The Road To Becoming A Sports Photographer

[@Topgunphoto]

I love to hear you just shot because you enjoyed it and wasn't doing it only for pay. My main subject is military aviation, but once I had kids in sports that became my focus. When my oldest was in HS, I would shoot all of their sporting events and share some with the school for SM since they allowed me along the sidelines. I shot even the sports he didn't play like hockey. It was a hockey parent that told me to stop giving away my stuff and to charge the parents. This was a private catholic school, so many parents are well off. After my son graduated, the HS hired me to shoot 1 event per team (1 Boys BB, 1 Girls BB) for all 3 seasons and even hired me to shoot their graduations because my turn time was quicker than the guy they hired for the head photos. Oldest graduates and goes to local state college, Unv Of New Hampshire (D-1) he only played LAX which is a club sport there, but I reached out to the SID and he gave me press creds for everything. It allowed me to shoot swimming which I did in HS, but also gymnastics which I never did. College didn't pay much but they also gave my name out so visiting schools would hire me when them came to town. I get its different when this is your main job/income, but I was making $7-8K a year a side job which I loved doing. I work for a major hockey company which also owns a major lax company. I reached out to the Lax marketing department asking if he could help me shoot the Boston Cannons which was the pro team in Major League Lacrosse which then formed into Premier League Lax which doesn't have home game. But I had sideline pass for the entire year which just broadens your portfolio. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask, worse you'll get is a no thanks. Great video and hope you keep working with your passion.

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Photography hit me at an early age thanks to my mom buying me my first black and white camera as a kid. I fell in love with it and still do love it. I remember a small plastic like camera I had to load the film in and not the best quality but I was taking pictures of SF Giants at games from behind the dugout. Like Willie Mays coming in from center field. Later I always shot the kids in little league etc.... My advice is to make friends with a sports editor from a tiny weekly newspaper. Supply that editor with the best local sports photos you can get. Once your photos start showing up in the weekly paper with your name under the photo, more incentive. Hit the editor up for media credentials explaining you cant get on the sidelines without one. Once you get that credential, you are well on your way. One other thing to remember, you will need a request sent from the editor to the media center of any large sporting event. No other way to get credentials out here without your sports editor requesting you be allowed on the sidelines. You can also try making your own online sports page and create an ID for that to show at the gates and see if they let you in. Good luck.

[@DLivingston]

Yep, my college sports are still in the newspaper and such. Our small paper doesn't get much outside of local sports but I am going to attempt getting a pass for come KC games this year through a few connections I have. We shall see!

[@MrTikken]

Keep up the good work!

[@DLivingston]

Thanks, will do!