advice on wanting to be a sports photographer

[Dougie1993]

I really want to be a sports photographer, unfortunately for me I am aware that this type of photography requires spe******t lenses which cost a fortune.

Whenever I see my local team play I always look towards the photographers (and envy there equipment) and probably watch them more then the actual game itself

Recently an opportunity has presented itself to me, a newly formed agency are looking for students for work experience. I would love to have this opportunity but heres the problem, my camera equipment is not up to scratch so I can't really take outstanding photos so I can send them samples, all I have is a macro lens and a standard 18-55mm lens.

Despite my equipment I still feel like trying for this opportunity, and I am thinking of asking my local football/soccer teams if I could take photos at their training sessions, but just with my standard lens, but at the same time I am not sure if I should because my lens might not be good enough. So I wanted to ask, do you think I should go out and take the photos anyway?

[Drkranger]

The equipment doesn't make great photos, the photographer does. While you won't have the reach of a longer zoom lens with the 18-55, you CAN take sports/action photos with it. Will you have the options of the expensive lenses? No, so shoot with what you have. Position yourself to capture the action that you can.

And of course, if you don't try, you'll never know...and the answer is always no.

Good luck.

[ceremus]

If you can do outdoor sports on a clear sunny day you can shoot with a 70-200 f/4 or perhaps a 70-300 f/4.5-5.6, they're not ideal but they're relatively affordable at around $500-600 depending on make and model. (At least they are on the Canon side, I don't know the prices for Nikon and other models as well.)

Another very viable option would be to rent a suitable lens for a week or so, like a fast 70-200 f/2.8 zoom, or a fast telephoto prime. For this though you might consider renting early and practicing with it heavily before the sporting event, hopefully you're a quick study.

[andyw]

Originally Posted by Dougie1993

I really want to be a sports photographer, unfortunately for me I am aware that this type of photography requires spe******t lenses which cost a fortune.

Whenever I see my local team play I always look towards the photographers (and envy there equipment) and probably watch them more then the actual game itself

At the top of the tree - yes. you certainly need the best kit for a number of reasons.
however no one starts at the top. Every sports snapper I know (myself included as I started out my photography "career" taking local sports teams) started taking pictures of small local events with pretty basic equipment. Mine was a Pentax ME Super with two lenses.

Originally Posted by Dougie1993

Recently an opportunity has presented itself to me, a newly formed agency are looking for students for work experience. I would love to have this opportunity but heres the problem, my camera equipment is not up to scratch so I can't really take outstanding photos so I can send them samples, all I have is a macro lens and a standard 18-55mm lens.

Nothing wrong with asking them is there - worse they can say is NO.
But depending on what they are covering then they may give you the chance to shoot some stuff (if you can show them you can use your current equipment properly).
At least you are starting to get your name out there as keen and interested.

Originally Posted by Dougie1993

Despite my equipment I still feel like trying for this opportunity, and I am thinking of asking my local football/soccer teams if I could take photos at their training sessions, but just with my standard lens, but at the same time I am not sure if I should because my lens might not be good enough. So I wanted to ask, do you think I should go out and take the photos anyway?

Definitely get in with the local teams. The only way to learn anything properly is to practise plus it gets you known initially.
Don't get too hung on equipment at this stage.
Obviously long and fast lenses are better for shooting many sports but there are plenty of great shots around which were taken with more basic equipment.

The only way to find out if you have it is to try.


p.s. none of the shots in this set were shot with "expensive" lenses.
Many were with a 70-300 f4-5.6
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awphot/...568081/detail/

[Sweetlifephoto]

Originally Posted by andyw

At the top of the tree - yes. you certainly need the best kit for a number of reasons.
however no one starts at the top. Every sports snapper I know (myself included as I started out my photography "career" taking local sports teams) started taking pictures of small local events with pretty basic equipment. Mine was a Pentax ME Super with two lenses.



Nothing wrong with asking them is there - worse they can say is NO.
But depending on what they are covering then they may give you the chance to shoot some stuff (if you can show them you can use your current equipment properly).
At least you are starting to get your name out there as keen and interested.



Definitely get in with the local teams. The only way to learn anything properly is to practise plus it gets you known initially.
Don't get too hung on equipment at this stage.
Obviously long and fast lenses are better for shooting many sports but there are plenty of great shots around which were taken with more basic equipment.

The only way to find out if you have it is to try.

Excellent insight and advice. There are very few high-end sports jobs left so working with local leagues and teams and any "lesser known sports leagues" that come into your area is really the best way to develop your skills and build a portfolio and client base.

When I was in Florida pro-beach volleyball was just getting on the national scene and I was often the only person shooting any match but the final championship game. It gave me a great in with some of the Volleyball publications...

[dlambert]

I took a bunch of photos at one of my son's swim meets and posted them on the team's site. None of them were shot with super high-end lenses - I used two zooms that are a step above kit lenses and a 50mm 1.8. I got some positive comments about some of the action shots, but one of the first comments I got was, "I loved the shot with the coach talking to your son."

This is 100% my own personal observation only, but sports photography (especially at this level) is at least as much about the people as it is about the sport. This means that it's really important for you to get to know the sport and get to know the people. The shot of the coach w/ swimmer was really easy, but only because I know that all the kids go over to the coach after their races to get feedback. He stands there waving his arms around, teaching them all about what he wants to see them do differently, and it makes for an easy (technically) photo.

If you know football well enough to know where those moments happen, then go for it. If not, plan on spending some real time getting to know the sport and players before you start turning out good stuff consistently. Find the moments where you get to see emotion on faces -- not just in the middle of fast action, but before or after games or practices, or whatever. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about that sport to be able to help w/ any specifics.

At some point, I think you'll find that the high-buck equipment is a great way to leverage the skills you're developing, but it's not a substitute for those skills. In other words, there's always going to be another shot you could have gotten with better equipment, but that shouldn't stop you from getting plenty of good shots in the meantime.

[SwissJon]

Just something that doesn't seem to have been suggested yet.

Have you considered renting the lenses and camera you want to use for a day or weekend?

Everything everyone else said is true too (Well withing reason anyhow!)