Outlets and approach

[MrRGPhotographer]

Good Afternoon all,

I currently have been covering local football games at a few levels below conference and some U21 games of higher level clubs for a single paper however I have decided to make more of a move with my photography and just wanted some simple advice.

Now I have found it easy to obtain passes to local clubs up to Conference (I have applied for my license for this league level) and also including Womens football. I just wanted some advice on how and who you approach for the sale of photos, Is it literally research before the game to what local and possibly national papers may be interested and then contacting them for each match? If so what sort of approach do you take?

I understand that once you have dealt with an outlet once then it will be easier to deal with them after but its the initial stage I just wanted some advice on. And I presume you aim to get your photos across to these individuals fast as you can for more chance of publishing?

Thanks for any help!

Oh and anyone else that cant help but read this, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!

 

[Sideshow Alvie]

Good luck finding papers that are prepared to pay for non-league football. In my experience, certainly, these are few and far between, especially for stuff submitted on spec. There are loads of people out there daft enough to give their pics away for free and for most papers they will go with a free one over a paid pic every time, no matter how good the paid pic might be. This seems to be a universal phenomenon nowadays but it wasn't always that way.

Doing commissioned work for the Non League Paper is a common pathway but, of course, they're not going to offer you anything unless you can demonstarte ability and reliability. As regards other national outlets you are going to have your work cut out getting them to carry anything but the higher levels of league footy. This is a tough game to make money out of.

 

[snapzz]

You are getting very late in the season now for football so probably better looking at setting your stall out for August. Firstly apply for a Conference licence and contact NLP to see if you can get any commissions from them. They pay peanuts or nothing for anything on spec so next you need to look at away sides and search for their local papers. Again not great earners but when I did it I usually offered them a selection of images for around £40. Mostly tho' they wouldnt pay anything. Dont forget to keep badgering your own local paper and sending them a portfolio wouldnt hurt.
There are quite a lot of other opportunities also for freelancing they may pay better. Contacting event photographers for second shooters and companies such as Marathon-Photos to name a few. Of course you would need the right gear and that can be a high but essential cost.

 

[Sideshow Alvie]

Good advice from snapzz. If you don't get the right gear it's almost impossible to do footy for at least the middle four months of the season, so you're spending a lot of dosh just to get going and with no guarantee of making the money back.

 

[KIPAX]

If your looking for outlets then your looking to make money.. so investment is needed. Just don't fall into the same trap as a lot of people who think the higher up the football pyramid you go then the more money to be made. I can make more money at a u16s girls football match than I could make at a arsenal v liverpool game...

 

[Toggerman]

I can make more money at a u16s girls football match than I could make at a arsenal v liverpool game...

This is the way I want to go next season. I've made nothing from shooting for my local team so far as the papers I've tried won't pay and are happy to use SBF ones. However the club is really into the whole youth football and have a few U18 and younger teams and I will speak to the secretary of the club about shooting them next season as I believe that's going to be the best revenue stream.