New Motorsport Photography site & Media accredited questions...

Cezare

Cezare

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Cezare White
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Hi All.

I have a few questions for you all...

I've been attending motorsport events for quite a number of years now as a spectator, while this was my passion on weekends while working full-time,
I always had the intention of doing something with it and trying to pursue a career in motorsport photography.

I've recently made the jump into freelance, i've setup my own site to showcase my work, but have a number of other sites planned to do business from.

I've finally had time to finish my motorsport site called:



I've had a few media passes over the years but after reading this thread on here I should think twice...
before spending too much time/money on it, if there isn't any work in it!?... what would you do?

do I spend the time sending out emails, trying to get published work in magazines & contacting teams...
or just be a spectator with a camera and showcase it online anyway but keep focused on my other photography paths.

A number of tracks are only give out media passes if you have published work and a covering letter from editor...
but yet.. to get published work you need a media pass!? catch... 22? but I'm not a publisher or editor... how do you go about accrediting a website?

I wish to use my site as a motorsport photographic agency and showcase images, sell prints and work with teams or publications prior or after an event...

I wondering how you guys go about attending events?
 
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The break in the catch 22 is that you dont need to be trackside to get published shots. You strictly speaking need to be trackside/signed on to earn money from published shots. So you do what most of us have done or still do and have a paper that you provide to FOC. This screws over the industry, however if you don't do it another spectator will. The problem now is finding a paper that doesn't already have contributors that they give letters of accreditation to.

This year i've had a big set back, lots of customers cant afford to enter this year and its going to be an expensive year with the lack of clashes (so there are about 24 events this season that i want to do). I don't believe there is a living of any sort to be made out of national level motorsports photography. There isn't enough room for more than 2 or 3 full time national motorsport togs in this country.

Largely speaking websites don't get accredited for anything bigger than Club level (sometimes not even for that) but it all depends on the website and the footfall. If its going to benefit them PR wise then they might let you in. The worst they can say is no.

Its all about contacts.

I recommend you do what you think you should. Give it a go, but expect to loose money for the first few years at least and also expect it to get boring.
 
dunganick said:
The break in the catch 22 is that you dont need to be trackside to get published shots. You strictly speaking need to be trackside/signed on to earn money from published shots. So you do what most of us have done or still do and have a paper that you provide to FOC. This screws over the industry, however if you don't do it another spectator will. The problem now is finding a paper that doesn't already have contributors that they give letters of accreditation to.

This year i've had a big set back, lots of customers cant afford to enter this year and its going to be an expensive year with the lack of clashes (so there are about 24 events this season that i want to do). I don't believe there is a living of any sort to be made out of national level motorsports photography. There isn't enough room for more than 2 or 3 full time national motorsport togs in this country.

Largely speaking websites don't get accredited for anything bigger than Club level (sometimes not even for that) but it all depends on the website and the footfall. If its going to benefit them PR wise then they might let you in. The worst they can say is no.

Its all about contacts.

I recommend you do what you think you should. Give it a go, but expect to loose money for the first few years at least and also expect it to get boring.
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Thanks for your reply Nick,
Firstly your one of my motorsport bookmarks that have inspired me to do something more with my photography, just like a few other photographers on here.

After receiving a email from MSV today all there season passes have been allocated and would need to apply for each event if needed... I need to supply a covering letter & previous images published... but if you're starting out or freelance... how do you? also reading there terms and conditions its very strict on image use.

FOC? I understand how many go to public events then hope to get shots in papers/mag's as credited... but is this paid? can you sell the images as prints? signed on or not?

there is quite a number of events which clash with each other this year!! it's finding which ones I want to attend but not waste time and money on it if I'm not going to get anywhere with it when I could be doing other events or photography.

while I don't want to dedicate all my time to it, nor do I think I'll ever make a living out of it, I do love it and like to think I could still be able to do certain events through-out the year when I'm not doing other things and could still earn a little bit of cash from it...

Think I'll keep it as showcasing events or attending any if requested that I go to and selling prints from it, and while I won't be able to license images unless accredited (and some t&t you need license too!) this probably best option.

thanks for the advice Nick,

Cezare
 
There have been loads of things this season that are not accrediting websites...

The advice in that thread you linked is still good, everything you need to be aware of is in there.

If you want to make proper money from photography you need commissioned shoots where you are the only tog and calling the shots... so thats weddings and not motorsport!
 
In my experience, you can sell images for editorial use if you're not signed on without much trouble, but circuits tend to take a dim view of people hawking around prints to sell. Even if you are accredited, that doesn't necessarily mean you can sell prints to drivers and Joe public without risking comeback from a series promoter or circuit owner who may want a slice of the action. I certainly know of accredited photographers who've had 'cease and desist' notices from organisations like Dorna over BSB images.

Bottom line is that there is not really any money to be made. I used to supply Autosport magazine with images. Eight hours Saturday and Sunday (at least) at the track and then at least 4 to 6 hours captioning and transmitting images for a return way, way below the minimum wage. Simply not worth it.

My advice would be to continue to enjoy your motorsport photography, but make your money elsewhere.

Simon.
 
Cezare said:
Thanks for your reply Nick,
Firstly your one of my motorsport bookmarks that have inspired me to do something more with my photography, just like a few other photographers on here.

After receiving a email from MSV today all there season passes have been allocated and would need to apply for each event if needed... I need to supply a covering letter & previous images published... but if you're starting out or freelance... how do you? also reading there terms and conditions its very strict on image use.

FOC? I understand how many go to public events then hope to get shots in papers/mag's as credited... but is this paid? can you sell the images as prints? signed on or not?

there is quite a number of events which clash with each other this year!! it's finding which ones I want to attend but not waste time and money on it if I'm not going to get anywhere with it when I could be doing other events or photography.

while I don't want to dedicate all my time to it, nor do I think I'll ever make a living out of it, I do love it and like to think I could still be able to do certain events through-out the year when I'm not doing other things and could still earn a little bit of cash from it...

Think I'll keep it as showcasing events or attending any if requested that I go to and selling prints from it, and while I won't be able to license images unless accredited (and some t&t you need license too!) this probably best option.

thanks for the advice Nick,

Cezare
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FOC is Free of Charge. So yup free.

Its a sad fact, but you basically will need to do this at some point. Maybe Autosport may be the exception. They pay for shots even if taken spectator side (strictly speaking probably not allowed, but hey ho).

If your passionate about it, just give it a go. Just see where it goes. If you work hard enough you will make something of it. Just be warned its a shell of an industry.
 
dunganick said:
Its a sad fact, but you basically will need to do this at some point. Maybe Autosport may be the exception. They pay for shots even if taken spectator side (strictly speaking probably not allowed, but hey ho).
Click to expand...

Autosport is still news reporting, so selling them images for news stories is perfectly fine.

"commercial photography" is selling prints, postcards, tshirts, posters or the use of images for advertising etc etc

Thats the difference, even though news reporting is obviously a commercial operation in its own right.

andrewc said:
It is possible to accredit websites, but it has to be a certain sort of website and not just a photographer(s) gallery.
Click to expand...

I understand obviously the difference between a site like say, BLZEEBUB.com, and something like your (very excellent actually) Racing Exposure, however I did hear the other day from two different accreditation givers that even something like a very well organised race series specific website won't get you accreditation (eg a massive, well created, comprehensive BSB/BTCC website with 10,000 unique visitors a month).

Also definitely just posting up press releases doesn't cut it, not even last year.

The racing world still puts far greater credibility to printed media. Obviously a time will come, no doubt inside of 10 years, where there won't be any printed media left.

Websites are the other half of the problem that we are talking about here. Photographers/journalists as a trade suffer from the modern concept of "everyone is a journalist" and websites are "everyone is a news publisher".

Not quite sure what this will mean for motorsport accreditation in the long run, but its certainly going to change at some point....
 
Thanks for all your messages and advice.

certainly reading this forum has helped me in many ways pin-point exactly where I should be looking/heading.

I'll keep the site going, uploading images of events that I attend and those that I can under media accredited I'll push before and after at publications, but If I'm spectating then I won't focus too much time and energy on getting those published (only if there some good ones on the day)

I always thought publishers require photographers signed on to use those images if taken track side, but that's good to know spectators can still publish images... (possibly not paid, but I guess that would depend on the images)

I think times are changing and more of printed materials are now web based, which is where I can see it all going... sure there be always printed, advertising and programs but its more and more digital these days then ever before (not just motorsport).

I'm certainly expecting to run at a loss the next couple years after going full time employed to freelance, but got to start somewhere :)

also... what do you think of the website?

some things I may change, but tried to keep it clean, quick and easy viewing...
 
The website is very nice. Easy on the eyes with a very simple way of buying individual prints. It gets the thumbs up from me.
 
dunganick said:
The website is very nice. Easy on the eyes with a very simple way of buying individual prints. It gets the thumbs up from me.
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cheers tried to keep it simple, quick loading for viewers/buyers.

on another note:

Just had two emails this morning from applications I sent out...

Thank you for your recent media application for the BTCC at Brands Hatch. Unfortunately we are not accrediting websites that aren’t linked with a printed publication at our events. Therefore I regret to inform you that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.
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oh well... I tried, but after reading there terms and conditions I'd most likely be better off within the crowd anyway.

then not long after this one...

You are, of course, already accredited for the Festival, but if you're able to come to Donington next week we would like to invite you to join us for the Donington Historic Festival Test Day at Donington Park
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so that's one sorted. :)
I'm a huge fan of the historics and been to many at brands/snetterton but never at donington so thats great!
 
Have a look at the T&Cs of an event but I think that some places have an issue with photographers selling pictures and prints if thy are not accredited. Same as a live music event no SLR style cameras allowed only crappy phones and small cameras as it's taking money away from the organiser and the accredited togs.

Vaguely remember a thread where someonewas told to take down photos that were up for sale at a specific track as they did not have permission.
 
If I was you and couldn't get the press passes from the organisers then I would go to the teams that are taking part. Tell them you do a photogrpahy day with photos of all the team that you can use commercially and sell back to them if they like them. You will then be noticed by the organisers and do photography for future events and promotional items etc...

Just what I would do, let me know how it all goes!
 
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