Little League Photography

[apruby36]

I am sure this has probably been covered somewhere in this forum already, but I have a question regarding pricing.

I have been asked by a coach of a Little League Basketball team to do their group photo, and possibly their individual photos also, which would include a magazine cover print and a trading card. I've checked around and have found very little in my area for how photographers charge for such a job. I am curious if anyone here has done such a shoot, and if so, how did you determine the pricing? I understand the methods of charging for the prints, packages, and such. Do you charge the team for a "location" fee or "sitting fee" for a lack of a better term, or do you take the number of kids and split it among them, add it to the package of prints offered? Any advice welcome.

Thank you

[Jim Bryant]

Have a selling site through exposuremanagercom. Parents go into my website, click on purchase photos and then into the gallery at exposuremanager.com. They can pick and choose sizes, amount, and order everything from trading cards to puzzles and mouse pads.

Or you could go this route. But structure the prices to fit your area and expertise.
Sports Photography Prices –

$20.00
1 4x6 individual shot
1 5x7 team shot
4 wallets

$30.00
2 5x7 individual shots
1 5x7 team shot
4 wallets

$40
1 8x10 individual shot
1 8x10 team shot
4 wallets

[GadgetRick]

Anytime my son has been playing ball they will bring everyone in on the same day. Take a team shot and some individual shots. They have various packages you can purchase at that time. Pricing varies by photographer but it's a flat price for whatever package they decide on (usually starting at--or just below--$20).

[lputman]

No sitting fees. Flat pricing per package with a la carte available in conjunction with package purchase. My cheapest package is always $20.00. In addition to not charging a fee, the norm in most locations is to give back to the team/league. I do this based upon the actual number of packages purchased.

[apruby36]

Thank you for your input, has been very helpful. I will check the site mentioned for print ordering. An additional question, since I am new to this area of photography and have not set up to do this type of event, do you set up using lights or work with flash? I want to be able to do the job right and do it well.

[lputman]

The next go round for me will be to use OCF and softbox combo. I've done natural light only.

What I did do is make up an order form and payment was due on picture day. Only those that were ordering had their individuals taken. Team photos were done first. I then did all my processing and printed at Costco.

[idcrewdawg]

I've charged a pretty minimal fee for when I do it. Basically enough to clear the cost of postage and prints. I charge so little because the people I'm shooting for don't have much money to start with, and like to give them a chance to have something memorable.

I offer some various options, and include the postage in those options. This alleviates the questions about postage from the parents. There are the memory mates (the most popular option), the wallets, the key chains (another popular choice), magazine covers, and a few other things.

I always have my name printed on the back of the shots, and I include my name and phone number on the packages I hand out. I've gotten a few follow up gigs out of it that I charge a regular sitting fee and such for.

In the end, I've looked at it as a get my name out there for word of mouth advertising, and it's beginning to reap its rewards. Only done it twice now.

[apruby36]

I have yet to get my coach to set up a time to do these photos for the basketball team, only a couple more weeks until their season is over.

I understand your comments and have taken them to heart and am almost done with my pricing structure. However, have you done magazine covers and trading cards for your shoots? If so, is that part of a package or an add-on or a la carte so to speak? Also are there any particular poses that you might be able to suggest?

I am having a difficult time gathering info in my own area and have been unsuccessful finding photographers in my area who have done sports photography.

Thank you for any additional advice,
Page

[lputman]

For me, magazine cover and trading cards would be add-ons.

[apruby36]

A new question to add to this list of questions I already have asked....

For such a setup with the little league, obviously these kids are under 18. What kind of form should I use for legalities? Should it be a model release, some type of contractual agreement signed by parents? I have my packaging set up, should this be on the order form...This is my first actually truly paid job, just want to do it right with the legal stuff and and not lose my focus on the task at hand, which is taking great photos of the kids.