p.2 #1 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
Why youth sports? I assume many of the leagues would have their own inhouse photography coverage. Your best bet is to get hired or contracted by and with them to gain access and $$$$ in shooting. Maybe finding out which schools have no photography coverage for their sport leagues. I know my niece's school in Long Island has none and forcing her mom to take iphone photos... Working out some sorts of budgets with the board and to explain to them why having good quality photos can add values to the school, to the students, and to the parents. And bring a lot of passion into it because I don't assume you would get paid a lot or you may need to assume many roles in the process. I don't shoot youth sports but I am also the social media person, the marketing director, the PR point person, and lastly the race photographer for several promoters I work with.
Nowadays, sport photography in the grass root level, may becoming more than just sports photography. Very often, your photos must be able to market for the events and the organizers.
p.2 #2 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
To answer your questions....
Shooting spec is DEAD.
First, you need to establish your reputation within the sports. Your brand, your name, and your photography have to become well known and well regarded within your niche market. At the same time, your local event promoters must be able to appreciate and to understand how your photography can add values to their events. This can be tricky if the promoters are old school and largely have ZERO desires to add values to their events. There are event promoters like that and I have dealt with them for years...... You would have better luck if you are negotiating with someone new and with a lot of energy and passion about the sports. A plus if they LOVE and have a passion for photography!
Second, convince them that your photos can help them to market their events and to bring more registration and you charge them for your appearance and service fee. $200 $300 per event.
Third, setup a photo sales system whereby athletes can buy photos doing a database search with bib numbers usually. At the end of each month, you split the photo sales profits with the promoters....
Fourth, take some class in Adobe Illustrator and to learn to design ads with your photos! Taking over the event social media platforms!
Is a lot of work but you can add these values to the events and the promoters, you are way ahead of any uncle Bob, uncle Joe, or aunt Karen playing photographers with their Z9 and 400mm lens. I am serious.......
Lastly, work with competing promoters!!!! Let's say one event promoters want to get ahead with their events but very often they either lack the reputation or history. They are more receptive to your service assuming you can deliver all the points I mentioned. The established promoters becoming complacent and won't have foreseen the amount of marketing work you can provide for their competitors.
p.2 #3 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
PureMichigan wrote:
JRobertson, thanks for setting me straight on MaxPrep editorial use. I know a couple of other current and former MP shooters in MI and elsewhere, and I don't think their work is commonly used by the local or state media. Maybe on occasion, but not a regular basis. How does it work with you? Do you have an arrangement with some of the local publications?
I do, Fox 17 and MLive/Wood TV out on the west side.
p.2 #4 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
TooManyShots wrote:
To answer your questions....
Shooting spec is DEAD.
I wouldn't make such a blanket statement like that. It may be dead for you, but I know a large number of people that do quite well for themselves, both actively shooting and from past gallery sales. That said, marketing and social marketing are an absolute MUST component. Totally agree.
p.2 #5 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
I use the GF Crew app for registration and delivering the photos. You are not shooting for GF Crew, you are shooting for your own company and just using them the same as you would Acuity Scheduling and Dropbox to set up available times and deliver your photos to your clients. GF Crew just makes it easier and provides you the resources to grow your business using a prepaid model instead of shooting on spec.
How successful you will be depends on how much effort you put into it, you need to network and develop relationships with parents that will help spread the word through social media or talking with the other moms on the teams. Don’t waste much effort on the dad’s, moms are 95% of my business. Most teams couldn’t care less if you are there or not, most will not pay for photos, but would gladly take some for their website. The hockey league my son played for uses some of my photos on their facebook page and in return I get access to any bench I want during games, and I can post on their Facebook page about my services. If you can develop a relationship like that, it would be very helpful.
Here in CT, it is unusual for photographers to be hired by the youth teams for anything other than team and individual pictures, all action pictures are done by parents on the team, or a professional that shows up to cover the game on their own. Shooting on speculation will most likely be a lot of effort for very little return. I made more money the first game I shot using the GF Crew prepaid model than I did all season shooting spec for my son’s team, so now that he is graduating, I am 100% done with spec for sports.
You might find there is a parent on the team giving away photos, but there are still parents that will pay for high quality pictures, so I wouldn’t avoid that team for that reason. Some of the guys on GF Crew make it look easy and have no problem signing people up for sessions, here it is a lot harder, and many parents don’t share the pictures on social media making it more difficult to get your name out. You might need to do some free sessions with parents to get your foot in the door, but once you get known, it gets a bit easier. Around here, it is difficult to get people to sign up for senior portraits too, it’s just not a thing like in other parts of the country.
If you want to make money, find a dance studio that needs a photographer, dance moms will spend a lot of money on photos. Dance performances are not that much different than sports with capturing leaps and the moves they make, think of them as better dressed athletes
p.2 #6 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
You can market and network all you want but if there is no interest in your action photos, you are wasting your time trying to make money off the venture.
This past spring I redesigned my order forms that went out to all spring sport athletes...K-12 from T-Ball to high school seniors...select softball and baseball...little league, junior high and high school...track and field, softball, baseball, tennis...to include specific pre-paid action photo packages.
1500 of these were passed out and 1 parent ordered these packages for her two children...one in 8U Rec softball and the other on a 12U rec baseball league.
However...99% of those parents ordered team photos with prints, buttons, fridge mags or key tags so I know where the market is and it is not for action sales. It is not uncommon to see $ 50.00- $100.00 sales of the team photos for one player with no interest...whatsoever...in action photos.
I did have the occasional parent request action coverage but I needed to see the money or a history of past purchases before proceeding.
Now...I have had parents from local schools see images of their athletes from our county sports web magazine ask about purchasing for grad parties (and they followed through with substantial orders ) and that is encouraging since we only began publishing in late March of this year.
This fall, between advertising revenue and photo sales, that website has already paid for itself and the marketing is already in place with serious input from our local athletic directors and coaches and we need to start our fall pre-season write-ups complete with action photos in the next month.
So...my media action coverage does create interest and generates enough sales to justify keeping my photo gear up to date.
To be clear...I have booster clubs and leagues that purchase action collages for their athletes and that amounts to nearly 100 each year but those are commissioned annually before the season starts and this past year it was 9 senior soccer players, 4 senior baseball players, 4 senior hockey players and the basketball booster club purchases these for every player 9-12 in the program and that is 50 every year for the past 10 years and the youth basketball program orders these for their 6th graders and this year there were 35.
So I need to have the gear to cover these sports and the media coverage I provide has to stand out.
But...over the years I have had probably a dozen people who own cameras ask about making money from action sales at youth sporting events and I tell them it is really a waste of time and money in this area and the only reason I still do it is it is required for my business and I have those contracts and business contacts in place with athletic directors, school superintendents, youth league boards and event coordinators.
Without all of that in place, I wouldn't set foot on the sidelines of any youth sporting event...with camera in hand...no matter what.
p.2 #7 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
I agree with you that T&I is the best money maker, but it is also much harder to get into a league to get the business. I made more from senior banners from my son’s hockey team than I did from action shots all season, but there are people that will pay for action photos. It’s a small percentage of each team, and each part of the country is different on how successful you will be, but I am thrilled you don’t do that, gives me more opportunities.
p.2 #8 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
Ischgl99 wrote:
I agree with you that T&I is the best money maker, but it is also much harder to get into a league to get the business. I made more from senior banners from my son’s hockey team than I did from action shots all season, but there are people that will pay for action photos. It’s a small percentage of each team, and each part of the country is different on how successful you will be, but I am thrilled you don’t do that, gives me more opportunities.
I have exclusive sports photography contracts with several youth leagues and 2 high schools plus middle schools and senior banners are a very lucrative part of my business.
Last year I had to create well over 100 senior banners but the action posters and team photos are also solid revenue generators. Action photo sales from individual parents at the youth and high school level are probably less than 10% of yearly sales but there is such little interest in them that I don't view it as lost opportunities.
As a business owner, you listen to your clients by what they buy and youth sports action photo requests are not a priority around here but if they were, I'd be doing them on a regular basis.
p.2 #9 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
For those that might be coming in late on this thread, IMO @leewoolery has effectively put into perspective the current state of this business. He describes in detail the amount of effort necessary to keep a business viable which is far removed from what I would call an easy surmountable task. One thing not directly discussed but should be pointed out, is the talent behind the camera. To be successful in this business you have to be at the top of your game in multiple aspects. It obviously can be done, but be aware, it is not for those without the staunch dedication, drive and talent.
The first question I ask when confronted with inquiries regarding youth sports business is: Please you show me your work? This is the reality check, and for some, an eye opener.
p.2 #10 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
That's very true and well said. Quality -- and relationship management - are the ultimate limiting factors.
When referring to the original post, from a business model perspective I differentiate between someone who wants to do this on a full-time basis and someone who wants to do it as a side hustle, which is what I gather the original poster wants to do.
While both are drivers who make money, how you approach being a weekend Uber driver as an income supplement is vastly different than how you approach being a long-haul semi truck driver. You don't need to learn to backup an 18-wheeler into a Costco docking bay when you are going to be driving a Subaru around Appleton.
If the quality of work is there, making part-time money taking sports pictures as a side hustle is 100% doable and it does not have to be complicated. There are models that work. People do it all the time. If you want something bigger, well then the commitment needs to be bigger. Start small and build from there.
p.2 #11 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
schlotz wrote:
For those that might be coming in late on this thread, IMO @leewoolery@ has effectively put into perspective the current state of this business. He describes in detail the amount of effort necessary to keep a business viable which is far removed from what I would call an easy surmountable task. One thing not directly discussed but should be pointed out, is the talent behind the camera. To be successful in this business you have to be at the top of your game in multiple aspects. It obviously can be done, but be aware, it is not for those without the staunch dedication, drive and talent.
The first question I ask when confronted with inquiries regarding youth sports business is: Please you show me your work? This is the reality check, and for some, an eye opener. ...Show more →
Well said...natural talent and ability are discounted so much these days along with hard work and a no quit attitude.
I find that too many just pick up their toys and go home when things don't go their way.
p.2 #12 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
The OP is talking about a side hustle as PureMichigan mentioned above, my comments were based on that. Very few people are going to make a viable business just from action photos, but it is doable as a side hustle.
p.2 #13 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
bishopb1 wrote:
What Lee said about the parent that gives away everything. Parents would rather have crap from free than pay for something good. The photographers that I know that are successful, do something similar to the GF Crew method, where you prepay.
There's always two ways of looking at things, right ? I photograph my grandson's soccer games. Always off to the sides and out of anybody's way. During the course of the game I also grab shots of other players on the team and out of my own pocket I print up an 8x10 magazine cover of each player that my son(coach) hands out at the last game of the year with the trophy presentation. The parents are super appreciative to have something special of their child. Now, if I was handing out business cards and directing people to my website to purchase prints I feel that would be wrong. Parents are still purchasing the lazy, uninspired, tilted horizon, pole sticking out of head, snapshots that the paid "pro" is peddling. Making the assumption that someone like me using a combo that can be purchased for under $2000 is producing garbage compared to the "pro" carting around $16,000 worth of equipment is snobbish and arrogant. Just a few garbage snapshots from last night's game while relaxing in my lawn chair. using a Nikon 300 PF draws absolutely no attention, which is great. Unless of course you crave attention Put out a product that people feel they have to have and you won't need to complain about someone stealing your business.
Gary
And just for the record, this comes from someone who was the "paid pro" for 10 years. Weddings, senior portraits, youth soccer, youth softball, dance recitals. I didn't pay attention to what other parents were doing around me. I focused on the subject and tried my best to give the client something that we could both be proud of.
p.2 #14 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
sum1sgrampa wrote:
There's always two ways of looking at things, right ? I photograph my grandson's soccer games. Always off to the sides and out of anybody's way. During the course of the game I also grab shots of other players on the team and out of my own pocket I print up an 8x10 magazine cover of each player that my son(coach) hands out at the last game of the year with the trophy presentation. The parents are super appreciative to have something special of their child. Now, if I was handing out business cards and directing people to my website to purchase prints I feel that would be wrong. Parents are still purchasing the lazy, uninspired, tilted horizon, pole sticking out of head, snapshots that the paid "pro" is peddling. Making the assumption that someone like me using a combo that can be purchased for under $2000 is producing garbage compared to the "pro" carting around $16,000 worth of equipment is snobbish and arrogant. Just a few garbage snapshots from last night's game while relaxing in my lawn chair. using a Nikon 300 PF draws absolutely no attention, which is great. Unless of course you crave attention Put out a product that people feel they have to have and you won't need to complain about someone stealing your business.
Gary
And just for the record, this comes from someone who was the "paid pro" for 10 years. Weddings, senior portraits, youth soccer, youth softball, dance recitals. I didn't pay attention to what other parents were doing around me. I focused on the subject and tried my best to give the client something that we could both be proud of. ...Show more →
That D500 never ceases to amaze me when it's in capable hands. That last capture is fantastic, look of absolute determination!
p.2 #15 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
Making the assumption that someone like me using a combo that can be purchased for under $2000 is producing garbage compared to the "pro" carting around $16,000 worth of equipment is snobbish and arrogant."
I don't know that anyone above suggested that ... there are certainly plenty of terrific shooters who don't have $16K set-ups. And as your post proves, plenty of valid models and approaches to serving a team in a paid or unpaid way. To each his own!
p.2 #16 · Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up
Hi there. I'm Haim Ariav, the founder of Glossy Finish, a youth sports photography company that was started in 2006. I am also the co-founder of GFcrew, a community, process and app that allows photographers to make money using the same tools we have successfully used with Glossy Finish. The two entities are connected, but are also different.
Yes, we are 'killing it' with Glossy Finish and the good work we do annually for families that pre-pay us to photograph their athletes. GFcrew is simply our way of supporting photographers and having them avoid the pitfalls we had early on by photographing on speculation. Yes, we do make a little money when the GFcrew app is used, but we are by no means leaving our day jobs at Glossy Finish. :-)
The media credential we offer is to help our GFcrew Members to get into events where they have families that want their service. It's not a press pass, but a media pass because the new definition of media is content creation. Our GFcrew Members create content, which equates to media. I understand the traditionalists will argue this point and I respect that position. We are not trying to scam or distort anything or anyone. When we reviewed it with our attorney we concluded it was good enough to call it a media credential. ALSO, and probably most importantly, to obtain a GFcrew Media Credential you need to pass a federal level background screening. We take that VERY seriously, probably more so than a tradtional media outlet that doesn't require it.
Working out some sorts of budgets with the board and to explain to them why having good quality photos can add values to the school, to the students, and to the parents. And bring a lot of passion into it because I don't assume you would get paid a lot or you may need to assume many roles in the process. I don't shoot youth sports but I am also the social media person, the marketing director, the PR point person, and lastly the race photographer for several promoters I work with. 