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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
event photography: diving
Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 11:18 AM on 07.01.09 |
->> I specialize in gymnastics photography, either covering for media outlets or shooting events to sell photos. I've been asked to shoot a diving meet and was wondering if anyone has had experience shooting diving as a sales event?
I don't need tips on how to shoot diving, as I have much experience in that too, but what are your experiences with diving when trying to sell photos to the divers or parents. Any tips on that front would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-stew |
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Max Lashin, Student/Intern, Photo Editor
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Tallahassee | FL | United States | Posted: 12:16 PM on 07.01.09 |
->> It depends. I work at a pool as a lifeguard part time during the summers and last summer we held a national youth diving competition. They only allowed 1 photographer to actually "sell" pictures, I believe he worked with the association all through the year in their main town and at most big events. From what I could tell, he made a decent buck or two.
Most diving parents in my hometown make a decent living and are probably going to buy a picture of their kid at a big event... the problem I could see is that since these parents made a decent living, most of them had a entry level DSLR such as a rebel xt and think they are the best photog in the world...
I would only take the chance if it is a huge national competition with people from all over the country...not just your home state. I would also only do it if you are guaranteed to be the only photographer selling pics. If so, make sure all the parents know where to access these photos and make sure to have the association announce your website multiple times during the day so that people can check out and buy the photos. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 2:38 PM on 07.01.09 |
->> Stew what age level? That was the one thing that I forgot to ask when we 'chatted'.
One other thing where is the meet being held? In RI the RIIL swimming events are (or were when I was shooting) at Roger Williams. Most funeral homes put more light on a corpse than what RW has for that pool. The last year that I was there they were hosting some kind of NCAA event and had brought in stand mounted lights like you see on the side of the road for construction. There wasn't enough light for TV for the NCAA event.
The poor lighting had a huge impact on sales as it was almost impossible to shoot something that didn't look like they were swimming in a cave.
So add one more variable to the sales equation. |
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Stew Milne, Photographer
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Providence | RI | USA | Posted: 3:05 PM on 07.01.09 |
| ->> All ages, 11 and under to 18. And from what I can tell the facility is newer and bright and NOT in RI. It was built for the 98 Goodwill Games. I just plan to shoot the diving and not the swimming. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 3:48 PM on 07.01.09 |
->> Well overall 11 (9 really) to about 14 is the sweet spot for most events in my experience. Max brings up the point of parents with cameras, I haven't had any issues this year at any of my events to date with pwc's. My last soccer tourney had ONE O-N-E mom with a D300 / sigma 70-210 and her team was one of my best customers. That being said, I'd imagine that the pool apron would be off limits to the general public and parents. That would just leave the "team 'togs" to deal with. Clarify access policies with the organizers.
That all being said, swim and dive tend to draw a more affluent crowd. If were offered to me and I could put a few protections in place I'd take it.
My problem with swim, and diving wouldn't be any different, the kids can't leave the pool area to see the photos between events like they can with wrestling or soccer or other sports. That's a big deal because it's the kids that drag the parents to the viewing stations. Then there is the point that the parents are generally in a viewing gallery that is too far or high for me to interact with. So I can't really chat with them between heats. That all makes getting flyers to them much harder. I've put people at the ticket area handing out flyers as their tickets are collected and I've tried flyering the parking lots. It works but not as well as a 10 year old dragging mom to a view station. |
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Nigel Farrow, Photographer
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Suffolk | UK | United Kingdom | Posted: 4:35 PM on 07.01.09 |
| ->> Not sure of US facilities or your set up re staff but at swim races here in the UK one company often has a desk by the pools main reception so all the parents and swimmers must pass on the way in and out. Even if you can't staff it can you set up a stand with prints from past events then put up a couple of decent prints from each session as the day progresses to attract attention ? |
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Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 4:39 PM on 07.01.09 |
->> Is there an underwater viewing area? That might be some neat shots too. I know our college pool has one viewing window in the deep end. I'm going to mess around with that when I get back to school.
Good luck with it. Diving can be really cool to shoot but under the wrong conditions, it can also be really really challenging with poor lighting and a lot of motion and anticipation of what a diver is going to do. |
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