Sports Photography Help!

Jmarklow

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Jamie
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I am a new member to this forum and I would like to see if anyone could help me progress because I feel like I've hit a stumbling block :bang: I recently qualified in Photography and I am looking to get into the field of sports photography.

I started off by gaining entry to events and photographing for portfolio purposes. I made sure I was getting a variety of different sports included. I now feel like I have the experience and skills to become a professional sports photographer. I am not sure what the best way is to go about it though?

I hope there are people on this forum who might know what my next move should be :D

Thanks,

Jamie
 
Where are you based Jamie, someone local on here might be able to help

Probably best to search this forum though, this topic has been done to death dozens of times.
 
I'm based in Glasgow. Yeah i'll have a wee search the now, thanks
 
It is hard to get into sports photography in Scotland, SNS have got it about covered.You should contact Universal News & Sport (Scotland)in Glasgow and have a talk to them.A couple of the big papers have recently made a number of their journalists (photo) redundant
good luck with your quest.
 
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unfortunatly photo qualifications mean nothing in the sports world (know it too well) shoot some local events and get your name around.
 
Jamie its not easy getting into the sports market in Glasgow or Scotland for that matter, as Allan has said SNS have got their finger in most places now and the broadsheets pull from them or getty these days. With the lay offs theres even more turning to freelancing and they will have a heads up.

Its hard to give advice on this as its a shrinking market here, personally I spread my business as just doing sports is'nt viable although its the thing I enjoy the most.

I have a mate who did 2 months solid with UNS and he did get stuff published but by the time he'd tallied it all up he broke even due to cost of travel/petrol etc. Certainly could'nt make a living from it. I gave them a miss but it may be a good way to dip your feet into the business and give you an idea of what it takes over and above just clicking the shutter and getting your elbows out. It may also help you get a press pass if your doing it fulltime which will open some doors for you.

Iain
 
Hi Iain, haven't seen you for a while.

Jamie, I'm in the Glasgow area too. Every so often people tell me there are opportunities at SNS, but these people tend to be customers rather than photographers. Given the redundancies mentioned above I doubt that there is much chance, but you might want to ask - www.snspix.com if you don't know them.

Personally I've concentrated on working in some less popular sports where the market is smaller but less crowded. I certainly couldn't make a living at it though, in fact it's probably barely a profit at all. It is a way to gain more experience and contacts.
 
Hi Duncan, yeah its been head down arse up making a living LOL I would try UNS first, don't take this the wrong way but UNS are more 'flexible' on who they take on than SNS who use more exprienced freelancers.

Iain
 
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