moment in the hope that something comes along in the future. I'm just not too sure what to ask if I email some people. :thinking:


PS - Sorry Josh for hijacking your thread but I hope the questions and answers will be useful to you as well. :)
 
Its as simple as ask.. I found you get nowwhere if you tell them your building your business or looking for portfolio work or its just an hobby.. no interest... tell them your freelance and will be submitting to the local paper for "possible" inclusion and they welcome you with open arms :)

PS .. plus you should send them to locals.. they are always looking for space fillers.. talking local local.. really local...
 
Just get out there Andy, shoot and show your stuff to the competitors and there families, the hard bit is getting them to loook at your stuff..business cards and flyers...get the event organisers to promote you...it will be slow to begin with but after a while you will find it easier as more Events/ CLubs / Teams / Competitors get to know you.

Just try and offer something that nobody else does....

It won't come and bite you in the rear... You got to get out there and do it yourself.

What Tony says is very true...what works for one person might not work for you.
 
Last edited:
I always say it can be done! But its such an odd profesion to get into that you really have to do the legwork.. it can take a very long time to get established as THE sports photogrpaher in your area.. the person everyone thinks of first if they want a match or sport event covering... thats takes a lot of photogrpahing.. out every day or night.. maybe doing sports events on spec... not free to anyone.. but not paid.. just hoping you amke print sales..

the more you get out there.. make contacts.. the better you get known..

it can be done.. but it requires a lot put into it.. if your only going to do it as part of the business i cant see it working.. 7 days a week.. if theres sport on.. you need to be photogrpahing it.. not one footy match a week.. you would never get noticed..
 
The other thing is I can't find much info on the lesser events going on near me. The main events are listed on various sites but the amateur/small club level sports seem a bit elusive!

Is saying you are possibly going to submit to the local rag ok even if you are not submitting? We actually have a very local 10 page local paper that does cover some sports that are happening in the town. I don't know who they use to cover the events but the pics are usually terrible! :gag:
 
EMA747 said:
The other thing is I can't find much info on the lesser events going on near me. The main events are listed on various sites but the amateur/small club level sports seem a bit elusive!
Click to expand...

again.. hard work but doable.. you bookmark all the websites.. you friend them on twitter and facebook.. you get the local paper (but local paper usualy tell you after the event.. but sometimes prior)

i spend a heck of a lot of time trawling for local events.. i have contacts at schools who tell me whats on.. but i made those contacts... everyone else.. you find out the way anyone finds out.. you build up a network of friends, contacts and links...

i probably spend as much time finding work as i do shooting them... hence my comment that it wont work if only putting minimal time in or weekends... not if your going to try to make money from local sports..

thats my opinion :)
 
Thanks Tony. :thumbs: I'll buy a local paper and have a browse. It's not really the right time of year mind you. :bonk:
 
For ever event listed in your local paper, there will be another 10 or 20 that are not listed, perhaps even more. Searching on the net and reading the local rag isn't enough for what you are looking for...You got to get out and about, talk to people ...tell them what you are looking for and they will tell others and before you know it you will have started to build your network.

It wont come to you.... too many starting out think it will just fall into their lap...
 
Sadly almost all of the clubs and events I have found seem to have photographers already covering them. :gag:
 
I have to admit Andy, There are more and more club photographers at a lot of the clubs I used to shoot at...The only thing I can do is ensure my images are worth paying for as they give them away for free...lolo

I'm now looking at something that is more unique, something that other togs will find more difficult to replicate...

I find the more people I meet at clubs though, the more openings are presented to me...
 
KIPAX said:
....Even refs know me :)
Click to expand...

I placed a photo on Southend RFC website of a ref lecturing one of our players and the ref had a smile on his face. I then had an email from the club saying the referee wanted some photo's of him refereeing the match and he would be willing to pay for them.

I managed to get about 15-20 shots, put them on a CD, he was highly delighted.

So its not always the players who want them.:)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
AFC said:
I
So its not always the players who want them.:)
Click to expand...

i am amazed at how many people selling match photos forget to get pics of the officials.. refs and liners... esp liners who are often taking there first steps up the officials ladder... they are on the pitch for 90mins just like the players..
 
Tugster said:
I have to admit Andy, There are more and more club photographers at a lot of the clubs I used to shoot at...The only thing I can do is ensure my images are worth paying for as they give them away for free...lolo
Click to expand...

thats hard as free poor pics are usualy prefered over good quality paid for.. so all the poeple who say make yours better and your OK (really annoys me that) are talking rubbish


Tugster said:
m now looking at something that is more unique, something that other togs will find more difficult to replicate...
Click to expand...

same here anbd Exactly why i have a mkIV and now a 1dx .. theres only me in poorly lit sports halls or low level football games with poor floodlights :) and more and more insisting I am the only one allowed to take pics./. not meaning family wiht pocket or phone cameras.. but nobody else official :)

Tugster said:
I find the more people I meet at clubs though, the more openings are presented to me...
Click to expand...

There ya go.. exactly the point ... takes time but works :)
 
KIPAX said:
thats hard as free poor pics are usualy prefered over good quality paid for.. so all the poeple who say make yours better and your OK (really annoys me that) are talking rubbish







same here anbd Exactly why i have a mkIV and now a 1dx .. theres only me in poorly lit sports halls or low level football games with poor floodlights :) and more and more insisting I am the only one allowed to take pics./. not meaning family wiht pocket or phone cameras.. but nobody else official :)



There ya go.. exactly the point ... takes time but works :)
Click to expand...


Not always Tony,

When we do galas, the majority of customers tell us that our images are better than the last gala they went to ...Same with shooting junior teams ....Mums with cameras cannot compete...I use my head when shooting and not just machine gun as some people do...You gave me a good tip...when shooting groups, shoot into the sun and fill with flash...I hear parents stood behind me saying mine are all coming out dark ...lol
 
same here anbd Exactly why i have a mkIV and now a 1dx .. theres only me in poorly lit sports halls or low level football games with poor floodlights and more and more insisting I am the only one allowed to take pics./. not meaning family wiht pocket or phone cameras.. but nobody else official

As above, I was only having the same conversation today with a good mate of mine...
 
Tugster said:
Not always Tony,

When we do galas, the majority of customers tell us that our images are better than the last gala they went to
Click to expand...

are we at cross purposes here? i am saying people will take FREE pictures that are not good instead of paying for pictures that are better... are you saying that doesn't happen? becasue thats the only point I was making ?
 
Last year I was all set to do a mountain bike series my brother does video for. That is until the organiser said that my shots were much better than what they get but the lesser quality ones are sufficient and they get them for free. In other words they don't strictly need the best quality images and certainly won't pay for them. Given that most of the races are 100-200+ miles round trip and sometimes over night is accommodation is required there is no way I can do it.

I get the impression that a lot of events and clubs are like that. They can get good enough pics for what they need for free. You only have to look at some of the club websites to realise the photography on them is often pretty poor but I guess it gets the message across for them so that's all they care about.
 
Tugster said:
same here anbd Exactly why i have a mkIV and now a 1dx .. theres only me in poorly lit sports halls or low level football games with poor floodlights and more and more insisting I am the only one allowed to take pics./. not meaning family wiht pocket or phone cameras.. but nobody else official

As above, I was only having the same conversation today with a good mate of mine...
Click to expand...
Do you mean you make sure you are the only one allowed to be there or the club/event only ask you and not other photographers to be there because of the images you can get?
 
Some indoor sports events I attend donot allow anyone else except me to take photographs and this is constantly announced.
 
KIPAX said:
are we at cross purposes here? i am saying people will take FREE pictures that are not good instead of paying for pictures that are better... are you saying that doesn't happen? becasue thats the only point I was making ?
Click to expand...

Im just saying that what you are saying is not always the case...I totally understand where you are coming from and it does happen... but I find that sometimes they are prepared to pay for better quality images.
 
EMA747 said:
Do you mean you make sure you are the only one allowed to be there or the club/event only ask you and not other photographers to be there because of the images you can get?
Click to expand...

thats the way I like to work.. doesnt matter if your pics are good or bad.. yours are the only ones :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top