How to proceed?

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First off James, for something as obviously important as this is to you, you should telephone the club secretary/media guy, emails have a habit of being misunderstood and an even worse habit of not getting written in a manner which fully explains what you are requesting from the other party.

Call them to discuss person to person.
 
Agree with Gary here

Give them a ring, explain your trying to shoot games to build experience.

Asking them to ring you gives the wrong impression. You need to ring them and make the effort, after all they will be doing you a favour not the other way round.

Maybe you could even go and see them face to face, with some examples of your work printed out.

I got my start by shooting for my local side and they get requests all the time from people wanting to shoot, talking to the head of media, the people that ring or go and see them face to face stand a better chance of getting into games.
 
If I understand you correctly, you are trying to turn this particular "no" into a "yes" - that isn't going to work unless you go and see the relevant person, ideally taking prints of some relevant shots to show him you are not just a bloke with a new camera, and offer him something in return. You could also ask for contact details of the pro photographers at the club who could give you some advice.

In terms of approaching other clubs for access, then I think it always best to turn up in person with pics to hand.
 
James, Offer the club the use of the photos in their magazine. Offer them something and hopefully they will offer you what you want. But the media man is the contact to get to as Andy and Gary say.
 
Cheers for the advice, I got an overwhelmingly positive response from the clubs I contacted via e-mail.

This particular club has a training session on Thursday, I'll go down with my commercial book, take some sports prints in hand and couple of business cards.

I think lesson learnt on this particular matter, don't bother with an e-mail even if the phone number isn't there, just go down and see them in person.
 
jamesb84 said:
Hold on...

They've stated they already have "professional photographers" enlisted at the club. If they're getting paid for their work and you turn up saying "here, use them in your magazine" then you're treading on that persons toes. :nono:

You originally stated that you only wanted portfolio experience, now you're trying to get business off them. If it were me, I wouldn't care a jot about your abilities as a commercial photographer if I was a rugby club. I'd want to see evidence of your rugby abilities.

Chalk it up as a "no thanks" and concentrate on the others. Bear in mind, they will all be playing on the same day so you'd never be able to go to every game anyway, and you'd be silly to try.
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James, the OP isn't saying "here, use them in your magazine" nor is he "now trying to get business off them", hes only wanting to expand his portfolio and hasn't mentioned anything else.

It was bluesnappa who said he should offer the club freebies
 
You've got to start somewhere, I need some rugby images for my sports book, I've got old ones but they are pretty poor. Hopefully in September I'll have enough and see if I can get myself a RFU license and could start with the rugby conference.

One thing in this industry I'm very aware of is that it is very easy to upset people with how you act, so I'm being very careful.
 
why do you need an RFU licence? Why not start at the bottom photographing amateur, amateur rugby and get your portfolio? Then approach semi professional or professional clubs, or even an agency who can syndicate your work.
 
No need to run before you can walk.
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I'm really, really not trying to run before I can walk. I've built my way up in other sports I cover, and now trying to move over to rugby, this is what I was referring to previously about treading on toes and putting across the wrong impression, I'm fully aware of the perception of amateurs trying to get into the big time before they are ready.

Why not start at the bottom photographing amateur, amateur rugby and get your portfolio?
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I am starting at the bottom, which is why I'm contacting these clubs, they aren't even conference. The game I'm going to this weekend is a "Southern Counties South", in a couple of months or years, I hope to move up and find a market for images, like I have for example in rowing.

I can see where this is going and I must stress, that I'm not that guy.
 
Why would you need the RFU licence?
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I don't, yet, I was planning on putting in my application in September.

Who's going to buy your images?
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Current plan was to work through my contacts in stock photography and approach local publications and offer to cover the games on a freelance basis.

What's your outlet?
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See above

What does the RFU/Clubs get from you having a licence?
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Access to games that are of note or worth mentioning in a local outlet, with budgets to match interest. Like I've said above, I'm not here to be that guy that wants to hit the big time before they can run or walk, I'm more than aware of that.

You have to start somewhere, I was going to build a rugby portfolio in the next few months then approach a few outlets towards the end of the summer with a view of getting on the band wagon for the conference season starting in September.

EDIT

I must also say, I'm not blindly following this path, if any has any pointers, offers or advice they can give me that would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Please don't think I'm deliberately trying to discourage you, I'm challenging you because it's the only way to make sure you're going about this the right way.
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I completely understand, I know what you are trying to do and I do appreciate it very much so.

I'll have a re-think, currently I'm in no rush. I've got a few commissioned projects coming up away from sport, so I'm not to worried at the moment. But it is something I want to get moving on. I guess I'll report back on Monday with some photos from the weekend for some C&C.

Thanks James, I do appreciate it.
 
personally i think your going about it the right way james W :) some of the replies read a bit harsh but are playing devils advocate sorta thing :)
 
jamesb84 said:
Absolutely...As I said, I want James to go about this correctly, which he is at the moment.

I'm a strong believer in doing things properly, as I know you are Tony, which is why I'm being so challenging!
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I know.. but it can come accross a bit harsh... some will take it, stay and learn.. some will run for the hills :) I tend not to pussy foot about either so no room to talk.. and yes I try to do stuff the right way.. BUT and heres the BIG BUT! only because i learnt from my own mistakes.. nobody about years ago saying whats what so I made loads of bad moves.... but now I know :)

ADDYONBIT: just to be clear... what I mean is I wish TP had been here years ago.. not that people should learn from own mistakes.. never liked that theory :)
 
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