Amature Sport Shooters: help?

Eric Lamont said:

Hello!

This is something I would really like to try and get into when my
10D returns from being serviced. There are no shortage of
opportunities in my area. My problem is not knowing quite how to
start.

Are you a sports shooter? How do you run the business? Do you
shoot at one game and then show up at the next with photos? Do you
let parents request you shoot their kid or do you just shoot anyone
you can see?

I would sincerely appreciate any advice/tips on this. The only
thing holding me back is uncertainty.

Thanks.

--
Eric Lamont
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Click to expand...

Eric Lamont said:

Eric Lamont said:

Hello!

This is something I would really like to try and get into when my
10D returns from being serviced. There are no shortage of
opportunities in my area. My problem is not knowing quite how to
start.

Are you a sports shooter? How do you run the business? Do you
shoot at one game and then show up at the next with photos? Do you
let parents request you shoot their kid or do you just shoot anyone
you can see?

I would sincerely appreciate any advice/tips on this. The only
thing holding me back is uncertainty.

Thanks.

--
Eric Lamont
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Click to expand...

--
Eric Lamont
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Click to expand...

Robert Rawlings said:

So... anybody wanna help us out?

Eric Lamont said:

Eric Lamont said:

Hello!

This is something I would really like to try and get into when my
10D returns from being serviced. There are no shortage of
opportunities in my area. My problem is not knowing quite how to
start.

Are you a sports shooter? How do you run the business? Do you
shoot at one game and then show up at the next with photos? Do you
let parents request you shoot their kid or do you just shoot anyone
you can see?

I would sincerely appreciate any advice/tips on this. The only
thing holding me back is uncertainty.

Thanks.

--
Eric Lamont
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Click to expand...

--
Eric Lamont
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Click to expand...

--
Joe Izuzu
Keep Shooting, your bound to hit something!
No Spam, Cookies, Pop-ups or other internet foods.

Click to expand...

Eric Lamont said:

Hello!

This is something I would really like to try and get into when my
10D returns from being serviced. There are no shortage of
opportunities in my area. My problem is not knowing quite how to
start.

Are you a sports shooter? How do you run the business? Do you
shoot at one game and then show up at the next with photos? Do you
let parents request you shoot their kid or do you just shoot anyone
you can see?

I would sincerely appreciate any advice/tips on this. The only
thing holding me back is uncertainty.

Thanks.

--
Eric Lamont
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Click to expand...

Sherry Young said:

Just getting started myself, but here is what I have been doing.
First, pick a team. In my case, a friend is the coach of a high
school volleyball team, so I started with them. I did team shots
at the beginning of the season. Yes, they have a photog with the
school contract, but the kids are not happy with the work or the
available package. I let them set poses they think are fun, and
post them to a web site. At the first game, I had printed up a
bunch of 1 page flyers and just set them out at the ticket booth as
give aways. They had a nice team photo with a large print schedule
for the season (perfect for posting on the fridge), and a small
print reference to my web site. I then shot action pics at the
first game and got them edited and up before the second home game.
Email the kids with the web site so all they have to do is click
and bookmark. They have free computer access at school, and the
word gets around fast. I do general shooting, and am happy to
focus on individual kids at the parent's request. Parents who make
such requests have been pretty good about actually buying.

The real money seems to be in tournamants and on-sight printing.
There is really good information on how to do that in the event
photog forum at robgalbraith.com.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Sherry

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KenS2 said:

http://www.shutterfly.com/business/galleries.jsp

Ken

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Jim V. said:

The thing about setting up a website is that teams from out of town
or state can order from you after the tournament. I get allot of
orders after the tournaments have concluded.

I have tried the onsite printing thing with my i950 and a laptop
but it takes away from my shooting time while games are going on.
There is plenty of time to go home and PP and print either before
the next game, of the teams you are shooting, or at night.

Some of these tournaments I am shooting have over 500 teams
playing. I am familiar with the various Club Team organizations
from across the nation from being involved with soccer for over 30
years. I know what teams will buy photos.

You will want to focus on the younger groups because they will
provide you the most business for keepsakes. The older they get
they become more interested in a video production of their games
for college coaches. I also do this at College Showcase Tournaments
for $300 a tape per game.
--
Jim V.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/[email protected]

Click to expand...

Rob Schroeter said:

Just to toss this in:

I'm also interested in the exact same type of business (shooting
kids soccer games at tournaments). I think the shutter fly looks
good. I looked around, but can't find the answer to this question:
Can you price the photos to whatever you want?

Example:
I don't want to charge 2.00 per 4x6 because i (for the sake of
argument, even though its the furthest thing from the truth) am a
great photographer and i think i deserve much more like 5.00 per
4x6. Basically, can i set my own prices?

Also i have thought about some of the big tournaments that do this
type of service on a larger scale. I was thinking of trying to
group together with other photogs to do this service because to do
it successfully and make some real money i would think that you'd
need more than just 1 person. I would love to get together with
about 5 people and do a small tournament. I wonder if you must
contact tournament officials to make sure that there isn't another
group of 5 photographer (or more) that are trying to do the same
thing? I would think that "the more the merrier" right?

Anyway, its a very interesting subject. And basically one of the
big reasons i'm getting my 70-200 2.8 IS. (ONE of the reasons
anyway)

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rschroeter2124 said:

rschroeter2124 said:

Jim V.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/[email protected]

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Jim V. said:

Rob Schroeter said:

Just to toss this in:

I'm also interested in the exact same type of business (shooting
kids soccer games at tournaments). I think the shutter fly looks
good. I looked around, but can't find the answer to this question:
Can you price the photos to whatever you want?

Example:
I don't want to charge 2.00 per 4x6 because i (for the sake of
argument, even though its the furthest thing from the truth) am a
great photographer and i think i deserve much more like 5.00 per
4x6. Basically, can i set my own prices?

Also i have thought about some of the big tournaments that do this
type of service on a larger scale. I was thinking of trying to
group together with other photogs to do this service because to do
it successfully and make some real money i would think that you'd
need more than just 1 person. I would love to get together with
about 5 people and do a small tournament. I wonder if you must
contact tournament officials to make sure that there isn't another
group of 5 photographer (or more) that are trying to do the same
thing? I would think that "the more the merrier" right?

Anyway, its a very interesting subject. And basically one of the
big reasons i'm getting my 70-200 2.8 IS. (ONE of the reasons
anyway)

Click to expand...

Yeah! I got into the pot on that offer. By the way thanks for the
heads up. I just hope it comes through. I use a Sigma 100-300 f/4.0
EX for tournaments now.

As to your other thoughts. You can set your own price but you may
want to see what the going rates are at each tournament you shoot
and adjust accordingly. These parents are frugal and will shop
around.

Thers are usually several photographers at tournaments. Some
tournaments hire people specifically just to make sure that service
is available to their patrons.

As I have stated before there is sometimes as many as 500 teams
competing and there is plenty of room for everyone. You may want to
avoid shooting a game that a photographer is doing to avoid
competition for customers. I have run into several at tournaments
and we are cordial but basically stay out of each others way. There
is usually more than enough available opportunities for everyone.

I have never tried to get a group together because of the enormity
of the tournaments and the physical layout. Most of these
tournaments competitions are held at various locations and it would
be impossible to locate a sufficient number of photogrphers to work
as a group.

Jim V. said:

Jim V. said:

Jim V.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/[email protected]

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Jim V.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/[email protected]

Click to expand...

Eric Lamont said:

Hello!

This is something I would really like to try and get into when my
10D returns from being serviced. There are no shortage of
opportunities in my area. My problem is not knowing quite how to
start.

Are you a sports shooter? How do you run the business? Do you
shoot at one game and then show up at the next with photos? Do you
let parents request you shoot their kid or do you just shoot anyone
you can see?

I would sincerely appreciate any advice/tips on this. The only
thing holding me back is uncertainty.

Thanks.

--
Eric Lamont
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

Remember yesterday... Live today... Dream about tomorrow...

Click to expand...

BrandonSi said:

I saw this brought up somewhere else, and didn't see an answer, but
are there any release issues here? Are you having people sign
waivers, or do all of these shots just fall under the "out in
public" "reasonable expectation of privacy" realm. Not trying to
put a damper on anyone's business here, just curious is all.

Click to expand...

Rob Schroeter said:

With regard to pricing. Knowing that you can change the price would
work for me. I just wouldn't want to be pinned down to what
"shutter-whatever" dictates for prices. KNow what i mean?

Very interesting. I'd love to see someones website that is doing
this. I suppose shutterfly is as best an idea. (I love the idea of
not having to deal with printing/shipping/recieving
payments/headaches
Thanks for the info!
RS

Jim V. said:

Rob Schroeter said:

Just to toss this in:

I'm also interested in the exact same type of business (shooting
kids soccer games at tournaments). I think the shutter fly looks
good. I looked around, but can't find the answer to this question:
Can you price the photos to whatever you want?

Example:
I don't want to charge 2.00 per 4x6 because i (for the sake of
argument, even though its the furthest thing from the truth) am a
great photographer and i think i deserve much more like 5.00 per
4x6. Basically, can i set my own prices?

Also i have thought about some of the big tournaments that do this
type of service on a larger scale. I was thinking of trying to
group together with other photogs to do this service because to do
it successfully and make some real money i would think that you'd
need more than just 1 person. I would love to get together with
about 5 people and do a small tournament. I wonder if you must
contact tournament officials to make sure that there isn't another
group of 5 photographer (or more) that are trying to do the same
thing? I would think that "the more the merrier" right?

Anyway, its a very interesting subject. And basically one of the
big reasons i'm getting my 70-200 2.8 IS. (ONE of the reasons
anyway)

Click to expand...

Yeah! I got into the pot on that offer. By the way thanks for the
heads up. I just hope it comes through. I use a Sigma 100-300 f/4.0
EX for tournaments now.

As to your other thoughts. You can set your own price but you may
want to see what the going rates are at each tournament you shoot
and adjust accordingly. These parents are frugal and will shop
around.

Thers are usually several photographers at tournaments. Some
tournaments hire people specifically just to make sure that service
is available to their patrons.

As I have stated before there is sometimes as many as 500 teams
competing and there is plenty of room for everyone. You may want to
avoid shooting a game that a photographer is doing to avoid
competition for customers. I have run into several at tournaments
and we are cordial but basically stay out of each others way. There
is usually more than enough available opportunities for everyone.

I have never tried to get a group together because of the enormity
of the tournaments and the physical layout. Most of these
tournaments competitions are held at various locations and it would
be impossible to locate a sufficient number of photogrphers to work
as a group.

rschroeter2124 said:

rschroeter2124 said:

Jim V.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/[email protected]

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

rschroeter2124 said:

rschroeter2124 said:

Jim V.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/[email protected]

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Glenn James said:

BrandonSi said:

I saw this brought up somewhere else, and didn't see an answer, but
are there any release issues here? Are you having people sign
waivers, or do all of these shots just fall under the "out in
public" "reasonable expectation of privacy" realm. Not trying to
put a damper on anyone's business here, just curious is all.

Click to expand...

From my limited knowlege, I would say you don't need a release
since you are not using the photos for advertising. You are
selling photos of the kids to themselves or their parents. Since
the shoot takes place in public, you don't need anyones permission
to take them.

I could be wrong, but that just what I have understood how it works.

Glenn

--
http://www.glennjamesphotography.com/

Click to expand...

Glenn James said:

BrandonSi said:

I saw this brought up somewhere else, and didn't see an answer, but
are there any release issues here? Are you having people sign
waivers, or do all of these shots just fall under the "out in
public" "reasonable expectation of privacy" realm. Not trying to
put a damper on anyone's business here, just curious is all.

Click to expand...

From my limited knowlege, I would say you don't need a release
since you are not using the photos for advertising. You are
selling photos of the kids to themselves or their parents. Since
the shoot takes place in public, you don't need anyones permission
to take them.

I could be wrong, but that just what I have understood how it works.

Glenn

--
http://www.glennjamesphotography.com/

Click to expand...

Glenn James said:

BrandonSi said:

I saw this brought up somewhere else, and didn't see an answer, but
are there any release issues here? Are you having people sign
waivers, or do all of these shots just fall under the "out in
public" "reasonable expectation of privacy" realm. Not trying to
put a damper on anyone's business here, just curious is all.

Click to expand...

From my limited knowlege, I would say you don't need a release
since you are not using the photos for advertising. You are
selling photos of the kids to themselves or their parents. Since
the shoot takes place in public, you don't need anyones permission
to take them.

I could be wrong, but that just what I have understood how it works.

Glenn

--
http://www.glennjamesphotography.com/

Click to expand...