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Archive 2008 · MaxPreps.com

bridow
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p.1 #1 · MaxPreps.com

I saw them on craigslist and I was wondering if anyone has shot for them and what their experience was. I know their website is very popular in california, but how about on the east coast? i figured it would only generate a small amount of income, but it would be good for someone like me that is fairly new to shooting sports.

Feb 05, 2008 at 02:24 AM

Rocketball
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p.1 #2 · MaxPreps.com

They do not have a very large presence on the East Coast.

For more info, go to the Sports Shooters website and do a search. Many of the photogs there shoot for them and/or have info to share.

Feb 05, 2008 at 06:54 AM

dmwierz
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p.1 #3 · MaxPreps.com

Lotsa guys here also shoot for Maxpreps. Do a search and you'll find a ton of info (and also on SportsShooter).

Feb 05, 2008 at 07:55 AM

Zamboni Dan
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p.1 #4 · MaxPreps.com

We are currently looking for photographers in North Carolina, so yes, if you are interested, please apply. We need coverage of the upcoming NC state finals especially. Right now, we do not have any photographers in NC

Let me know if you need any more details

-Danny

Feb 05, 2008 at 03:15 PM

bridow
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p.1 #5 · MaxPreps.com

i'm not a member of SS, but nothing pulled up on a search on FM. i'll get my photos together and register this weekend at SS, i guess.

Feb 05, 2008 at 04:05 PM

Zamboni Dan
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p.1 #6 · MaxPreps.com

Application page is here:

http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/photo_join.mxp

Should be all the info you need about the network and how it works

-Danny

Feb 05, 2008 at 04:16 PM

DennisC
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p.1 #7 · MaxPreps.com

Are there any requirements with regard to picture size in pixels? That is, I use a D1H that has 2.7MP. Would an application be turned down solely for that reason?

Also, I've read elsewhere, that indoor sports must...MUST...be strobed. True?

Thanks!

Feb 05, 2008 at 08:02 PM

dmwierz
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p.1 #8 · MaxPreps.com

DennisC wrote:
Are there any requirements with regard to picture size in pixels? That is, I use a D1H that has 2.7MP. Would an application be turned down solely for that reason?

Also, I've read elsewhere, that indoor sports must...MUST...be strobed. True?

Thanks!

Dennis - as far as I know, the requirements are: 300 dpi sRGB 1600px x 2166px (JPEG Large Fine) - I'm not sure a 2.7MP camera would be turned down, but I also can't imagine a camera of that resolution being able to produce a file of sufficient quality. I believe a D1H produces a 2000 x 1312 image which is too small......this IS a 6 year old camera, after all.

In addition, indoor sports such as basketball are required to be strobed (as is football)

Edited on Feb 05, 2008 at 10:10 PM

Feb 05, 2008 at 10:09 PM

ALewis88
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p.1 #9 · MaxPreps.com

dmwierz wrote:
Dennis - as far as I know, the requirements are: 300 dpi sRGB 1600px x 2166px (JPEG Large Fine) - I'm not sure a 2.7MP camera would be turned down, but I also can't imagine a camera of that resolution being able to produce a file of sufficient quality. I believe a D1H produces a 2000 x 1312 image which is too small......this IS a 6 year old camera, after all.

In addition, indoor sports such as basketball are required to be strobed (as is football)

Dont they say that you have to shoot at 800 ISO or lower? And they wont take anything higher?

Thats crazy..having to strobe everything...

Feb 06, 2008 at 01:12 AM

PShizzy
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p.1 #10 · MaxPreps.com

Dont they say that you have to shoot at 800 ISO or lower? And they wont take anything higher?

Thats crazy..having to strobe everything...

Scott Sewell said it best before: If you're going to spend all this time and effort on this endeavor, why would you spend it supporting Maxpreps.com and not your own site?

I understand that many people will say "well Maxpreps will get me exposure". I can see that, but to be honest, I'd rather have 100% of my own sales than dealing with Maxpreps requirements for a cut of my own work.

But please remember, it's all perspective. Personally, I know that if I'm to strobe up a bball gym for a game, I'd like to do it on my own terms, and under my own flag.

The negative to doing it yourself is that there is no infrastructure in place for any of it. You need to put in the work to get your own flag, be your own business, etc... So again, I see the advantage to maxpreps there

But if you're putting in all this work just to get shots, why only take a cut. Why stop at all that work to get the shot, and then say "well I don't want to market myself".

Just thoughts.

Max

Feb 06, 2008 at 01:24 AM

msauk
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p.1 #11 · MaxPreps.com

ALewis88 wrote:
Dont they say that you have to shoot at 800 ISO or lower? And they wont take anything higher?

Thats crazy..having to strobe everything...

It's not crazy when you play in HS dungeons or HS football fields. They have a model and it works. What you call crazy they call a good plan. It's not like they are just saying stuff with no experience behind it.

Feb 06, 2008 at 01:33 AM

DennisC
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p.1 #12 · MaxPreps.com

If you're shooting for maxpreps, then I assume you would be covered under their liability insurance?

For someone like me who 1) has yet to take that next step of marketing and trying to sell, and 2) has no plans to make this my full time employment, the maxpreps model is attractive in that the infrastructure, and all that entails, is already in place. All I would have to do is shoot and work on improving the quality of my shots.

Perhaps, as my skills improve, and I get a feel for whether there even is a market for these kinds of photos in my area, then going on my own is certainly an option.

Thanks for the responses, folks!

Feb 06, 2008 at 05:24 AM

dpmurray
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p.1 #13 · MaxPreps.com

DennisC wrote:
If you're shooting for maxpreps, then I assume you would be covered under their liability insurance?

For someone like me who 1) has yet to take that next step of marketing and trying to sell, and 2) has no plans to make this my full time employment, the maxpreps model is attractive in that the infrastructure, and all that entails, is already in place. All I would have to do is shoot and work on improving the quality of my shots.

Perhaps, as my skills improve, and I get a feel for whether there even is a market for these kinds of...Show more →

I would assume MaxPreps calls you an independent contractor and doesn't give you anything.

From what I've read on other threads on the topic it sounds like MaxPreps still expects you to help their marketing and bring eyeballs to their site.

Also keep in mind you might be competing against photographers with local contracts paying money to be in a school.

Feb 06, 2008 at 05:55 AM

PShizzy
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p.1 #14 · MaxPreps.com

Dennis, do not make assumptions. I do not know what their deal is, but you should be prepared to ask any and all question you'd like answered with fact and not assumption.

Let's not single out Maxpreps there: Wire services also do not insure you, unless you're a staffer

But, in the positive, I think that your idea is in fact a solid one Dennis. You set out a clear goal: get better before you go out on your own. Maxpreps and other places are a good place to cut your teeth on, but as your skill improve, your value should also go up, and eventually would exceed what Maxpreps is paying you, making it at some point not worth being with them.

What's funny is that in general, we will read on this and other forums, that it's a bad thing to be in over your head, to bite off more than you can chew... yet, when faced with "I'd like to shoot for Maxpreps", those same people will say "you should just go out on your own", not always knowing your skill level (or business acumen).

This is why I'm trying to be lengthy with my explanation. Rather than nutshell it and say a cliche like "say no to bad deals", "don't shoot on spec", etc, I'm trying to give you some ideas. What you do with them is up to you, because ultimately, you're the one putting in the work towards reaching your goal.

Max

Feb 06, 2008 at 09:54 AM

Steve Ickes
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p.1 #15 · MaxPreps.com

I shot football this year for Maxpreps. One reason was that it allowed me access to games that I would've otherwise been denied. Additionally, I really wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and have to shoot under their guidelines as well as have a photo editor with a discerning eye evaluate my work. Sometimes we get somewhat complacent shooting so many sporting events that it's good to add some variety and try and shake things up.

I will say that they were very professional and really great to work with. I didn't sell a ton of images but I wasn't looking at it as a primary source of income anyway and I retained all rights to my images. I also rec'd a few jobs from them that I probably wouldn't have otherwise attended and for that they did pay a day-rate. I don't shoot for any local papers so a Maxpreps pass did get me access which I might not have otherwise had. I wouldn't shoot for them exclusivly but it does make for good supplemental work and income.

Feb 06, 2008 at 10:04 AM

DennisC
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p.1 #16 · MaxPreps.com

PShizzy wrote:
Dennis, do not make assumptions. I do not know what their deal is, but you should be prepared to ask any and all question you'd like answered with fact and not assumption.

Max, thanks for your input and I wholeheartedly agree. I would make sure I understood the entire gig first.

Steve Ickes wrote:
I shot football this year for Maxpreps. One reason was that it allowed me access to games that I would've otherwise been denied. Additionally, I really wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and have to shoot under their guidelines as well as have a photo editor with a discerning eye evaluate my work. Sometimes we get somewhat complacent shooting so many sporting events that it's good to add some variety and try and shake things up.

I will say that they were very professional and really great to work with. I didn't sell a ton of images but...Show more →

Steve, thanks!

Couple questions?

So maxpreps provided you with some sort of "pass?" And, using this pass, you just showed up to games and folks let you in? Or, did you contact the school AD first to obtain permission to shoot? How did this play out?

Do they provide any liability insurance coverage or did you provide your own?

What is your understanding of their requirements regarding file size to submit. I'm talking about after you've been accepted and are submitting pictures to be posted on their site.

Thanks for reading!

Edited on Feb 06, 2008 at 12:52 PM

Feb 06, 2008 at 12:51 PM

msauk
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p.1 #17 · MaxPreps.com

You are a subcontractor and you have to take care of insurance.

I just got them to get me a media credential for the Utah High School Tourney. I gave them the fax number and they sent in what needed to be sent in. Just went and picked up my credential today.

I would contact the actual basketball coach of the team you are going to be shooting. Explain to him that you are shooting for maxpreps.com (most have heard of them, even here in utah) and that you will be using artificial light for the game. Here in utah there is no rule on using strobes, as it is up to the officials and coaches. So I can not quote a rule saying I will be within this and that rule. It is totally up to the school and coaches.

I contact each coach now that I have not shot before and tell them this and I have not had an issue. I have had an issue at a few schools where I show up and shoot though. But for the most part they are fine with it.

I have submitted and cleared 13/13 galleries. Just take good images that are clear, noise free and sharp and you will be fine. My latest gallery has 133 images, but I like to shoot fan shots as well as non moving shots. I use allotment of non action shots for sure.

From their admin area:

Digital Image Requirements
image type:
file size:
resolution:
color space:
size:
crop:
JPEG
Large, Fine
300 dpi
sRGB
1600px x 2166px
cropped for ALL print sizes

* Photo Gallery Rules Varsity Events ONLY!!

* 25-200 images for regular season galleries.

* 70 percent of images must be action.

* Images must be "print ready".

* No red-eye.

* No dark or grainy images.

* No oversharpened or out-of-focus images.

* No black-and-white images.

Edited on Feb 06, 2008 at 01:48 PM

Feb 06, 2008 at 01:46 PM

DennisC
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p.1 #18 · MaxPreps.com

Thanks, msauk!

Feb 06, 2008 at 01:51 PM

msauk
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p.1 #19 · MaxPreps.com

I should add that they do have an action for Photoshop that does the 1600x2166 for you. You just crop it and hit enter and it does the resize for you. Very easy.

It took me like 30 minutes to process 133 images from last night.

Feb 06, 2008 at 01:57 PM

Zamboni Dan
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p.1 #20 · MaxPreps.com

"I understand that many people will say "well Maxpreps will get me exposure". I can see that, but to be honest, I'd rather have 100% of my own sales than dealing with Maxpreps requirements for a cut of my own work."

I don't understand this -- someone has to pay for the cost of printing the images, of shipping the order, dealing with customers, etc. Its not like if you shoot on your own, this cost disappears. You get 80% of each sale with maxpreps, and they take care of basically every aspect of it printing/processing/shipping/service, etc. To me, thats a pretty good deal. I don't need to field questions or complaints or whatever -- I just shoot, upload and go to sleep. You're going to have to pay that price of business with your own personal website as well

Also have to keep in mind, Max is easily the most well known high school website in this country. Almost every athlete playing right now googles themselves, checks the sports section, checks MaxPreps. A lot of parents know it, trust it, will buy from it. Often, its the coaches who upload the rosters and stats, so they know and trust it (and usually are thrilled, not suspicious, when they see maxpreps show up)

And also -- maxpreps is not primarily a photo business. Max provides content for a lot of newspaper's websites... for example if your paper has an online "Varsity" section with all the teams, stats, schedules, etc ... it may be provided by/linked to maxpreps, which is excellent exposure if you shoot in that area. It is primarily a media outlet for high school sports (owned by CBS Sports). The site is swamped with video highlights, video news shows, state news, national columns, state rankings, national rankings, stat leaders, scores, etc and affiliated with CSTV. Obviously they like selling photos and make money like everyone else.

Not saying mp is wonderful or perfect, but I don't think its a waste of time/money/effort.

Edited on Feb 06, 2008 at 02:17 PM

Feb 06, 2008 at 02:07 PM

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