Sport Photography....Where do you sell you images?

[Luc Hosten]

Simon has answered it all. The other point is one does not have to start at the top and there is always a better market for pictures of players/sportsmen in the lower leagues be it cricket, rugby, surfing, soccer or whatever. The participants who do not make it to the top enjoy their sport and when they stop they seldom have a picture to show they played a particular sport. A lot of surfers have mentioned that they have no pictures of themselves surfing. Also an exceptional photo taken in a lower level often gets published and you can also approach the sportsperson for a signed model release.

I frequently get very irritated by franchised sport and a rubber duck event a few years ago really got my goat because they did not want me on the beach. I got away with staying on the beach by explaining that it was for editorial use and they eventually accepted it - I did mention their name in the captions. There was a lot of bad feeling and I did contact the organisers afterwards explaining my thoughts and logic - they never came back to me.

[Jaco Fourie]

Talk to Johan Pretorius from Bloemfontein. He does a lot of sport. He told me it is not worth it for the money. But you make good contacts with the players and end up shooting their weddings etc. He gets paid R2500 per sporting job for media houses. They don't pay more.

[dmathfield]

What sport images sell the best?

[SimonDP]

This may sound like a stupic answer, but its not. The image that sells is the one that's in the news, now, not the day before yesterday. Some monthly publications may have a different take, but editorially an image older than one month seldom sells. Commercially the image of a hotshot will sell, always, at least usually while the player is still active. Some even afterwards, if the player is really famous. Types of sport - the currently active ones, the ones in the news, etc, Hope this helps.

[Roberto]

Simon, do you have an account with Gallo?

[SimonDP]

I wish!!

[Luc Hosten]

Depends what is meant by an account at Gallo. The sport is separate from the other photography - think they took over Allsport which was the major sport image distributer in SA. Can somebody give the right info? I do submit to Gallo but have not had suitable images lately and they have never looked at my sport stuff.

[Dewald_Kirsten]

I have 2 questions on this topic:

If this type of photography does not pay well then how do the guys afford the expensive equipment? surely they are not just doing it part time and if they are doing it full time, how do they make a living because after you have paid the bond on your equipment, how do you survive?

If I was to start at a basic level, lets say schools and clubs and sell the pics to the sportsmen directly, like in a previos post, they never have pics of themselves playing, what type of lense should I have with me? If I use let say a 300mm usm lense the quality would be okay for these guys but for myself it would not be okay, if you get my drift.... What would you guys recomend to be a good starting lense for this "game"? I use a Canon 450D(which for now is okay for me)

[SimonDP]

If this type of photography does not pay well then how do the guys afford the expensive equipment?

In many cases they do not own the equipment, it belongs to the agency, newspaper etc. Its loaners.

surely they are not just doing it part time and if they are doing it full time,

The guys working for newspapers such as Cristiaan Kotze, etc gets a fixed salary, and covers not only sporting events, but also other news stories too. Some of the agencies work on a commision basis, with loan equipment such as SAPA. I don't know how they calculate the commision, all I can tell you is those guys do not drive around in expensive German vehicles.

If I was to start at a basic level, lets say schools and clubs and sell the pics to the sportsmen directly, like in a previos post, they never have pics of themselves playing, what type of lense should I have with me? If I use let say a 300mm usm lense the quality would be okay for these guys but for myself it would not be okay, if you get my drift.... What would you guys recomend to be a good starting lense for this "game"? I use a Canon 450D(which for now is okay for me)

The one that works for you, ie you and your clients are happy with the results.

[Dewald_Kirsten]

Thanks Simon! Now it makes sense. I hope you guys will answer more questions if I ask, I am brewing up some more. THANKS again

[Dewald_Kirsten]

Another question. When shooting action sports like rugby athletics surfing etc, what do you guys focus on? Someone told me that with animals you focus on the eys as this where the viewer will look first. Is this the same with sports? In some cases it will be impossible to see the eyes, so where do you focus then?

[SimonDP]

Centre of body mass

[klick]

Who do you contact if you want to take pics at 2010 wcs to get a photog pass.

[Anonymous]

Who do you contact if you want to take pics at 2010 wcs to get a photog pass.

You need to first register for the FIFA Media Channel and then find yourself an agency to sponsor your application for 2010.

[Dewald_Kirsten]

How important is IS on a lense you intend on using for sport?

Thanks in advance

Dewald

[Anonymous]

How important is IS on a lense you intend on using for sport?

Thanks in advance

Dewald

I use a monopod so not very.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

You need to first register for the FIFA Media Channel and then find yourself an agency to sponsor your application for 2010.

I thought these were closed oct last year allready?

[bartman]

... and I made a sale for 17 brazzillion rand.

Wow, that much?

[MadWab]

Simon, if i have a photo taken at a race meeting of a car during a race, would i need a model release from the driver if i was to sell it?

how does it work in a situation like this when i am not accredited and have taken the photo from the normal public area.

[SimonDP]

Normally no, but if it will be used for commercial gain and its not sold to the driver or one of the sponsors, then yes, you'll need permission from the driver and title sponsor. If it is for editorial content or private use (stipulate as such on invoice) you can just go ahead and sell without any releases, permissions etc.