Question on getting started

[Soulex?]

So, I'm about to move to Seattle. My goal is to start to make some money on sports photography. I am in the process of building my portfolio, which is really just grabbing the best shots and compiling it into a pdf or something. The reason for wanting to make the money is to help me get better camera equipment and start to save some money. So I have some questions

The biggest one I have is determining my net worth with photos. Correct me if I'm wrong, but my stigma is not to ever give the RAW out, and that I should never guarantee a certain amount of shots. I linked my photos at the bottom of the page. Since I just do minor edits, it's not a lot of processing. I also try to get the photos up and out within 24 hours.

After my networth is established, who should I contact to get paid? I don't mind doing mom and pop stuff (shooting little Billy's game) but I'd like to actually get real experience.

Advertising...how do I go about this as cheaply as possible?

Copyright. Is there something I need to do to ensure that I retain rights to my photos?

Insurance. I take it I am responsible for my own gear. If something happens on a shoot like a ball hits my lens and snaps it off and destroys my lens as well as my camera, can I get them to replace it or am I screwed?

Are there somethings I should completely avoid doing? Certain shoots, requests, or what have you?

Thanks everyone.

Photos here:

http://neotericdesigns.imgur.com/

 

[kelack]

I've moved your thread into the Talk Sports thread as you may get a better response from the sports guys

 

[Soulex?]

Thanks!

 

[KIPAX]

So I have some questions

You may not find answers to a lot of your questions as its mostly UK photogrpahers in here and some htings will be different ...over there ..

but my stigma is not to ever give the RAW out

Well shooting sports most dont shoot in raw... and the stigma is never give free ... if a customer wants to pay for raw or original than let them.. its about the money

I also try to get the photos up and out within 24 hours.

which is around 23 hrs 55 minutes too late.... to make any real money you need to be providing news /media / newspapers with the pictures and that should be done while the game is in play

After my networth is established, who should I contact to get paid?

america.. dunno how it works there..

Plus your above questions dont say who your supplying pics to.. who you think is going to buy them?

Copyright. Is there something I need to do to ensure that I retain rights to my photos?

copyright is always yours unless you specifically give it up.. there are other instances such as if your in employment or working under a licence.. but general rule is.. your copyright unless you give it up

Insurance. I take it I am responsible for my own gear. If something happens on a shoot like a ball hits my lens and snaps it off and destroys my lens as well as my camera, can I get them to replace it or am I screwed?

you are responsible.. get insured.. in this country you also need public liabilty cover in case anyone hurts themselves on you or your equipment.. most sports ground make it a requirement.. again.. america.. dunno..

Are there somethings I should completely avoid doing? Certain shoots, requests, or what have you?

no pay no shoot is the only one really..

 

[Bluesman graham]

Hi Soulex,

your questions are a bit ambiguous given that your moving to the US where media rules are totaly different to over here!.

Shooting High school /collage sport usually requires concent from the "sports Director/coaches", this is not easily granted especially to a foreigner (sorry but it's true!). It also works on a "you scratch my back" ideal so expect to be giving images away for free to the collage/High Schools!,
you're cash will be made on parental sales which will TBH be slim unless you have instant printing equipment as "Moms with cameras" will give them away to Twitter/facebook/friends!.
& looking at your "equipment profile" it will be inferior?(sorry but I've seen Mkiii's, Mkiv's with 70-200 2.8's in the bleachers).

As for shooting Pro sport for newspaper sales forget it!, accreditation is very hard to get for major sports & though you see umpteen photographers @ major events most are on "mates" tickets & will in no way be concidered for publication. You may pick up sales from local papers for local sports but expect to trail way further than you imagine to get to a venue, (150 miles isn't out of the way over there!).

As Kipax says shooting Raw for newsprint is a no go! all imagery should be jpeg & submitted "Live" not after 24 hrs!. images around 1mg are about right.

PLI (public liability insurance) is a must wherever you end up shooting, especially in the US's Cash for a claim socity, expect it to be much higher than over here too!. $10million cover wouldn't be a surprise to me!. then you've to add your own camera insurance!.

I wish you all the best in your new life but I think your asking questions to the wrong side of the pond tbh & are in for a shock as to how it works over there. Kind regards Graham.

 

[KIPAX]

It would seem we dont have it as bad as we think on our little island

 

[Soulex?]

Thanks everyone.

Yeah, I definitely get the time crunch thing, but it's something I don't see myself having to run across it. Pretty much like you said, really small time things just to get my feet in the ground. I can always work up from there. I really am kind of looking at the lower tiers of football/baseball and possibly some kids/school games.

It's funny that you mention the MkIII and stuff. I do often see a lot of really expensive cameras with people at events I am at. However, they don't know how to use them! Well most of the time anyways. I saw a woman taking a picture of her dinner with a MkIII a year or so back, or something along the lines of it. And was using a pop up flash. I think I only saw one person with that prestige of camera that knew how to use it and didn't have it on auto.

I'll switch to JPEG for sports. It'll give me a larger buffer anyways which is important.

So do major sports journos edit on the spot? 5 minutes is not a lot of time to verify the picture, grab it, edit it and send it up.

 

[KIPAX]

So do major sports journos edit on the spot? 5 minutes is not a lot of time to verify the picture, grab it, edit it and send it up.

not forgetting the all important captioning..its all about speed.. sometimes its the first pic at the picture desk that gets used/paid for

 

[Bluesman graham]

I can usually edit/caption/send at least 5 images in your 5 min captule! and I'm sure 90% of pro shooters on here can, (that's what makes it competative!).
Quality is not an option in High School shooting I'm afraid! she/He with the MkiV will get her/his pics "used" sooner than your good quality one cos?, you've got it, it's Free!.

PS I'm no Canon user but I'm pretty sure the MkIII doesn't have a pop up flash?.

Sorry mate I think you're gonna struggle?

PS The Auto mode settings on these high end cameras are way better/quicker than my memory from settings from 35mm film etc!

 

[Gary Coyle]

One things for sure is if you expect picture desk editios to pull stuff down from your website then you really need to be much more picky about what you put up there, there is lots of OOF stuff up there and even more dross, you either need to learn to pick what to shoot or cull a massive amount of your online stuff.

 

[Soulex?]

One things for sure is if you expect picture desk editios to pull stuff down from your website then you really need to be much more picky about what you put up there, there is lots of OOF stuff up there and even more dross, you either need to learn to pick what to shoot or cull a massive amount of your online stuff.

Most of that are pictures I show the family and friends. Not a portfolio, just a storage place I can link and show pictures when needed. I don't have a website or anything for a portfolio yet.

Like. I mentioned...baby steps for me lol

 

[Soulex?]

I can usually edit/caption/send at least 5 images in your 5 min captule! and I'm sure 90% of pro shooters on here can, (that's what makes it competative!).
Quality is not an option in High School shooting I'm afraid! she/He with the MkiV will get her/his pics "used" sooner than your good quality one cos?, you've got it, it's Free!.

PS I'm no Canon user but I'm pretty sure the MkIII doesn't have a pop up flash?.

Sorry mate I think you're gonna struggle?

PS The Auto mode settings on these high end cameras are way better/quicker than my memory from settings from 35mm film etc!

It was that or something like it. Huge magnesium body without a grip. I didn't go over and inspect it.

Like I mentioned, just trying to find something smallish. I have a full time Job I am under contract with. It's beer money I guess would be the best way of mentioning.

Though this is something I would like to do in the future, being a pro, or anything near it isn't in the cards for me right now.

 

[Gary Coyle]

Even so, and potential pic editor could do a simple search and would come up with this stuff, i know when i first started out my name was bandied about and others were asked "anyone heard of this guy" and anyone who had pointed them to my website, the exact same will probably apply with you, even more so because you will be totally unknown in the USA so ayone worth their salt will be hitting google to find out all about you, dont put anything online which isnt good enough, simple, because it will be found.

 

[Bluesman graham]

It was that or something like it. Huge magnesium body without a grip. I didn't go over and inspect it.

Like I mentioned, just trying to find something smallish. I have a full time Job I am under contract with. " It's beer money I guess would be the best way of mentioning. "

Though this is something I would like to do in the future, being a pro, or anything near it isn't in the cards for me right now.

I'll bow out now & allow the bun fight to start! "again". . Kind regards Graham.

 

[kelack]

I don't think there will be a bun fight

 

[Soulex?]

I'll bow out now & allow the bun fight to start! "again". . Kind regards Graham.

Did I say something wrong?

Even so, and potential pic editor could do a simple search and would come up with this stuff, i know when i first started out my name was bandied about and others were asked "anyone heard of this guy" and anyone who had pointed them to my website, the exact same will probably apply with you, even more so because you will be totally unknown in the USA so ayone worth their salt will be hitting google to find out all about you, dont put anything online which isnt good enough, simple, because it will be found.

Great advice. I'll cull everything soon and just put up the winners.

 

[Soulex?]

Again, thanks for the help. I appreciate it. As I mentioned, I am a videographer by trade so somethings are lost on me. Ive only actively been shooting stills for 2 years.

Its somethin I really want to do, but its more hobby than anything right now. The last thing I want to do is make it seem like I am ungrateful for the advice. This is new territory for me, so I ask a lot of questions. I also dont take things to heart and head, for instance if you guys told me to scrap every photo I have for a portfolio. My end goal is to get better, and continue my love of watching the best sport in the world through the viewfinder.

Dream job is being a club photographer for ACF Fiorentina. Italian league. And I am a plastic I guess. Ive been to Florence about ten times, watch all games, and saw a few live. I love the team, the spirit, and that joy it brings me is something. i want to share with other people.