Proving yourself with no experience

SamJT

SamJT

Suspended / Banned
Messages
241
Name
Sam
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi All,

This'll hopefully be a quick question with a straight forward answer, but I was just wondering how most people start off proving themselves to potential clients if they don't have much experience in sports photography?

Basically I'm in my first year at uni and I'd like to start shooting for university sports teams and although I've been a keen photographer for the last few years, I've never done any proper sports photography other than the american football game I shot the other weekend (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/1st-attempt-at-american-football.528397/). I'd like to think my photos show some promise but should I continue to shoot games for free to build my portfolio or should I just present some of my other photos which are unrelated to sports in a portfolio? I've got a couple of rugby and football games lined up for some extra practice in the next week.

Cheers,
Sam
 
Go out to the parks on a sat or sun morning and shoot some grass roots football.. or rugby.. its free and anyone can do it.. shouldnt take long to build a portfolio..

The simple answer is.. you can only prove your good enough by showing what you ahve done... You can only show what you ahve done by going out and doing it.. Football is the same game on a local pitch with pub teams as it is at old trafford.. same game different skill and surroundings... If you can show capturing a goal and celebrations.. can show whats happening in a game..tell the story with pictures.. then the location and skill of the players doesnt matter...
 
I'd try and cover some extra games over a weekend or two, check local fixtures and schedules (weather depending)

That was you can practice and then provide more images for a portfolio at the same time which you can then use to approach teh Uni
 
Plenty of sports to shoot in Sheffield and build up a portfolio.

I spent a few years shooting some of the local rugby, football, hockey etc in Sheffield and now work most weekends covering grassroot sport for the local paper.

I think this coming weekend the University Championships are on again in Sheffield.
 
KIPAX said:
Go out to the parks on a sat or sun morning and shoot some grass roots football.. or rugby.. its free and anyone can do it.. shouldnt take long to build a portfolio..
Click to expand...

How do you go about this Kipax? Do you approach the manager/coach of the teams beforehand and explain what you're doing or do you just turn up and start shooting?
 
Leslie said:
How do you go about this Kipax? Do you approach the manager/coach of the teams beforehand and explain what you're doing or do you just turn up and start shooting?
Click to expand...


99% of teams have an internet presence.. twitter or facebook... Find your local sat/sun league.. get the fixtures.. get the teams... and ask... if impossible then turn up on day and ask.. theres usualy multiple pitches so your bound to get somehting... its adults football so nobody is going to be precious about it :) I would never turn up and start photogrpahing...
 
KIPAX said:
99% of teams have an internet presence.. twitter or facebook... Find your local sat/sun league.. get the fixtures.. get the teams... and ask... if impossible then turn up on day and ask.. theres usualy multiple pitches so your bound to get somehting... its adults football so nobody is going to be precious about it :) I would never turn up and start photogrpahing...
Click to expand...

I figured that would be the case :)

Would you offer any of the images to the teams? Or wait until you were asked for copies?
 
Sheffield uni must have Uni level Rugby, Hockey, and Football teams at the very least (posibly others as well) - if you speak to your SU they'll be able to put you in touch with coaches and team captains then you can negotiate better access to Uni games (probably in return for picture, unless you are a female sam in which case the rugby team may prove very accomodating ;) )

I've no experience of this as a Photographer ( I hasten to add) but when I was playing british colleges 7s rugby we had a photographer from the student body who used to cover most of our games.
 
KIPAX said:
Go out to the parks on a sat or sun morning and shoot some grass roots football.. or rugby.. its free and anyone can do it.. shouldnt take long to build a portfolio..

The simple answer is.. you can only prove your good enough by showing what you ahve done... You can only show what you ahve done by going out and doing it.. Football is the same game on a local pitch with pub teams as it is at old trafford.. same game different skill and surroundings... If you can show capturing a goal and celebrations.. can show whats happening in a game..tell the story with pictures.. then the location and skill of the players doesnt matter...
Click to expand...

Actually I'm not sure there's any difference at all ;)
 
Last edited:
Leslie said:
I figured that would be the case :)

Would you offer any of the images to the teams? Or wait until you were asked for copies?
Click to expand...


Depends how your setup.. I wouldnt offer any for free.. if you have a website you can get them to look... sell prints or sell the DVD.... But deffo not give them away ... Your pics so your choice of course :)
 
SamJT said:
This'll hopefully be a quick question with a straight forward answer, but I was just wondering how most people start off proving themselves to potential clients if they don't have much experience in sports photography?
Click to expand...

To be honest... most (ethical) people are unlikely to look for 'clients' in an area that they have little experience in.
 
I agree with Kipax I would not give anything for free, the odd photo for a team website when starting out is up to you (I did this for one low league team that gave me my first opportunity) but when you start giving for free people will always expect it for free, I found this out later on! Learn from others mistakes.

I sometimes shoot games when I am not there for a paper etc. but if people want the photos after then they need to pay for them, also make sure you watermark your photos, I used to have a small watermark in the corner and people would screen grab them and crop my logo out etc. I now put the logo in the middle of the image.
 
Mrrikki said:
but when you start giving for free people will always expect it for free, I found this out later on! Learn from others mistakes.
.
Click to expand...

Nobody was around to explain it to me so I made the mistake.. guessing a lot of photogrpahers did.. its what you do when it has been explained that counts:)
 
KIPAX said:
Nobody was around to explain it to me so I made the mistake.. guessing a lot of photogrpahers did.. its what you do when it has been explained that counts:)
Click to expand...

Exactly the same for me, I have seen lots of posts where people are told and then ignore the advice only to complain later when they can't get people to pay for photos lol
 
Last edited:
Dont effin get me started on this, local d******d cost me £40 for a couple of pics last Sunday

Game finished 11-10 to the very unfancied outsiders, i had the drop goal which won the game, No7 in this pic http://gcsports.zenfolio.com/p805638350/h177821bd#h177821bd

Paper went with this freebie http://www.thepressnews.co.uk/sportsnews/rams-shock-league-favourites/

Other local paper went with this very old stock pic, not even the same 2 teams playing http://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/sport/local-sport/impressive-rams-claim-tigers-scalp-1-6430207

They also ran a story of the player who kicked the drop goal as he was awarded the best payer in the League, they used an even worse stock pic http://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/s...cts-championship-player-of-the-week-1-6446377

Did sell a few quids worth of prints from kids half time game though and RL papers took pics
 
Last edited:
Use your imagination... I like to think he said "local sweetheart of a photorapher" But I could be wrong :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top