Professional Sports Photographers

KIPAX said:
My comments aimed at the whole thread and the way its practically saying no chance .. Deep breath my friend :)
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Agreed.

I don't think it's such a closed shop either. There's plenty of stuff around that people would be over the moon to have coverage of. The American Football is a prime example for that.

My local team were overjoyed to have coverage, and even though they don't get much/any income, still made an effort to ensure I got paid even a token amount.

Anyone can just turn up to something like that and snap away!
 
Some really cool and useful info for us "Newbies" James, thank you very much, excellent. This ought to be a "sticky" for everyone to have a look at!!
 
Byker28i said:
Formula1? I'm thinking Sutton seems to get a lot of shots into the papers (plus gets to go to exotic warm places).
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Yeah alright...Formula 1 gets a lot of cash in...but in terms of column inches, I still suspect Football grabs it.

It's the back page of most daily's and has supplements in nearly all the papers on a Monday.

The Game in The Times
Super Goals in The Sun etc.
 
boogieville said:
Some really cool and useful info for us "Newbies" James, thank you very much, excellent. This ought to be a "sticky" for everyone to have a look at!!
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If only we had a "sports talk" section for it to be a sticky in ;)
 
can't think where your going with this James!!:love:
 
*cough*, bloody hell! what a great Idea? *cough*, some one of position should perhaps take this on board;)
 
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Always! :lol:
 
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:D
 
Call it the "P&S" section....................:exit:
 
I would imagine it is a long hard road you have to travel, probably starting with a local newspaper, then progressing up to a national. If your work is really good you can try it with an agency , and if they like your work and you have a flexibel appraoch to work, then you will be in demand. But hey the guys on here know what they are talking about.
 
I did quite a few yrs non league footy (and other sports) midweek games sat in rain and snow feeling like my fingers are dropping off.. crowd of maybe 30 fans... That was my apprentiship and yes it was a long hard rd.

I know people who ahve just walked straight into the job and I say well done to them.. Wish I could ahve :) But I ended up doing it the hard way...however.. I enjoyed every single minute of it.. Even on the nights I suddenly stop and think to myself... why? what the heck am i doing here...
 
jamesb84 said:
Mark...please. It's getting a bit tiresome now. Have you been at the European Athletics Championships? Olympics? IAAF Diamond League meets?
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Nope, but I've done

County Championships
English Championships
British Championships
World Championships

In a variety of sports.
These many not be mega popular sports, but an agency was not need, and if your read rogan200's thread it looks like employment by the media or an agency is not a must have for the current European Swimming Championships

What I find tiresome is that any question about sport, it's always assumed to be about football.

jamesb84 said:
By all means go off and photograph athletics every weekend, but if you turn to an agency and say "well, i've done loads of athletics but never any football" you might not get as far. Simply because, it's football that brings in a lot of money.
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It's true that football is the big payer today, but what will the agency say in 2012 when a tog says I've done lots of football, but no experience of Athletics or Beach Volleyball and I'd be nervous doing Taekwondo. A Pro tog with a good variety and mixed portfolio will be in greater demand for what will be a truly global market.
 
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This is a great discussion, which I've only just come across. Has anyone ever suggested there should be a dedicated section to discuss sports photography?

First couple of thoughts, Rory the OP will be aware that the entry level for football in NE Scotland is the Highland League, not SFL Div 3. I’m sure that gets plenty of interest among the local press.
Also, as far as I can see, the dominant agency in Scotland is SNS, unless it’s different up in P&J land.

KIPAX said:
The replies do seem to be football related... I have only just seen this thread and suprised it took so long to point this out.

Sorry to go against the vien here but there are lots of sports events you can get into ....dare i say....just like that! and I am not talking park sports with one man and his dog there...
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I’m on whiteflyer’s and Kipax’s side. As far as I’m concerned, sport in Britain, and definitely in Scotland, is far too football-centric (can I ™ that word?). I know that’s what dominates the papers and that’s where the money is, but it’s just wrong!

I’m far from being a pro, but I’ve been enjoying sports photography more and more over the last year and I’m taking it more and more seriously. I wasn’t interested in football and having found up to half a dozen photographers already at games I liked, rugby union and basketball, I looked for other sports to cover. I found there was no one seriously covering hockey, and having been a player once upon a time, I took to shooting that. Being prepared to supply photos to clubs and the association got me exposure, and a little money, and nowadays I can wander in at an international game and it’s taken for granted that I’m there.

One thing about covering minor sports, you don’t need any sort of pass, carrying a ‘big’ camera will get you almost anywhere. And meantime, you can build up a portfolio of action pictures at least as good as you’ll get at a football match.

Here are a few suggestions for teams to look at in the north east:
Hockey – Aberdeen Asset Management – in the top division this season
Aussie Rules – Aberdeen Dingos – top team, and as spectacular action as you’ll get
Rugby League – Moray Eels – based at RAF Lossiemouth
American (Flag) Football - Aberdeen Oilcats – another top team. I’ve only caught a few minutes of a game, but it looked great.
 
whiteflyer said:
Nope, but I've done

County Championships
English Championships
British Championships
World Championships

In a variety of sports.
These many not be mega popular sports, but an agency was not need, and if your read rogan200's thread it looks like employment by the media or an agency is not a must have for the current European Swimming Championships

What I find tiresome is that any question about sport, it's always assumed to be about football.



It's true that football is the big payer today, but what will the agency say in 2012 when a tog says I've done lots of football, but no experience of Athletics or Beach Volleyball and I'd be nervous doing Taekwondo. A Pro tog with a good variety and mixed portfolio will be in greater demand for what will be a truly global market.
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You have a point to some extent Mark but they agencies will still turn to those who have proved themselves week in/out shooting Premier League/Champions League, Internationals. Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup, 6 Nations etc

Editing,captioning and sending images whilst shooting. The Olympics is big business so they will give the commissions/assignments to those who have shown they can handle the pressure

There are some that specialize in the less popular sports but not many
 
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Oh I must add to something Tony eluded to :

Enjoy it

When starting do something you enjoy shooting and have some fun, as after becoming a full time pro for media/agency there will be events/sport you just don't want to do, but have to as It's a job
 
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Rovers_Andy said:
You have a point to some extent Mark but they agencies will still turn to those who have proved themselves week in/out shooting Premier League/Champions League, Internationals. Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup, 6 Nations etc

Editing,captioning and sending images whilst shooting. The Olympics is big business so they will give the commissions/assignments to those who have shown they can handle the pressure

There are some that specialize in the less popular sports but not many
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I cover the British Figure Skating Championships as the "official photographer". They give permits to press and proven freelancers (with press membership) but no one else. Photography by the public is banned in the venue and the do have people watching. I alway carry my SJA card with me just in case I am asked at any sports event.
 
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I'm with Kipax here. There are many events that it is much easier to get into. Football just happens to be the pinnacle of ambition in the UK, mainly because that's where the money and the publication potential is.

However, there are plenty of sports events where you can just stand at the side of the road/park or whatever and snap away, gradually building up your skills and portfolio to the point where you might have enough to show it to an agency for the more "sought after" events. For example, I was at Wasps earlier in the year as an accredited tog pitchside, but 12 inches behind me on the other side of the barriers was a lady with a 400mm 2.8 lens and a Canon 1D who'd just paid to get in like any other punter. She'd be getting pictures no different to mine.

Football just happens to be very tricky due to the high demand to get in, plus the fact it's one of the few areas where you can make a bit of cash.

What you might want to think of is to become a total expert in one sport. Really get to know the participants, the rules, the back story etc, and become the world's best tog in that sport. It may be a relatively minor sport, but the rewards are still great.

In the end it depends what you want. I've had a lot more fun at the World Marble Championships than many times sitting in the rain on the touchline of a footy or rugby game. If you want to be in the papers, football is the way to go, and good luck as it's a hard slog. If you want to really enjoy yourself, pick your passion and pursue it relentlessly.
 
There's always that option. Do you get people taking pictures of you yet?
 
Too fast mate. Actually, I need a snapper for a Team ride at Flanders next Spring. You fancy it ?:cool:

GB only !:thumbs:
 
Yep - no probs. How much are you paying? :D
 
Well...it appears I owe you a favour or two so we might be able to come to an arrangement, mainly involving Duvel.
 
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