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Getting out there…
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How do you do it?
How do you go about getting work in a newspaper? On a website? Or just getting access to higher up matches?
Pretty much all of my work has been for schools (my own, and two others. I’m only 18 though). My work isn’t terrible, I’m not blowing my own horn but it’s definitely of a reasonable standard. I get praise from the schools/parents for it but I don’t take non-photographer opinions on that much, I would consider it of a reasonable standard though. You can decide for yourself here: http://stuartcomerford.com/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false; (there’s a “sports” portfolio as a dropdown under “Portfolio”).
I photographed one of the Leinster Senior Cup matches and there was a photographer there who had one of his images in the herald the next next day and I would have considered some of mine of the day to be better quality (he fully cut off the arm of the main player in the printed shot, it was a very uncomfortable framing of the shot).
I understand that all of these photographers are older than me, and have much more experience, more connections, better equipment etc. but how do I make a break into the industry? Currently I’m stretching to photograph matches for Parnells GAA club and Clontarf rugby club, in hopes that they will lead me on to even bigger things. But I’ve sent emails around to newspapers, clubs etc. and no one ever replies. I could potentially gain connections in the newspapers through the company Lensmen as I am very good friends with the owner, Susan Kennedy, but I’d like to try and make this journey on my own if possibly. Or do I really need to know someone on the inside?I’ve never asked for money for my photographs, I’ve always offered my services in return for access (except with the schools, they pay me). Am I approaching this in the wrong way? Should I try convincing a paper like the Northside people to let me cover some sports matches for them? (even though they don’t run sports articles). I even tried applying for work experience with Inpho and Sportsfile but Inpho never replied (even though I spoke to one of their photographers at a match and he said they’d take me on for a bit) and Sportsfile kind of bumped me off. I know it’s becoming more of a closed business as everyone is picking up a camera, but is there any way to break into it anymore for a little guy like myself?
Can anyone in the business offer a bit of advice?
Hi Stuart
First of all, I feel your pain buddy! And I’m a lot older than you are! All my life I’ve been an avid hobbyist as far as photography goes but late last year I decided that it was time to see how far my efforts would get me if I really went hell for leather for passes, accreditation, contacts, brazen neck and so on. Since January 1st things are moving slowly but surely. Been to Munster ruby games, got an FAI Media Pass for the year and am picking up fans and contacts left right and centre. I also have re-activated a semi-dormant Facebook account, which is getting me a lot of attention. FB can be a pain but it can also be great for feedback. Try it.
I agree with your observations about work that sometimes appears in the big newspapers being of poor or sub-standard quality; it can be very frustrating and demoralising indeed to see work that you know is of a lower standard than your own. All can really be done is to shrug it off and start gain the next day. I submitted ten high quality images to a newspaper here in Waterford recently, from Munster’s last game, and what do they do? Print one outdated image from an agency gallery that had no relevance to the match in question! And I know for a fact that they paid more for it than I was asking for my ten images!
Go the local route, chase down as many publications as possible in your vicinity and try and convince them of the benefit of publishing good quality sports images. Don’t give up! I do not make a fortune at this and am on the bottom rungs of a very steep ladder. The big boys like INPHO and Sportsfile are very reluctant to take on any staffers in this financial climate, they guard what they have very closely and you can’t blame them for that. It’s a business after all.
By the way, if you are not comfortable about asking your contact in Lensman for a leg up, pass on her details to me…I would have no qualms about asking her to help me out!
By the way, your images are pretty good, but I would try and get some soccer ones as well…huge interest in schoolboy and Junior League soccer in Dublin.
Keep it up and keep shooting. One last thing, what gear do you use?
regards
Gerry
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerry-OMahony-Photography/366089183402706″ onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
Gortan60 wrote:
Hi Stuart
First of all, I feel your pain buddy! And I’m a lot older than you are! All my life I’ve been an avid hobbyist as far as photography goes but late last year I decided that it was time to see how far my efforts would get me if I really went hell for leather for passes, accreditation, contacts, brazen neck and so on. Since January 1st things are moving slowly but surely. Been to Munster ruby games, got an FAI Media Pass for the year and am picking up fans and contacts left right and centre. I also have re-activated a semi-dormant Facebook account, which is getting me a lot of attention. FB can be a pain but it can also be great for feedback. Try it.
I agree with your observations about work that sometimes appears in the big newspapers being of poor or sub-standard quality; it can be very frustrating and demoralising indeed to see work that you know is of a lower standard than your own. All can really be done is to shrug it off and start gain the next day. I submitted ten high quality images to a newspaper here in Waterford recently, from Munster’s last game, and what do they do? Print one outdated image from an agency gallery that had no relevance to the match in question! And I know for a fact that they paid more for it than I was asking for my ten images!
Go the local route, chase down as many publications as possible in your vicinity and try and convince them of the benefit of publishing good quality sports images. Don’t give up! I do not make a fortune at this and am on the bottom rungs of a very steep ladder. The big boys like INPHO and Sportsfile are very reluctant to take on any staffers in this financial climate, they guard what they have very closely and you can’t blame them for that. It’s a business after all.
By the way, if you are not comfortable about asking your contact in Lensman for a leg up, pass on her details to me…I would have no qualms about asking her to help me out!
By the way, your images are pretty good, but I would try and get some soccer ones as well…huge interest in schoolboy and Junior League soccer in Dublin.
Keep it up and keep shooting. One last thing, what gear do you use?
regards
Gerry
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerry-OMahony-Photography/366089183402706″ onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
Thanks for the advice Gerry, I’ll definitely start taking an interest in football like you suggested. I’m only now picking up GAA as I realised I had better chances if I branched out to more sports.
I already have a facebook page up and running ( http://www.facebook.com/StuartComerfordPhotography” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false; ) that gets me quite a lot of recognition for the school rugby stuff I do, but I put that down to me knowing most of the players anyway! But I guess that’s actually a good thing. I’m using that to sell a photobook of the year of senior cup rugby to parents to try and make money to fund this venture actually.
I’ll have a look around for as many local publications that I could try to get in as well. How did you go about getting the FAI media pass? Was that just due to the football coverage you’ve done?I use Canon equipment: 1D Mark IIN, 40D, 70-200mm F/2.8L and 300mm F/4L (but this one is currently on loan from Lensmen, I can’t afford it but I’m saving for my own F/2.8 version whenever possible).
Same main camera as myself then, though you have the better version of the 70-200 L…mine is the f4 which is great in daylight but average to poor under lights. I also use a really good little Nikon for team shots, casual stuff…D3100, which has one of the best kit lenses on the market and is great for low light crowd shots, really good high ISO.
I got the FAI pass through a sports editor friend on a newspaper I supply content to. I’m not sure if applications are closed for this year or not. they will take applications from freelance but don’t know how many they give out though. The page for applications seems to have been removed when I looked just now.
If you decide to sell the f2.8 70-200 L, let me know! Looking for one within budget.
Gerry
Hi Stuart,
While I can’t offer much advice as I am not a professional, I can certainly sympathise with you! I am in a similar position as yourself, having started photography in the last number of years and trying to break into a career, primarily in sports photography. I have tried applying to companies for experience and to newspapers etc for photo submissions but as you said, many do not even reply. I was lucky enough to shoot a match with one of the Sportsfile guys and hope to try and get some more experiencework with them in the future but as Gerry rightly pointed out it is very difficult for them in this financial climate to take on any more staff even if it is part time.
I shoot a lot of rugby as well because I played a lot myself and have a local club nearby but I think it is important to branch out to GAA and soccer in particular, as well as other sports so that you have a decent range of shots for your portfolio and gain a wider range of skills. I think the most frustrating thing for me at the moment is the inability to afford the really good gear (I would kill for a 400mm f2.8 or a 600mm f4!) because even though technique and vision is so important, a lot of sports photography does come down to the gear and it is difficult to get noticed when starting out without having capable camera bodies and some reasonably long telephotos.
The only advice I could give is to keep working hard and plugging away at it if it i something you really want to do. I can see from your website that you have some really good work behind you, just keep trying to improve all the time. I know I’ll be looking to apply for some media passes soon, even to smaller events, and if I have some decent shots I can show them then that might sway their decision. Hope this can offer you some comfort knowing you’re not the only one.
Let me know if you’re ever interested in shooting some matches or have any advice/questions, I’d be happy to hear from someone in a similar position about their experiences. In the meantime keep up the good work.
WillN wrote:
Hi Stuart,
While I can’t offer much advice as I am not a professional, I can certainly sympathise with you! I am in a similar position as yourself, having started photography in the last number of years and trying to break into a career, primarily in sports photography. I have tried applying to companies for experience and to newspapers etc for photo submissions but as you said, many do not even reply. I was lucky enough to shoot a match with one of the Sportsfile guys and hope to try and get some more experiencework with them in the future but as Gerry rightly pointed out it is very difficult for them in this financial climate to take on any more staff even if it is part time.
I shoot a lot of rugby as well because I played a lot myself and have a local club nearby but I think it is important to branch out to GAA and soccer in particular, as well as other sports so that you have a decent range of shots for your portfolio and gain a wider range of skills. I think the most frustrating thing for me at the moment is the inability to afford the really good gear (I would kill for a 400mm f2.8 or a 600mm f4!) because even though technique and vision is so important, a lot of sports photography does come down to the gear and it is difficult to get noticed when starting out without having capable camera bodies and some reasonably long telephotos.
The only advice I could give is to keep working hard and plugging away at it if it i something you really want to do. I can see from your website that you have some really good work behind you, just keep trying to improve all the time. I know I’ll be looking to apply for some media passes soon, even to smaller events, and if I have some decent shots I can show them then that might sway their decision. Hope this can offer you some comfort knowing you’re not the only one.
Let me know if you’re ever interested in shooting some matches or have any advice/questions, I’d be happy to hear from someone in a similar position about their experiences. In the meantime keep up the good work.
I would sell some of my children for a 400mm f2.8!..Well, not really, just in case anyone from the HSE is watching!
Gortan60 wrote:
Same main camera as myself then, though you have the better version of the 70-200 L…mine is the f4 which is great in daylight but average to poor under lights. I also use a really good little Nikon for team shots, casual stuff…D3100, which has one of the best kit lenses on the market and is great for low light crowd shots, really good high ISO.
I got the FAI pass through a sports editor friend on a newspaper I supply content to. I’m not sure if applications are closed for this year or not. they will take applications from freelance but don’t know how many they give out though. The page for applications seems to have been removed when I looked just now.
If you decide to sell the f2.8 70-200 L, let me know! Looking for one within budget.
Gerry
I had the F/4 IS version, that was what I initially bought. But I didn’t like the F/4 aperture because at the time I was photographing mainly concerts so needed the faster aperture, I managed to find a guy on adverts who was willing to swap my version for his F/2.8 non-IS and I’ve never been happier!
I’ll have a look about for any publications that could get me media access.
Thanks for the advice.WillN wrote:
Hi Stuart,
While I can’t offer much advice as I am not a professional, I can certainly sympathise with you! I am in a similar position as yourself, having started photography in the last number of years and trying to break into a career, primarily in sports photography. I have tried applying to companies for experience and to newspapers etc for photo submissions but as you said, many do not even reply. I was lucky enough to shoot a match with one of the Sportsfile guys and hope to try and get some more experiencework with them in the future but as Gerry rightly pointed out it is very difficult for them in this financial climate to take on any more staff even if it is part time.
I shoot a lot of rugby as well because I played a lot myself and have a local club nearby but I think it is important to branch out to GAA and soccer in particular, as well as other sports so that you have a decent range of shots for your portfolio and gain a wider range of skills. I think the most frustrating thing for me at the moment is the inability to afford the really good gear (I would kill for a 400mm f2.8 or a 600mm f4!) because even though technique and vision is so important, a lot of sports photography does come down to the gear and it is difficult to get noticed when starting out without having capable camera bodies and some reasonably long telephotos.
The only advice I could give is to keep working hard and plugging away at it if it i something you really want to do. I can see from your website that you have some really good work behind you, just keep trying to improve all the time. I know I’ll be looking to apply for some media passes soon, even to smaller events, and if I have some decent shots I can show them then that might sway their decision. Hope this can offer you some comfort knowing you’re not the only one.
Let me know if you’re ever interested in shooting some matches or have any advice/questions, I’d be happy to hear from someone in a similar position about their experiences. In the meantime keep up the good work.
I always find it extremely rude that most don’t reply. I feel more offended when I don’t get a reply than when I get turned down, everyone should have the common decency to at least reject an applicant.
I’ll be shooting my first hurling match this Saturday, luckily there’s a great club no more than 5 minutes from my house! I need to find a few local football clubs though, I know of two but they don’t really have any set playing grounds.
The inability to afford really good gear is always a big problem, you can’t get photos as good as the pros if you don’t have the gear but you can’t get the gear if you can’t make money! It’s an evil formula, requires a lot of investment to get started. I would, like everyone else, kill for a 400mm 2.8. At the moment I’m aiming for a 300mm 2.8 as they sometimes go for a little over €1,000 on adverts, it’s expensive but cheap compared to the 400!Thanks for your advice and comforting information guys, I wish yous all the best in breaking through too!
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