Does anyone think it is possible to make money shooting pictures of individuals at marathons? If so, where would be the best place to be situated? Would one recommend to be near the finish line? What lens would be recommended? Would one recommend a 70-200 f2.8? I also have a 17-55 f2.8. Look forward to any suggestions.
-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Shooting Marathons
- Thread starter seansrs33
- Start date
I've never tried taking this type of picture so take these comments with a grain of salt.....
I would try to scout out the course and see if there is a more visually appealing location to shoot. I'd probably look for something in the second 1/2 of the course to allow the runners time to spread out. However, I don't think I would choose the finish line. It is sure to be crowded and the runners are likely to have other people taking their pictures (family members, etc) at that point. It is also possible that the event itself is taking and selling finish line photos.
I think taking some really nice shots out on the course would actually sell better because the average runner will not have any other pictures like it to choose from. Plus you can choose a nicer location (perhaps something with an appealing background, or recognizable landmark, or just some great leading lines to use to compose the shot, etc) that will allow you to take a more visually appealing picture that will sell better.
I would try to scout out the course and see if there is a more visually appealing location to shoot. I'd probably look for something in the second 1/2 of the course to allow the runners time to spread out. However, I don't think I would choose the finish line. It is sure to be crowded and the runners are likely to have other people taking their pictures (family members, etc) at that point. It is also possible that the event itself is taking and selling finish line photos.
I think taking some really nice shots out on the course would actually sell better because the average runner will not have any other pictures like it to choose from. Plus you can choose a nicer location (perhaps something with an appealing background, or recognizable landmark, or just some great leading lines to use to compose the shot, etc) that will allow you to take a more visually appealing picture that will sell better.
Nevada-is-HOME
Well-known member
Here is my take on taking pictures at FREE events..
Take many pictures.. and make them ALL available for FREE.
I've have taken more than 10,000 pics in the last three years at FREE (open course) events.. and gladly make them available for free download.
My priorities have always been #1: to enjoy the event -- otherwise I don't have a reason to be there 2) challenge myself to get the best picture / best position (place) possible with my equipment.
I've started many life long memories with folks I met on the course (5K -10K). I mingle with the crowd.. and when I see a few struggling with their Point and Shoot, I then offer to "nail" the shot for them and make the images available for FREE..
When I do, I get the immediate reward of thank you with no strings attached -- (ie chalk it up for yet another Random Act of Kindness) I then move to another target.
A smile and a hug is worth more to me than what money I might make.
To-date, I made -0- cents on my photos.. and I recently learned that one of my HS sports picture made the cover of the August 2011 issue (Volume 4 Issue 5 24 page print) Family Circle type magazine. I got a really good kick (glow) out of that.
Below are just three from my Fuji E550 point and shoot.. and I leave the DSLR at home so I can move freely along the course and enjoy the event.
Take many pictures.. and make them ALL available for FREE.
I've have taken more than 10,000 pics in the last three years at FREE (open course) events.. and gladly make them available for free download.
My priorities have always been #1: to enjoy the event -- otherwise I don't have a reason to be there 2) challenge myself to get the best picture / best position (place) possible with my equipment.
I've started many life long memories with folks I met on the course (5K -10K). I mingle with the crowd.. and when I see a few struggling with their Point and Shoot, I then offer to "nail" the shot for them and make the images available for FREE..
When I do, I get the immediate reward of thank you with no strings attached -- (ie chalk it up for yet another Random Act of Kindness) I then move to another target.
A smile and a hug is worth more to me than what money I might make.
To-date, I made -0- cents on my photos.. and I recently learned that one of my HS sports picture made the cover of the August 2011 issue (Volume 4 Issue 5 24 page print) Family Circle type magazine. I got a really good kick (glow) out of that.
Below are just three from my Fuji E550 point and shoot.. and I leave the DSLR at home so I can move freely along the course and enjoy the event.
Michael Fritzen
Veteran Member
Hi,
it depends a lot on whether the runners really a searching for photos and willing to pay for this. My feeling is that this varies a lot. I'm in Brazil and here people love having photos of their sports activities, mainly running and triathlon (ironman).
If you like you may visit a specialized site from here to see how they run their business.
http://www.focoradical.com.br/
My guess is that you may have a hard time going in this venture alone. Those guys/gals for example cover some of the main events like a triathlon competition with 10 to 20 photographers positioned strategically along the course shooting 10th to 100th of thousands of photos. This is a heavy investment in time in advance (shooting, processing, preparation etc.).
Some of the problems you have to solve is how the athletes know that a) you're shooting; b) that you're selling the photos; c) how they can get in touch with you; d) how they can preview / select / purchase / receive the photos
Once known and established in the market things are getting easier but to reach there is no easy game. Hope this helps.
--
Cheers,
Michael Fritzen
it depends a lot on whether the runners really a searching for photos and willing to pay for this. My feeling is that this varies a lot. I'm in Brazil and here people love having photos of their sports activities, mainly running and triathlon (ironman).
If you like you may visit a specialized site from here to see how they run their business.
http://www.focoradical.com.br/
My guess is that you may have a hard time going in this venture alone. Those guys/gals for example cover some of the main events like a triathlon competition with 10 to 20 photographers positioned strategically along the course shooting 10th to 100th of thousands of photos. This is a heavy investment in time in advance (shooting, processing, preparation etc.).
Some of the problems you have to solve is how the athletes know that a) you're shooting; b) that you're selling the photos; c) how they can get in touch with you; d) how they can preview / select / purchase / receive the photos
Once known and established in the market things are getting easier but to reach there is no easy game. Hope this helps.
--
Cheers,
Michael Fritzen
I'll reply as a runner. A runner in the US, just in case it is different elsewhere.
Every race that is decently organized, including all marathons, halfs, most 15K or 10K, some 5K thats are big, etc. all have a photography group there for photos. Runphoto.com or brightroom.com for example. They sell photos for an arm and a leg (in my opinion) but, depending on their manpower, they are positioned throughout the course. I would pick one of those and browse their results. You can probably ID the lens they used from the shot. I mostly see what I assume are 70-200 lenses.
The question is, how would you sell yours? How would you get your name to the runners that you are shooting? I personally would love to have a decent running photo of me that didn't cost $20 or more for a 5x7 but other than the email I get from the group the event has do the pictures, I would never know that Joe Blow got a good shot of me at mile 18.
The challenge I see from my view, is getting individual shots of runners. It is easy for the fast people who spread out and are nearly alone. I am quite average and am always near a huge group of people. When I see the camera, I try and speed up, slow down, or move sideways to give myself space, but that is because I am vain
Most just run in the blob and you will have a hard time. For positioning, I agree with other posters. Learn the course and find a good background, where the sun will be at that time of day, etc. Bring a monopod. I have seen ladders as well. The finish line will be crowded with fans, photogs, just finished runners, finish line support crew, and the first aid people. Good luck there.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56328768@N00/
Brian Niehaus
Every race that is decently organized, including all marathons, halfs, most 15K or 10K, some 5K thats are big, etc. all have a photography group there for photos. Runphoto.com or brightroom.com for example. They sell photos for an arm and a leg (in my opinion) but, depending on their manpower, they are positioned throughout the course. I would pick one of those and browse their results. You can probably ID the lens they used from the shot. I mostly see what I assume are 70-200 lenses.
The question is, how would you sell yours? How would you get your name to the runners that you are shooting? I personally would love to have a decent running photo of me that didn't cost $20 or more for a 5x7 but other than the email I get from the group the event has do the pictures, I would never know that Joe Blow got a good shot of me at mile 18.
The challenge I see from my view, is getting individual shots of runners. It is easy for the fast people who spread out and are nearly alone. I am quite average and am always near a huge group of people. When I see the camera, I try and speed up, slow down, or move sideways to give myself space, but that is because I am vain
Most just run in the blob and you will have a hard time. For positioning, I agree with other posters. Learn the course and find a good background, where the sun will be at that time of day, etc. Bring a monopod. I have seen ladders as well. The finish line will be crowded with fans, photogs, just finished runners, finish line support crew, and the first aid people. Good luck there. --
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56328768@N00/
Brian Niehaus
longrunner
Active member
Big city marathons would be tough as there are many photographers from one of the photo companies out there in the middle of the streets, at the key spots, etc. After the event, usually within two days, they're sending everyone whose picture they took an email to a page listing all the photos they took of you, for purchase. They've somehow got a mapping from bib# to email address.
You might try ultramarathons, however, the longer the better. These are often tiny in comparison, and rarely as organized (photographically) like a big marathon. Also, they're often held in the woods, around lakes, through streams, and so on, making great photo ops.
You could probably just go to the race director of an ultra and say you want to take pics and please provide a link to your website in his results page. Find a tough 50k, 50 miler, or 100 miler and go for it
You might try ultramarathons, however, the longer the better. These are often tiny in comparison, and rarely as organized (photographically) like a big marathon. Also, they're often held in the woods, around lakes, through streams, and so on, making great photo ops.
You could probably just go to the race director of an ultra and say you want to take pics and please provide a link to your website in his results page. Find a tough 50k, 50 miler, or 100 miler and go for it
wasserball
Veteran Member
No. There is just too much work post processing and advertising to make it worthwhile to me. So, I do it for the compliment. I'm not a mass image shooter. I like to see myself as an artist taking only those images that have artistic value.
I like to capture more than just individuals, images that tell a story. True the ones I have posted here are of individuals, but the flags are in the background showing the patriotic 5k run.
The 70-200mm f2.8 is god's gift to a sport photographer. It should be considered the standard issue of all lens. That's only one I carry to running or tri events. Lugging another camera around all day long is a real PITA. i do recommend a 5 gallon plastic paint container to sit on, and a tripod to hold up the heavy lens. Yes, I'm a sports photographer, not anyone who got hired to shoot 1000-2000 shots at runners coming by. Any kid with a stong index finger can do that.
wasserball
Veteran Member
bumped.
wasserball
Veteran Member
Here is one that made it to the city of Round Rock, TX. I had official access to the TX state cross country event for this shot. What is so special about this shot? The tall runner from Kingwood in the middle leading the start of the pack. Wouldn't you rather be a freelance than one who is a mass shooter?
cityofroundrock (10 months ago)
What a great shot! The City of Round Rock Group would love to have your photo added.
cityofroundrock (10 months ago)
What a great shot! The City of Round Rock Group would love to have your photo added.
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum