How to make MONEY from Sports Photography - Top Tips!

[@samsfotoservice7406]

Thanks for this video, Rob. You have inspired me also in some of your other videos. Great content!

[@Speavy89]

Hey rob thanks for making this video I appreciate it I’m just starting to get into sports photography and at the moment I’m working on my gear and getting practice at my sons football games and it’s be awesome

[@darrelltheriault5793]

Even the concept of “making money” needs clarification. It ranges from making a living to making some profit (after expenses, gear purchases etc.) to simply getting paid which might help with paying for some of your gear. The strategy for each level would be very different. Also I wouldn’t underestimate the value of asking for business. Much of my work has come from approaching sports teams and asking them if they would allow me t take photos and then showing them the results. It’s a way to get your foot in the door. Thanks Rob, great topic and tips.

[@lizzrobinson]

I'm not a sports photographer (as I'm sure I've mentioned before!) but I find your videos, this one included, so useful!

[@SiobhanTaylor]

Solid tips Rob 👏

[@SteveChick02]

Nice one Rob. I shoot mainly for fun and to build my portfolio but it would be nice to add some extra cash to help pay for gear/food/fuel etc. Great tips, thanks for sharing.

[@RobSambles]

Yeah 100% Steve

[@tpombart]

Thanks Rob, I subscribed I’m an avid 16 Year Old Sports Photographer, from a Town north of Sydney called Newcastle. Bit hard at young age to secure top-end gear, especially when you still play football. But will use these tips! Great video

[@RobSambles]

Awesome thank you

[@joncole1445]

I believe comments help your channel. Well a comment is the least I can do for the help you are giving me. The content and your delivery are great.

[@robertlawrence7958]

Because it has become a lot easier to take decent photos, everyone thinks they can be a pro. As you touched on, in reality to make money in this game you first have to be a BUSINESS PERSON. An average photographer who is a good business man will succeed whereas an excellent photographer who is a crap business man will fail. There is a world of difference between being a professional photographer and a hobbyist who sells a few images.

[@cdiderich]

On having more than one camera: * I would disagree, that you need to have more than one camera. It really depends on the sport you are shooting. If you are, for example, shooting alpine ski (one camera with at least 400mm), you will only need one camera. Shooting handball (one camera with 135mm or 70-200mm) or volleyball (one camera with 24-70mm and 70-200mm depending on your position) typically requires only one camera as you can predict exactly what lens you need. Other sports, like soccer are better shot with 2, 3, or even 4 cameras (one camera with 15-35mm for up-and-close reactions, one camera with 70-200mm and one camera with 400mm for actions, and eventually a fourth camera as a remote behind the goal). I would never suggest to have a camera, purely as a back-up camera. If you don't actively use a second camera, invest the money in lenses. * From my experience, unless you buy a camera for a dedicated job (e.g., a remote camera), buy 2 (or more) identical cameras [and stick with one brand]. If you are under stress, not having to think about which camera model (with distinct functionalities) you use is of enormous value. Furthermore, having identical cameras, allows you to have identical batteries (and typically need only carry one battery charger) and memory cards (and card reader). Finally, I can guarantee you if you have to different cameras (e.g., a Canon R3 and R5 or an Sony A1 and A9III or Nikon Z8 and Z9) you will always (Murhpy's law) find yourself with the wrong lens on th wrong camera. And you will find yourself switching lenses because you always want to use the better of both cameras. The second camera, and I speak from experience (I shot one Roland Garros while I was switching to mirror-less having one EOS 1 D-X Mark III and one EOS R3 - guess which camera I used 99% of the time), becomes an expensive lens carrier.

[@erxcdecker]

Good note on the backup camera. What would you say are the minimum specs needed in a backup camera? For instance, my main camera is the R5, but my "backup" camera is an 80D which only does about 5 fps, etc.

[@pascalkesselmark7529]

I‘d say the 80D is good enough as a backup camera. Hey it‘s a backup… You can‘t „spray and pray“ with it, but it still will shoot some keeper. I would not worry about the fps but about the max. ISO you can push the camera to and I think the 80D is not too bad there. A small remark to put this topic also in a different light: When I was shooting sports with analog cameras, we had 36 pictures in one film. So you aimed for one shoot at the apex of a movement. My editor was never really amused when I came back from an event and had shot more than 6 films…

[@RobSambles]

I'd agreed with Pascal. A backup doesn't have to be top level as long as it can do the job. For example you could back up a 1dxiii with a 1dx, 7dii, 90d etc but something like a 10d just wouldn't be capable of the job

[@my_everyday_carry]

Don’t worry, I also use Square Space and am not sponsored. LOL

[@pascalkesselmark7529]

Hi Rob, thanks for the great tips.

[@RobSambles]

Cheers Pascal

[@piyush5210]

"This video is sponsored by square space"😂😂😂 heard this so many times. This video was helpful thanks!

[@RobSambles]

😄

[@bbsphotography2187]

Worth mentioning insurance, pli, accreditation and permission to photograph on private property (as opposed to in a public park) and have a background check certificate in future vids maybe? Should be an interesting series! 👍

[@RobSambles]

All good points

[@Adrian-ww2jj]

Good tips. But what about understanding something about the sport you photograph? How to keep the balance between buying lenses and rent lenses?

[@RobSambles]

Yeah understanding the sport helps a ton

[@samuelodihumbo6764]

Hey Rob how can I get invited to shoot sports at local clubs or schools

[@cynical1952]

Very interesting and thanks for sharing your tips - now subscribed. A question for you - do you shoot raw or jpeg?

[@vestructor713]

Always shoot raw. If you have a two card system you can shoot jpeg as backup to the second card. When you're working in low light scenarios you still have to keep a faster shutter speed and you need to rely on reovover shadows from raw files, jpeg will just have too much noise.

[@popcornparam]

I need a full video about shooting - caption- edit- and sending it all within a minute.

[@popcornparam]

Please do it. Like a real world video please

[@RobSambles]

@@popcornparam I've got a few already on my channel but there'll be more again 💯

[@telkirton]

We haven't seen you out working for a while Rob..

[@RobSambles]

Yeah this is the quietest time for me with football and basketball seasons off. I start again fully next week though so hopefully we can get some vlogs back in!

[@Lovisman]

Hi Rob. Just wondering: is there a big difference between the Canon 70-200 2.8 II and the III version? If so, is there a huge difference? Im thinking of picking up one used. And also; Would you pick up a used 2.8 rather than a brand new f/4?

[@Lovisman]

And it is for sports! Mostly outdoor.

[@juelraun]

Great video. You're right that you need the right gear for some jobs :D

[@robertanderson1553]

GREAT ADVICE ROB

[@RobSambles]

Cheers Robert

[@fsttag1]

My question to you would be, are you able to take a photo, and then sell distribution rights? So that you’re able to sell bulk canvas prints? Kind of like when you see posters and things in a grocery store or something like that.

[@RobSambles]

Yes provided you own the copyright for the images you take

[@petescott2269]

i used a 50mm did a video for my lil cousins football game. the parents and coach seen the video , now im their official football cinema man, i create a story with the 50mm nit just shoot football, true story!!!!

[@the.fightculture]

I’m a combat sports photographer. I had a promotion reach out, mentioned nothing about $$ , then said i had to allow them to download and delete all images after the show. What should i do in this scenario? I have enough experience to ask for the compensation.

[@michaelgracephotography8308]

Do you mind to let us know how that situation went.

[@diaklam428]

I think it would be good to point out that as a freelancer covering football is hardly worth it, unless its for the love, as the amount you may get for shots is minimal. A days travel and expenses would hardly be covered, its securing a day rate that makes it pay. This will "burst" some peoples bubbles but the reality is that there is very little money in covering football unless your with an agency and getting paid day rates.

[@TARAWELSH]

get round to local kids games- that pays well (and my pics arent expensive).. i'm turning over 6 figures at the moment for my weekend sports stuff alongside a part time job in the week -- no money in professional football unless youre working for big agencies- one of the things i learnt... used to look at the photographers at prem games and think they were the best photographers - now prem football is full of freebie photographers and kids learning their trade... i can make £500-£1000 some weekends doing kids stuff thats 5 mins down the road- dont have to site there 5 hours before a game just to get a good spot.. would only fit 2 prem games in tops which would probably pay £100 tops each

[@Methodical2]

@@TARAWELSH And you don't have to get photos to anyone within minutes which reduces the stress level.

[@TARAWELSH]

@@Methodical2 yep.. i find that mega stressful with data issues etc haha

[@Technologyadvisor1]

i am glad your not spamming the video with square space as I am sick and tired of youtubers banging on it like tony northrup he talked about it in a single video no less then 21 times witch is a joke.

[@RobSambles]

I have no affiliation with them other than using them as my website provider. To be fair to other KZbinrs though that's how they make a living and continue to bring us all videos

[@davidrichter4989]

Not “too precious”….😂😂😂. Great tips al around.

[@kylefilmedit]

Tip 4 100%

[@tollarplennie]

Maybe this is a strange question. But taking photos and posting them. Don’t you need some kind of approval from the people on the photos? Especially if they are school kids. I know from club soccer here in US, we had to sign papers that it was ok that the club posted pictures!

[@RobSambles]

You need the relevant accreditation for the event but beyond that no

[@Methodical2]

Whatever you do, don't give away your images for free or just for credit in a newspaper. Once free always free. Note: There's a difference between "getting money" and "making money." Fortunately, I am not in this game to make a living and working for any particular company so I am free to do what I want and when I want, but for those who are wanting to make a living, again, please do not give away your photos for free or just for credit in a paper. These folks have money make them pay for your work. They are always looking for free and unfortunately these days they will find it because people just want to see their names highlighted. Get paid for your work.

[@robertanderson1553]

GF CREW

[@kieranriley3009]

Do people really cover Premier League on commission? Surely at that level you should be paid a shift?

[@RobSambles]

A lot do yes

[@juhaleskinen7383]

I think that point, that you need at least 2 cameras is stupid. If your camera brokes down, then it does and that's it. It can happen even if you have 10 cameras, they all can broke down. Just own it and go forward. You don't need to have at least 2 cameras because one might broke.

[@RobSambles]

I would say that's the most important point of the 5! Do you think a surgeon goes into surgery with only 1 scalpel available?

[@TARAWELSH]

no its not.... imagine doing a wedding and your camera fails on you.....

[@Methodical2]

You and the person who liked your comment are clueless. Football teams have backup QBs, centers, RBs etc, Basketball teams have backups, Baseball teams have backup pitchers, race car teams have backup cars. They have backups for a reason; they know someone can get hurt or a car could go down. What don't you and the person who liked your comment understand about having backups? In addition to being a backup, the 2nd camera houses a 2nd lens (typically a zoom) for shooting in addition to the longer lens.

[@Methodical2]

@@TARAWELSH They'd get sued.

[@cdiderich]

@@Methodical2I think you need to put the cost of a backup camera into perspective of the risk of breaking a camera and loss of revenues. If I am breaking a camera (btw. I have never broken a camera in over 30 years - though I have crashed some lenses), I am willing to forego investing $5'000 in a backup camera when my potential loss is $500 the revenue from shooting a single basketball game where the camera breaks. Similarly, I don't carry with me 2 70-200mm (or 300mm) lenses in case one breaks down. It simply does not make sense.