A recent article in a Canadian photo magazine gives advice on how to become a professional sports photographer. The article talks about the excitement of being at sports events and blasting away at ten frames per second. A quick check shows that the author’s web site is filled with fantastic photos … of weddings and portraits.
The author’s advice for wannabe sports photographers is to call sports events and ask for a free “photo pass”. If necessary, the photographer should offer free photos in exchange for said pass. Later, when the photographer has gained some experience, they can sell pictures to the event and enter the exciting world of sports photography.
This information is wrong.
If a photographer wants to enter professional sports photography then know:
1) Sports photographers are a dime a dozen. (Entertainment photographers are a penny a dozen). It’s almost impossible to make a living from doing only sports.
2) Sports photography is a business, not a source of personal entertainment. Learn business and marketing skills and don’t waste your time getting career advice from photo magazines.
3) Sports photography has nothing to do with rubbing shoulders with pro athletes, sitting front row or getting into events for free. It’s about knowing the news angle for each game and the backstory of the athletes involved. It’s about knowing how the event will play out and where to be before it happens.
4) Holding down the shutter button and blasting away at ten frames per second is a waste of time. Many good sports photographers shoot only a few frames per second. No spraying and praying.
5) There’s no such thing as a “photo pass” or “press pass”.
6) Sports events that offer media credentials require that the photographer be just that – a working journalist. Often, references or correspondence from a supervising editor is required. Such credentials are offered in exchange for press coverage in the news media. A blog, a Facebook page and a photographer’s own web site are not news media.
7) The media credentials provided by an event are usually accompanied by lots of fine print limiting the use of the pictures. Photos can’t be used commercially and, many times, not even as stock.
8) Once a photographer gives away free pictures, a sports event or publication will never pay later on. It doesn’t matter how much experience the photographer has gained. The event or publication has been trained to expect free photos.
9) Most events already have professional photographers covering the event for them. These photographers have the best access, use the arena strobes, and have years of experience. Events aren’t interested in amateurs asking for freebies.
10) If someone is interested in singing, would they ask the opera company for a free pass to some of its performances? If someone wants to be a chef, would they call a restaurant and offer to work for free in its kitchen? If someone wants to be a baseball player, would they ask a team if they can sit on the team bench and maybe take a few at-bats?
Photographers have to stop telling new photographers that they have to work for free in order to get their career started. If a photographer works for free, they are a hobbyist. Period. They do not belong in the media areas of any sports event.
I started in sports photography by covering high school and college/university sports for weekly papers and then daily papers. I got paid every time, right from the very first game. Later, I shot for a few monthly sports magazines. Got paid every time. I’ve shot sports events for the event itself. Got paid every time.
Once a photographer is confident with their photos skills gained from shooting little league games or perhaps from shooting pro events from the public areas (yes, it can be done), then contact various publications. Ask for or, better yet, suggest (paid) assignments. If the photographer has a suitable portfolio then it might happen but see point #1 above.
If someone wants to be a professional sports photographer then they have to work at it, just like every other job.
There’s no shortcut or free pass. If there was, everyone would be taking it.
