Tips for Breaking into Sports Photography

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Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, student photographer Chris Osborne hopes his experience in sports photography will take him to the next level - his goal for every shot is "Sports Illustrated Cover".

Osborne explains how a sixth sense is valuable in sports photography, but without the basics of photography, you will still miss the shot.

What first attracted you to photography? How did you get started yourself?

Photography was something I could do since I have always been able to see how I wanted things to look. I have started and restarted a few times. My first camera was a 110 mm back in 3rd grade. I moved onto other interests until college, where I got a Coolpix L3. It is good for general use, but trying to shoot basketball did not work at all. So, I purchased a Rebel XT and have not looked back.

What photographers - well known or unknown - inspire you?

Beyond the sports photography culture, two unknowns got me where I am today. The first is my sister. She says that I stole her interest in photography and will not hold back any criticism of my work. The second is Paul, a fellow photographer at the school paper. After seeing one of his pictures in the paper and not liking it at all, I decided that I could do a better job and filled the other sports photographer position. Only later did I learn that an editor and not Paul made the cropping decisions.

What equipment do you use? Is there a certain piece of gear you could not live without?

I am currently using a Canon Rebel XT with the kit 18-55mm lens, Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 75-300 4-5.6, and a Tamron 28-200mm 4/5.6. My only other add ons are a Canon battery grip and a polarizing filter. Being on a college student budget, I do not buy new equipment unless I will really use it. But if I had to pick one item that I couldn't live without it would be the battery grip. I missed too many shots by flipping the camera the wrong way to shoot vertically or simply missing the shutter button.

Do you have any goals in mind with your photography?

For my sports shot, there is always one basic thought running through my mind - Sports Illustrated cover. I would love to have one someday. For everything else, I think about if I could see the shot hanging on someone's wall. If I cannot, I find something that fits that requirement.

What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses in sports photography?

As much as I hate to say this one, one of my strengths is that I have a camera that can handle the speed and lighting at college sporting events. Beyond that, I am able to have a personal relationship with most of the athletes and am able to predict fairly well what is about to happen. My weaknesses are that I am still too slow at times to get the shot that I want, despite knowing almost exactly what is about to happen and that I have a tendency to tilt my camera. Also, where the Winthrop athletic department lets me go during games limits what I am able to shoot.

What does it take to be a quality sports photographer?

To be a quality sports photographer, you have to be a little bit psychic. By that I mean that you need to be able to know where to point the camera to get the shot. Some sports are easier than others. What sports do you like to shoot? I like to shoot basketball and volleyball most. They are high intensity and usually have something new to get every time. I like baseball the least because most of the shots are just excessively similar.

What post-processing tools/software do you use? How much does that influence your photography?

When I want better control over the photograph, I will use Photoshop 7 or Gimp depending on which operating system I am working under (desktop runs XP while laptop is in the process of switching over to Linux). I use Picasa for basic editing such as cropping and overall brightness/contrast. I sacrifice the overall control for speed when I have to turn things in to the school paper.

What advice would you give new photographers?

A) Don't get discouraged. Photography is an art, which means you will have to work at it.
B) A good photographer can overcome bad equipment, and good equipment will not make you a good photographer.
C) Less time editing your photographs means you'll have more time to take more, so get things right in camera as much as possible.
D) Try to see all of what there is to shoot, not just the stereotypical snapshots that everyone else will find.

Check out Osborne's photography at http://sapidexistence.com

The Budget Bride's Guide to Saving Hundreds on Photography

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If you are planning a wedding, you already know how much things can add up. From invitations, venues, catering, decorations, and so on, you can quickly spend thousands of dollars on your wedding day, without even realizing where all of it went. In fact, according to theknot.com, the average wedding cost is $27,800 per couple! Think of how that money could have come in handy in case of an emergency, in putting down a down payment on a new home, or in financing a fantastic honeymoon! However, if you take control of your budget now, you can have a memorable, elegant wedding while saving thousands for your happily ever after years.

The first thing you need to do when you are planning a wedding is to decide on how much you can reasonably afford and then discuss which items are the most important to you. Many couples decide that photography is at the top of their list. Follow the tips below to have memorable pictures, while staying on budget:
Shop around for photographers

The first step in saving money in general is to find out who offers the service and how much they charge. Never accept the first offer that you receive. Call various photographers and ask them what they charge and what their service includes. Be sure to consider how much the entire cost of photography will be. For example, a photographer who charges less per hour who charges more per each picture may not be a good deal. Search through your phone book and go online to see photographer's blogs and samples of their pictures.

Think outside the (office)box

Although there are plenty of photographers who specialize in photography and have a career in photography, there are also many skilled photographers who have different day jobs, pursue photographer as an interest, or specialize in other forms of photography. Check around for people such as these who have experience in photographing weddings, but who do not depend on it for their bread and butter. Think about anyone you know who fits this criterion: someone who takes pictures for the local newspaper, a sports photographer, a friend who has taken a few photography courses, etc. They will often charge much less than photographers who make their living from inflated wedding packages. Typically anything associated with weddings is more expensive than something without the wedding association. So try to find a photographer that has similar experience with a much smaller price tag.

Get digital prints

Ask your photographer if he can photograph you with a digital camera. Any type of special effect like using sepia pictures, black and white pictures, red eye removal, coloring in certain elements like the flowers while leaving the rest of the picture muted, and so on can be completed by just a few buttons. So you won't have an effects expense passed on to you. Also, ask your photographer if he can give you the digital prints on a cd or memory card. If he does this, you will need to be sure that he has signed over the rights of ownership to you so that you can develop the pictures yourself. This step could save you hundreds, maybe even thousands, and you will only be paying for his hourly rate and the ownership rights, rather than a certain dollar amount * the amount of each picture.

Consider limiting the photographer's time

Consider the actual amount of time that you want to have the photographer around. Keep in mind that many photographers will also charge you for the time it takes to travel and set up for the pictures. Some brides want the photographer to take pictures while they are preparing for the wedding, but if you are not interested in these types of pictures, don't ask the photographer to be around during that hour. Consider having your photographer take your pictures during the important parts of the ceremony and formal posed pictures after the wedding. Then just have him stay for the first hour of the ceremony, rather than the entire event. You can still get in many of the important photos during this time, such as the first dance, the receiving line, and the cake tasting. But you can save hundreds of dollars if you do not keep the photographer around for the next 1-3 hours of the reception. And with many photographers charging hundreds of dollars an hour, this is easy money that you can pocket for your future.

Opt out of the reception

Consider not having your photographer take reception pictures at all. This will save time on moving between venues, set up, and hours off of his rate. Many brides today are opting for more photojournalistic pictures, rather than posed pics. Place a couple of disposable cameras on each guest table and ask for their help in taking pics at the reception. Be sure to leave a convenient basket for them to drop the cameras off at before they leave. For the cost of a few $5 cameras, you will wind up with hundreds of pictures to choose from without the hefty photographer's fee.

Compare packages

When deciding on a package, be sure that you are comparing what each photographer is offering you. Sometimes you will save money by going for a package deal, sometimes you may be better off deciding on a certain number of pictures, rather than a package. So carefully scrutinize the charges for each package. Also be leery of unnecessary charges: a $100 wedding photo album is not worth it when you can go to your local supermarket and buy one for $10. According to Elizabeth and Alex Lluch in Planning the Most Memorable Wedding On Any Budget, you can also save big if you place the pictures in the wedding album yourself. It might take a little time, but make a day of it with your new spouse to look back at your happy memories.

Skip the engagement photos

Although it might be nice to have pretty picture to send with your invitations or to the local newspaper for your engagement announcement, you can use alternative methods, rather than pay the hefty studio and professional photography fee. For example, if you already have existing formal photos of you and your fiancé, use those instead of opting for a multiple hundred dollar studio session. Alternatively, ask a friend with photography experience to set up a muted background or go to a natural setting and have her photograph you and your fiancé for your engagement photos. Finally, check a local family photography studio, such as Wal-mart, Sears, or JC Penny. They will have appropriate backgrounds, but charge much less than a wedding photographer.

Barter, barter, barter

If you have met with several photographers and you liked one more than the others, but he was a little too expensive, let him know that you received a better offer and see if he comes down on the price. Also, before you commit, be sure that you ask "Is this the best deal you can give me?" for even more wiggle room. In this economic time, more and more people are learning powerful negotiating skills and businesses are suffering from unprecedented losses. See how flexible your photographer will be with the price. If you can't quite get the deal you want, go with another photographer or see if your first choice can throw in a freebie, such as a free parent's album, rather than a reduction in price.

Barter some more

If you have any type of service that you complete, see if you can exchange your service for the photography or a portion of his fees. Also, if you blog or you are involved in advertising or website development, see if you can get a discount if you provide free advertising for the photographer after your event. This type of service exchange can be posted in a local newspaper ad or on craigslist.com. Alternatively, if you have a friend or relative getting married, see if your photographer will give you a discount for a positive recommendation and referral.

Consider a student photographer

Yes, it might be scary to put the future of your only wedding pictures in a non-expert's hands, but you can save big by asking a student photographer to capture your wedding day. Additionally, students are more likely to give you digital prints (see above) in exchange for them gaining experience and increasing their portfolio contents. Be sure that they have some previous experience and make sure you look at their previous work. Also, be sure that your expectations are clearly stated and make sure that they can be depended on and that they are punctual.

Regardless of which photographer you go with, be sure that you get recommendations for him, check his portfolio, and make sure that you both know what you will be getting. Be certain that any adjustments are in writing, especially if the photographer has reduced the price. Then rest assured that you have done your best to get the pictures you want, and the peace of mind you need as you begin your new life with cash in your pockets.

Digital Photography Home-Business Opportunities

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For the next seven years, digital photography is forecasted to remain steady as a job opportunity for those that are interested in this field. While the competition is expected be strong amongst photographers and the demand for jobs will fall below the number of photographers there are expected to emerge in this field.

The most successful photographers exhibit traits in being creative, able to adapt rapidly to technology changes, and management proficiency. There are digital photography business courses available to help you gain the competitive edge. You will be able to start your own full or part-time business when you develop a good business sens and keep up-to-date on the rapidly changing technology.

There are many areas that you can pursue in a digital photography home business. I will cover a few of the areas for digital photography businesses.

Real Estate
Each year there are millions of homes sold in the US and real estate agents use at least one picture to advertise the property online, in magazines, in brochures, and in newspapers. As a digital photographer you could earn $50 to $100 a house working with real estate agents or others involved in real estate.

Portraits
There are many locations that you can use for a photo shoot. Many people like to have a professional portrait done of themselves for various reasons. The common charge for a shoot is $100 per hour and an additional $50 to $100 for prints and enlargements. There is also a strong demand for pet and children's portraits.

Sports
Being a photographer for sporting events can be profitable and exhilarating. As a sports photographer, you can submit your photos to event organizations, to participants and publications, local news agencies, and a variety of other types of news and sporting sites. The local minor league teams could pay $50 to $200 for team photos with extra sales potential for prints, premium items such as photo trading cards, T-shirts, and reprint. Do not forget your local school teams either as there is a hidden potential for a photo shoot for these teams.

Commercials
Every year there are billions of dollars spent on product advertisements. Commercial photography is normally limited to the more experienced photographers who can charges as much as $2,500 a day for high end product shots. There is also an opportunity for those that can also do shoots for the local chamber of commerce for their websites, local businesses for websites, and a wide array of other ways to earn as a commercial photographer.

Glamour
There are many beauty salons, hair dressers, and modeling agencies that use photos to help promote their services and products. While it is not uncommon for them to pay more than $150 an hour for promotional shoots with images that can be used for brochures, online advertising, point of sale materials, and business cards. There is an opportunity for those that wish to have photos of their staff and customers photographed for in house promotions or for conventions.

Stock Photography
There are agencies that specialize in stock photos that they resell to business for promotional purposes. For you to have your work listed with them they normally require a minimum submission of 300 to 500 photographs. As a stock photographer you can submit photos such as travel photos, landscape, people, animals, still life, and various other types of images that will appeal to their customers. The commissions for stock photographers can range from $5 to $100 for images that their customers purchase through their agencies.

News and Events
Many local newspapers, magazines, and newscasts often look for interesting human interest stories and pictures. The requirements for each of the types of periodicals will vary, but it is possible to have your pictures published, receive credit as a tag line, and possibly a payment for your photo.

Wedding Photography
There are photographers who will establish a wedding package of 25 to 40 prints that will retail for $1,500 to $3000. Normally this a type of shoot will take two days to work, the first day is to shoot the event and the second day is to process and prepare the album.

Graduation
There are parents who wish to have a professional photograph took of their graduate walking down the aisle and across the stage at graduation. The charges for photos could range from $5 to $10.

Photography Project #1: Recreate Family Photos

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A fun photography project you can do with your family or friends is to recreate special photographs. Here's how to do it:

Gather old photographs. Take a look through your photo albums to gather the old photo(s) you'll use. Try to go back as far as you can. If you're a teen recreating a moment from your childhood just a few years before, you'll have a large enough contrast. If you're an adult you'll want to go back further to a time when you looked somewhat different than you do now. Pick out a photo that is really memorable to you and others. The photo could have been embarrassing when it was taken, but you laugh about it now. Narrow down your top choices and consider which ones you can realistically recreate.

Grab your family and friends in the original photograph. After you've selected a photograph make sure your photo subjects are on board with recreating the special moment. If someone didn't like their hair in a certain photo now is the time for them to change it a bit. If the photo is a goofy or silly moment you'll want to maintain that same humorous nature.

Dress the part. You don't have to try to recreate the hair and clothing styles of the 90's, 80's, 70's, 60's, but you can wear the same type of clothing. If you're wearing suit in the original photograph, put on another suit. You may also want to similar colors if possible. If a fashion has come back in style similar what you're wearing in the original photograph, that could make for a stylish comparison.

Find the location. Try to go to the same location as the original photograph so both background and setting will be consistent. In some cases there may be a location you can't access. You may not be able to get into your old high school cafeteria. Or maybe you've moved to a different house. Try to find a similar location. If the photo was taken in your old kitchen, take a similar one in your new kitchen.

Study the poses. If you and a couple of friends have distinct poses in the old photo do exactly the same thing. If the photo is more of a close up then focus more on having the same facial expressions.

Place the photos side-by-side. Now that you've taken your recreated photograph take a look at the old and new images. What similarities do you see? What differences? Enjoy your new photo as you've just created new memories.