Sports Photography

Gitty69

Gitty69

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Name
Paul
Edit My Images
Yes
Im looking to invest alot of money in some new gear to try and get into sports photography more professionally. Ive taking pics of my local team now over the past year or two and looking to advance with better gear.

Im investing in a Canon 1d mkiv, Canon 400mm F2.8, Canon 70-200mm F2.8 and a 24-780mm F2.8.

Just looking for a bit of advice off people who are already doing this kind of photography and how they got in with agencies or media.

All help will be appreciated and thanks in advance. Paul
 
Glaringly obvious you will need a second mkIV

Put together a portfolio of work you have done and send to agencies and see what happens.
 
If you're only going with one body, have you considered the Canon 100-400L?

I'm just thinking the 400mm will be OK when the action's a fair distance away but you're never going to get anything that's up close and the 70-200 will be too short as a "catch all" lens.

Bear in mind that most "professional" sports photographers send their shots directly to the media from pitchside and have 2-3 bodies at their disposal it's a fiercely competative area of photography. Most pros will have £10K-£20 worth of gear.

Check out some of the posts written by KIPAX, if you're hell bent on doing this then I wish you luck and this post isn't to discourage you.

Just wanted to potentially save you some cash ;)
 
Wow, those must be some seriously deep pockets you've got there...

That's better equipment than I've got and I'm getting paid to do this week in, week out.

My advice would be:

1. Slow down. What are you using at the moment? If it does the job, then why do you need to spend over £15k?

2. Do you know what sports photography entails? It's not always about photographing the FA Cup Final or the World Cup winning goal...more often than not it's a drizzly tuesday evening with appalling floodlights. Do your research on what you're likely to be doing. It's all very well saying "I'm buying this" but it's not a ****ing match about who has the best lens...it's all about the pictures.

3. It's ridiculously competitive. Unless you are the best in the world, or have something seriously different to offer, why should an agency take you on? Work on this, find out what you've got to offer. Post photos and get criticism...be prepared to be knocked back several times.

4. It is a strain on relationships and personal life. Every Saturday you could be out, and if your significant other works midweek then you'll be seeing very little of each other. If YOU work midweek, you will be knackered.

5. How will you recoup your money from the stupendous amount of equipment you buy? See point 3, you're not going to earn much money (also see point 2 - The Sun are not interested in the last scenario I've given).

6. Practice...post photos for criticism. There is no point wasting the money you want to spend if you're crap at sports photography.

OK, now I did it this way:
I started out photographing my university team, with a 350D and a 100-300 Sigma. I got lucky and was able to photograph one of the Welsh regional rugby teams and the local lower league football. I practiced a lot, and my early stuff was awful.

I finally got up the courage to speak to an agency, who offered me a crack at the football league. I had to spend a lot of cash to get the equipment that was required, and I earned very little. I bought a 30D and a 70-200 Sigma, then added a 300L f/2.8 on top.

I practiced for another few years before a chance encounter led to another job with a bigger agency. Again, I upgraded slowly and improved more...at a higher level there was more pressure.

I built up enough of a portfolio to consider approaching bigger agencies, and eventually after a lot of knock-backs and disappointment and criticism I got a freelance job with one of the biggest agencies in the country.

This IS NOT easy...but you seem to be approaching it the wrong way to me!
 
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Ive done a bit of work for a local paper covering mainly sports. Thats mostly been rugby which have been printed. Also covered motorbike racing for them which come out good.

Im not expecting Premier League or nothing like that anytime soon. Im willing to work my socks off at this and practice with my current camera anytime I get chance. I go home and away with my local rugby side for all games so know its not all glam.

Not really looking to make money either straight away. I know you have to prove yourself first.
 
Gitty69 said:
Ive done a bit of work for a local paper covering mainly sports. Thats mostly been rugby which have been printed. Also covered motorbike racing for them which come out good.
Not really looking to make money either straight away. I know you have to prove yourself first.
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So youve been published previously but not paid, yes, no. and are happy to continue for a while without making money.
 
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No not been paid cos it was for a mate so he got me the passes just for me to get a bit of experience of doing sports photography. Obviously to see if they were any good too.

I honestly not bothered bout getting paid until I know my images are of a good standard.
 
*Settles down for the entertainment*............:)
 
No not again. But just wanted the experience of doing some motorbike racing. It was only the local rag nothing tidy.
 
I've got my 400 2.8 for sale in the Canon classifieds on this forum for £2500.
 
Paul, with all due respect, you really need to do your homework first.

This is not meant to put you off or discourage you in anyway. If you want the help of the good folk on here to accomplish your goals (no pun intended), you need to learn the delicate nature and etiquete of your posts. These people you are asking for advice from, have in the past opened their doors to people and shown them the BEST routes in getting paid for shooting sports. Although you have said you dont mind about the money just yet, you will. And if you don't go about this in the correct manner, you will get disheatened and think we are all out to get you.

Your initial post is looking for a way into shooting sports professionally, investing the amount you suggest, and doing it for free seems a strange way to go about it. At the end of the day, they are your images, you can do what you like with them, but suggesting that you need advice to progress up the ranks, and possibly take money from the process which could be paid to a current working photographer, is not advisable.

Take a step back, look at what you need to do to get to where you want to go, take the advice from the pro's on here that will guide you if treated right. And most importantly, dont bite the hands that feed you.

Im not even a semi pro, I don't even like footy, but have a huge amount of respect for the guys on here, not for their ability of shooting sports, for their ability of being good honest people. try not to abuse that nature.

Good luck Paul, I hope you get the success you look for.


Phil.
 
Best advice I can give...point the camera at the action and press the shutter at the vital moment. You will soon get the hang of it.
 
Because it's that easy!!! :(
 
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Well, I've had my say...Paul, you seem to have ignored a lot of the comments I made. Post some pics, tell us what equipment you have already (I bet £5 it's sufficient) and we'll go from there.

I'm not even going to mention the "working for free" issue. :shake:

It does make me wonder how you're going to afford £15k of kit in a sustainable fashion!
 
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Why is everyone under the assumption that the OP can't take a good picture already?
 
Aperture87 said:
Yes, its just that simple, there's nothing else involved...
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Actually, at the very simplest level...that is all that's involved. Perhaps the OP should go with the simplest level for the time being, no?
 
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As long as you remember that the 'vital moment' comes before the 'vital action' that is! :lol:
 
KIPAX said:
Why is everyone under the assumption that the OP can't take a good picture already?
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Dont think anyones made that direct assumption mate, however i think folk are leaning towards that way of thinking because the OP himself has indicated a desire to improve
looking to advance with better gear
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It would be useful if the OP did post some stuff though
 
Gary Coyle said:
Dont think anyones made that direct assumption mate, however i think folk are leaning towards that way of thinking because the OP himself has indicated a desire to improve
It would be useful if the OP did post some stuff though
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It read to me that he has been photogrpahing sport for a couple of yrs (so i presume he does have a clue) and wants advice on getting into the business.. upping his game so to speak...

i agree showing us his work would help us advise though ....just seems odd the answers are to go out and shoot when the question isnt how to shoot sports but how to upgrade to media level IYKWIM :)

theres also the possibility that this is all one big red herring ..it does smell a bit fishy :)
 
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jamesb84 said:
Could you point out where I've been rude, and I'll gladly go back and edit. I don't think I've made this about me either...the OP asked for how people got started, so I told him.

I'm glad you've looked at my work, and actually a little flattered that someone went to the effort. Since you know my name, could you tell me yours (PM will do fine)? I don't really like being told I'm arrogant, condescending etc. without knowing who's saying it to me.

If you'd care to look through the 2 posts i've made in this thread, I've said "post images for critique" so I'm not exactly savaging him without seeing images...I'm asking to see them so we/I can point him in the right direction.

Above all, appearing as if by magic to have a pop without actually saying who you are (yet) does make you look a little bit like a keyboard warrior. Like I said, PM will do fine for actually saying who you are.
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Well put matey.
 
KIPAX said:
It read to me that he has been photogrpahing sport for a couple of yrs (so i presume he does have a clue) and wants advice on getting into the business.. upping his game so to speak...

i agree showing us his work would help us advise though ....just seems odd the answers are to go out and shoot when the question isnt how to shoot sports but how to upgrade to media level IYKWIM :)

theres also the possibility that this is all one big red herring ..it does smell a bit fishy :)
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You could be right people read things differently, it is annoying that a number of people new or recent to here simply wont browse the forum or read the stickies first though, the overwhelming majority of required info is already there and i think thats partly the reason why the this sport forum has slowly ground to a halt, its becoming a bit tedious for good folk to give sound advice then to see it clearly ignored and then in the most recent case those helping were insulted by the guy who was seeking advice, i know i for one have finished offering advice.

I also questioned the validity of the OP as well.
 
How upsetting, I used my 1800th post to defend myself.
 
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You could always edit it to be a picture of a nice fluffy bunny?
 
Touche! I probably should have added 'appear to' between 'may' and 'be'! :D
 
bluesnappa said:
Best advice I can give...point the camera at the action and press the shutter at the vital moment. You will soon get the hang of it.
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Well said, bout time you sports photographers realised that. Pray and spray, doodle..........;)
 
Listen to the very good avice given on here. Don't run before you can walk. It's a very competetive world is this sports photography.
I live not very far from you Gitty69, and believe you me i talk from experience when i say its very hard to make any sort of income just from photographing local sports. Look at your catchment area, what are you going to photograph that is newsworthy? Rugby wise you have the regions at the top level, they all have club photographers. Even in the welsh premiership they all have club photographers, i know because i'm one. Football is out because Swansea and Cardiff are FA and you need a license to photograph there, not easy to get, unless your with an agency. The next level is the conference, non league. Might be worth a try with Newport FC. Not big money in selling pics there. Seriously, if its a very important game rugby/football whatever, you can guarantee that there will be a staffer from the locals there and as far as rugby is concerned, an agency covering the game or even someone local who is trusted to do the job. So your outlet is very limited if you want to sell your work. Don't go there about giving your work away for the experience, you're just compounding the problem of selling your images in the future.
As far as equipment is concerned, and you are serious about spending £10K+, your limiting yourself with one body if you want to capture all the action. Its ok if you can walk around the pitch, but, there are not many grounds that allow that anymore.
Also have you considered PLI, equipment cover etc This is required now by a lot of clubs.
Sorry if this sounds negative to you, but its just how it is in this area.
I wish you luck if you intend on going forward with your plan. Go out and enjoy taking images and see where it may lead, but don't expect a quick fix if it doesn't go to plan.
 
Jesus I wish I hadn't bothered. Ha. I'm not goin to be giving my images away again.

I've got a canon 450 at the moment and a 70-300mm f4-5.6.
 
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