p.1 #1 · Cant find opportunities to shoot sports in NYC.
I started to reach out to sports clubs, leagues, and schools via emails but so far, I couldn't find any opportunities to shoot sports photos in NYC. Btw, I'm quite new to sports photography especially in NYC as I shot them outside of USA only.
So far, no responses from clubs, leagues, schools, and more. I could just go the park and shoot but I would worry about not having a permission or media pass prior to the game.
p.1 #4 · Cant find opportunities to shoot sports in NYC.
Define "reach out." IMO, if you're emailing people you're pretty much wasting your time. Call or find a way to visit with someone in person. When I was doing fund raising we use to have a saying, you can't get milk from a cow by sending it an email. Meaning: you have to get to the cow face-to-face and actually work with them in person.
p.1 #6 · Cant find opportunities to shoot sports in NYC.
My story was i have friends in my city club, and i asked politely if i can try, so then it was my start for whatever later, i kept learning and improved in no time which helped me to go further, then later i had a courage and i went to another club just in the next or neighbor city to mine, i directly went to a media office there, and i asked one person there, at first he thought i was asking to work as a photographer in the club, but i immediately told him no, i just want to take photos for fun and learning and nothing else, he welcomed that and allowed me, since then he became a friend and even asked me in some occasion to do photography for the club or any related place/person to him, the club is one of popular in my country, it opened the door also to be a photographer in my country football league for several years, i always was able to get access permission card and built a community there, i stopped so long time ago, but i still can contact when i want, so the bottom line is, find contacts friends relatives and go from there, so just talk with media people there and try to find their interest to accept or choose you.
p.1 #7 · Cant find opportunities to shoot sports in NYC.
You either get lucky (put yourself in a position where the odds are higher), or you have to get to know someone at the games. Easiest would be if you're press on assignment if you work for a news outlet.
Example: a great opportunity would've been at the World Cup games where there were plenty of retired players + some current pros (plenty of MSL, USL, players from Euro leagues attended). There were also some staff who worked with teams there. Many of them took the NJ Transit to/from the games. If you meet someone and they like you, they would be able to introduce you/get your foot in the door.
It does help to have a strong portfolio in whatever else you shoot, even if it's not sports. High quality is pretty clear even if it's not the same field of photography.
Do you have insurance? Are you willing to travel a bit? If so, some (adult) teams with low attendance might allow you to enter in as a fan with a camera + not check your bag. Go call and ask. Can also check out your neighborhood to see if there are any local rec leagues that don't mind you taking photos.
You have to build your portfolio before you get access to any higher-level games, unless someone up there can vouch for you.
