Do any of you guys shoot for maxpreps.com? I emailed them about shooting for them and they want photos using a flash! I can understand why, but I don't have any photos using a flash. They didn't even care what I could do without a flash. I've been shooting sports professionally part time for local newspapers and national magazines for 10 years and be published locally and nationally. They don't care, still want photos with a flash.
You may be one of the luckiest photographers around! With or without MaxPreps, I can't believe you've shot for so long without having to shoot in a cave...woops, I mean a poorly lit football field. I don't shoot for MP, but there are many times when there is no choice but to shoot HS football with a flash. That is, of course, if I want usable images.
It would seem that if you want to shoot for MP, you'll need to provide them with photos using flash. I'm sure some of the MP shooters will chime in with their experience. Again, I haven't shot for them, but this seems rather straightforward.
Yes, flash or strobes are pretty much required for basketball with MaxPreps; the images are printed/sold and they want to ensure they're not selling noisy, grainy images, it's as simple as that. They are not fans of high ISO shots. Same for night football. It's nothing personal against those without flash.
The only ambient basketball I've shot for MP was at the Garden here in NYC, where the lights were bright enough.
bivey wrote:
I've been shooting sports professionally part time for local newspapers and national magazines for 10 years and be published locally and nationally.
Why would you want to shoot for MaxPreps if you have already been published locally and nationally?
gman1339 wrote:
I wouldn't even waste my time with them.
As a photographer I'm ALWAYS looking for ways to get more mileage and $$ out of my images. If I can shoot one event and upload those images to several different media distribution companies so much the better. If I'm already shooting a HS football game for someone else why not upload to Maxpreps as well. If I manage to sell a few more images then its a bonus for me.
I shoot for Maxpreps and can tell you that they are excellent to work with. Communication is frequent, support is top-notch, and best of all they are expanding their market presence. I also get to pick and choose my games to fit my schedule AND I retain copyrights to all my images with no restrictions on selling to others.
They are continually building relationships and partnerships with state athletic associations and local media outlets. When I go to games I'm seeing more and more Maxpreps Banners and they get frequent announcements during the games. On top of that I get FREE photo cards to hand out during games.
If your main problem is that you just hate "flashed" football shots well that's being a bit short-sighted. I don't particularly like the look of flashed night football games and the battle with Red Eye and Demon Eye is constant BUT that is the very reason I chose to shoot for Maxpreps: it forced me to shoot outside my comfort zone and learn something new. Shooting for someone else and having to adhere to their requirements is always good for my "game" as far as I see it. Another limitation of MP is that they do not want images in excess of ISO 800 which I believe is the main reason for having to use flash.
All in all though my experience with Maxpreps has been excellent. A well run company with clear direction, a responsive staff, and a proven desire to grow. Doesn't sound too bad to me.
I think it's a matter of consistency. We're getting closer to not needing to flash most fields, but our camera's aren't there yet...and most school districts don't have the funds to get us there by making the fields brighter.
gman1339 wrote:
To me they are the Model Mayhem equivalent for high school sports.
You obviously know nothing about Maxpreps. Again I think that it is short-sighted to not look at any and all opportunities to get your images out there.
Steve Ickes wrote:
You obviously know nothing about Maxpreps. Again I think that it is short-sighted to not look at any and all opportunities to get your images out there.
I have been accepted to shoot for Maxpreps. I think they are a good company, but I do have reservations about their rigid rules (flash and crop requirements). What it comes down to for me is whether or not the extra time and work will be offset by significantly more in sales. In my area at least, I don't think that is the case as they are relatively unheard of. I am not sure just putting my pictures "out there" with them brings a greater ROI than my self-promotion. Last year they asked me to cover a HS playoff game for them. It was about 2 hours driving time from my house. They said they would pay me $125 + sales if they liked my images and $25 if they didn't. I did not take the offer. Who knows, maybe their more regular shooters get better deals, but this was not worth my time.
As far as the OP's question about flash. It is what it is. I tell my guys if a job requires us to wear polka dot underwear we just need to make up our mind up front if we can live with it or not. Then we show up there in polka dot underwear or show up somewhere else commando style
bivey wrote:
Do any of you guys shoot for maxpreps.com? I emailed them about shooting for them and they want photos using a flash! I can understand why, but I don't have any photos using a flash. They didn't even care what I could do without a flash. I've been shooting sports professionally part time for local newspapers and national magazines for 10 years and be published locally and nationally. They don't care, still want photos with a flash.
This season will be either my 6th or 7th year shooting for MaxPreps. And last season was my most successfull year shooting for them. MaxPreps does have some "rules" about gallery submissions and quality and strobes and what-not .... but none of their "rules" or "guidelines" are deal-breakers (at least, not for me).
I, too, have been published locally and nationally. I currently shoot for wire services and submit images to them. They, too, have specific instructions on how those images are to be cropped, color-corrected, uploaded, and captioned. I follow their instructions and requirements .... just as I follow MaxPreps' instructions and requirements. Like I said, there are no deal-breakers with either my wire service's instructions and requirements or MaxPreps' instructions or requirements .....
And I agree with whoever above said it first - why wouldn't you want as much exposure for your work as you can get? I get sales from my own website galleries; I get sales from the same game galleries that I've submitted to MaxPreps. Plus, I've had magazines and high school football annuals (both on a state level and on a national level) pick up some of my images from MaxPreps .... and that would never have happened had I "kept" those images off of the MaxPreps website ....
Shooting for MaxPreps is clearly not for everyone .... and, as Marty pointed out, this conversation pops up every football season. But if you can get on the MaxPreps "roster" and give it a shot, you might find that it does work for you ....
The problem I have with complaining, whinning, bitching, or criticizing Maxpreps or other media outlets is that everything is clearly spelled out (at least with Maxpreps it is). They tell you what their requirements are and you either accept those or you don't. If you don't, then fine, don't bitch just move along. It's your choice to shoot for them or anyone else for that matter.
Steve, I think you took my answer the wrong way. The OP asked about MaxPreps requirement to use flash. I merely reiterated the fact that they do require it.
I am all about strobing basketball, when allowed by the league/team/etc. Love it.
As I said, I am a MaxPreps approved shooter (but rarely post for them) and don't dislike them, just trying to put out some information about my experience with them.
And yes, if SI wanted me to use flash at the Div 1 football, I'd have to turn them down as it is not allowed.
I don't shoot for MP, but there are many times when there is no choice but to shoot HS football with a flash. That is, of course, if I want usable images. 
