ðHgeocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/3283//gettingstartred.htmlgeocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/3283_/gettingstartred.htmlelayedxmÔJÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÈ+ÆHOKtext/htmlP}hHÿÿÿÿb‰.HWed, 22 Apr 1998 02:09:29 GMT¬Mozilla/4.5 (compatible; HTTrack 3.0x; Windows 98)en, *mÔJH Getting Started


I have had several questions on how to get started in photography business. The best answer in general is go to school. The more challanging job you want the more an education helps. In the end even a basic photo course will pay for itself in the long run. It does not matter if you want to shoot for SI or do wedding photography, an education is a great asset. It is also the most under estimated assets in photography. I can't strongly enough stress taking a course at a junior college or a night course.

Education gives you a good advantage over the competition, when first starting out. It makes choices as to what gear to buy far more easier also, it helps get the most out of your gear. Think of it like this, it would very difficult to buy a car then to take Indi 500 and race without ever taking a drivers Ed course. The same is true for the person who buys a camera then proclaims himself a professional without any photo experience. In the long run he short changes himself and his clients.



This is a good question on how to get started in sports photography and the answer I gave. Also this this answer is true for Photojournalism.

I am 22 and am trying to get into sports photography, I just need connections or I need to be directed in the right direction to get started. This is a passion of mine since I was 15 I am just now able to afford the equipment I am just looking for someone to take me under there wing and point me in the right direction I now shoot medium format in weddings but it is not my dream I would like to go into professional sports. So please let me now what camera lenses and film I should use, R.F.b. you seem to know alot about this so if you have any information please elt me know or anyone thank you, I am located in NY so if any one needs an assistant for anything please let me know thanks again.


Asking me for advice could be dangerous. Lets take the easy question first. I recommend the Nikon F5 or the Cannon EOS 1rs, with these 80-200mm f2.8, 300mm f2.8, and 28-70mm f2.8, 1.5x adapter and flash with a guide # of 100. Do not loose the medium format it will come in handy. I personally use the F5 but I also do journalism. My film is mainly fujicolor print film. I am assuming you do not have much experience shooting sports so I am going to start with the basics. I am also assuming you did not take any college courses in photojournalism. First thing if you do not know anyone shooting sports then you will have to start out slow. You can not simply walk out on the field of a pro or college sporting event. My best sugestion to you is try and pick-up some stringer work at a paper. Go out and shoot high school sports and junior college sports. Build a portfolio an try and come up with some good sports features and sell them to your local papers. Trade work for sporting event passes. Part of this is simply proving yourself good enough and responsable enough to do this. Building a portfolio is the hard thing, remeber not to just shoot the action on the field but the feature shots as well. You may want to take a journalism course, it helps alot and gets you on many sporting events fields. Once you gain a reputation it gets easier to get on the field. And was the way I got on the Raiders field for the first time. Once you build a portfolio send it out different papers, magazines and card companies. Look for story ideas. Just so you know, I went through college to do the things I do now, but that is not the only way. I wish I knew someone who could mentor you but I am on the west coast. I would strongly recomend you do not take any mail order courses that promise to give you press passes. You may want to try to make deals with sports teams, such as shooting portraits and team photos for field passes. Well good luck and I hope this helps.



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