Master of one or jack of all???

jamesward93

jamesward93

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Something that was mentiond by Jamesb84 in a previous thread about "architectural photography sustaining him throught the week" and a comment made by another pro sports tog a few weeks back has got me thinking! :thinking:

Unless working as a staffer for one of the "big 5" and a few exceptions, can you just specialise as a sports photographer or with the amount of competition out there do you in reality, need expand your skill set to other genres such as wedding, portraiture,architectural photography to make a decent living.
 
Well unless you are a staffer or have a freelance contract with multi games per week I doubt very much you could make a living without additional work. Even those on contracts "suffer" slightly in the summer months without football, so I'm told.

My event work does clash with the football season and have had to make a decision were my priorities lay and that has to go were the cash is.
 
Someone been stalking me again!?

Even with the games every weekend and 3 or 4 other sport jobs during the week...I need to get other income as well.

To be fair, i'd also be pretty bored if I only did one game a week. I also do magazine work as well, which can either be sport or just general...it helps me keep fresh with lighting and composition stuff that i'd neglect otherwise.

Plus, the more of that I do, the more PR jobs I get during the week for sports things.
 
eerm I am 99% sports and not staff.. as mentioned on another thread it probably works out to be minimum wage.. But I do OK ... Plenty of work but two things you need to know...1) you ahve to seriously go out and get it 2) ignore what everyone tells you to charge or to turn jobs down because they dont pay enough

I dont do premiership or championship football or work for agencies unless i have nowt else to do and theres a game wihtin a 10 mile radius i fancy doing..

I do work for local papers.. local colledge, a sports tour company and have built up many contacts who will pay me.. including sports event companies... a small but steady flow of internet sales on top and it all adds up to sport sport sport.

I find the comment about suffering in summer quite funny as I make a heck of a lot more money in the summer months doing sport than any other time..

Remember its what you make over the yr.. summer helps pay for winter...
 
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KIPAX said:
I find the comment about suffering in summer quite funny as I make a heck of a lot more money in the summer months doing sport than any other time..

Remember its what you make over the yr.. summer helps pay for winter...
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I was refering to no football which pays the higher return. 3 games per week suddenly ends only to be replaced by RL, cricket and a bit of tennis (maybe).

Usually for me the summer is the busiest time with a lot of my event stuff in those months but this years been up and down.
 
snapzz said:
I was refering to no football which pays the higher return. 3 games per week suddenly ends only to be replaced by RL, cricket and a bit of tennis (maybe).

Usually for me the summer is the busiest time with a lot of my event stuff in those months but this years been up and down.
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Cricket is my biggest earner I think.. followed by all the football tournaments.. theres hardly a break in football all year.. kids footy tournaments mosty.. dont make much from rugby TBH .. all; but given up on the sport unless ent by paper as per last week.

the question was re sports photogrpahy hence my reply... i think you can be a sports photogrpaher all yr round and make a ligving.. but hard work long hrs and not a pop star lyfestyle by any means as you know :)
 
I don't know how you guys have a family life working all weekend. Unless of course your kids have flown the nest or you don't have kids.
 
bigrob said:
I don't know how you guys have a family life working all weekend. Unless of course your kids have flown the nest or you don't have kids.
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7 kids.. 3 still at home ...excellent family life :)
 
i dont know about some of these guys..but im guessing its similar to what i do
work mon-fri 8-5 footy tues/weds night, footy saturday and something else sunday ie prem/rugby/cricket.
So pretty much have something everyday, and most evenings.
Keeps you busy at least!
 
I might not count due to only doing it on the odd occasion but I make my money from portraiture, weddings, commercial and sometimes event coverage for groups but I'm 16 years old, college in the week (long hours), very little rest on the weekends which means I have trouble getting a part time job so for me all photography is good money, if I was able to get a job to pay for stuff I want I would still do paid photography because it's something I enjoy and I get paid to do it.
 
bigrob said:
I don't know how you guys have a family life working all weekend. Unless of course your kids have flown the nest or you don't have kids.
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I dont have kids yet, but the working weekends and the girlfriend working weekdays does put some stress on a relationship...and I'm led to believe I'm not the only one.

It's a very tough thing to maintain a relationship when you don't see each other that much. It's just something you have to work around.
 
That's what I figured James.
 
jamesb84 said:
I dont have kids yet, but the working weekends and the girlfriend working weekdays does put some stress on a relationship...and I'm led to believe I'm not the only one.

It's a very tough thing to maintain a relationship when you don't see each other that much. It's just something you have to work around.
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Cost me mine.. although there was 100 miles to give it a helping hand! :(
 
I am the same as Chris work 8-5 mon-fri (unless im on-call then it can be anything).

I normally do one midweek game and one on a Saturday, I will occasionally do a Sunday game but i try to leave that free to do something with the other half.
 
jamesward93 said:
I am the same as Chris work 8-5 mon-fri (unless im on-call then it can be anything).

I normally do one midweek game and one on a Saturday, I will occasionally do a Sunday game but i try to leave that free to do something with the other half.
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James this is what I hopefully plan to do. A bit of sports to top up the day job. Can I ask what you usually make off a weekend game and a midweek match?

Cheers
 
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