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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
How to make money covering the Olympics?
Philip Bowen, Photographer
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Kampala | UG | Uganda | Posted: 7:53 AM on 08.31.09 |
->> Hi-
I'm in the running for an EP for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Obviously, I want to go to the Olympics. Who doesn't? (besides David Burnett http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=19979 ) At the risk of inciting a John Harrington rant, I want to find out how I can make this worth my while. I cover Nordic events, and the fact that most of you are now asking, "What's Nordic?" should tell you a little something about how much money there is in that.
I haven't gotten to the details with the magazine, but I think it's safe to assume that this would not be a lucrative three weeks for me. I will keep the rights, however. But with Olympic images, will that do me any good? What are the restrictions on using these images for advertising? (Images of the athlete in a ski product ad, etc) What about in books or calendars to be used in fundraising for non-profits?
I'm looking for info on how I can make money with my Olympic images. I'm not so much looking for you to tell me that if I don't demand absolute top dollar for my services, I'm hurting the photo industry. There is very little money in the North American Nordic scene. I am confident that I will be compensated to the extent that they can afford it and proportionate to what I am worth to them. I just want to make it worth it to me.
Thanks for any info or for pointing me towards relevant sources!
-Phil |
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Mike Strasinger, Photographer
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Nashville | TN | USA | Posted: 9:22 AM on 08.31.09 |
| ->> What is an "EP"? |
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Bob Ford, Photographer
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Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 9:28 AM on 08.31.09 |
| ->> An EP is a photo credential. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 9:55 AM on 08.31.09 |
->> EP -- Photographer
E -- Writer
ET -- Tech
EC -- Media Center Only
Phillip,
Here are the credential limitations on the "Photographers' Undertaking" form:
a) any photographs taken by me at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, including those of athletes competing within any Olympic venue, will be used in news services for still photographic editorial purposes only.
b) the use of such photographs for advertising or any other commercial purpose, in any medium or in any manner whatsoever, is expressly prohibited by the IOC unless prior written consent of the IOC is acquired
c) the dissemination of moving images or sound captured in an Olympic venue, through any media, including display on the Internet, is strictly prohibited.
-- So they are basically saying you can shoot stills to be used in editorial content and nothing else. That said, if a big enough sponsor wants your images for use in an ad or wants that particular athlete bad enough the IOC will probably work out a way to let you license those images, but the advertiser would probably pay a pretty good fee to the IOC and the official licensing photo partners as well. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 9:57 AM on 08.31.09 |
->> Also remember, if you are not there on an expense account you will be shelling out a lot of dough to cover the games, unless you are really good at finding deals on lodging and travel. You don't have to worry too much about food because you'll be eating only once or twice a day at the venues or MPC McDonald's because you don't have the time.
Don't cover the games just "because I want to" but make sure it will be worth it financially and career-wise. |
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John Harrington, Photographer
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 12:07 PM on 08.31.09 |
->> Philip -
There are plenty of ways you can generate income from covering the games. As George correctly notes, the very first thing they have to cover is your expenses, following that, you should negotiate some form of a deal per day, or per image (both is best), for the publication to use your photographs.
With that said, be sure to define what the publication expects of you, and look into Fischer, Salamon, or Atomic skis, or Hartja, Alpina, etc boots, and ask them who they have covering the races. It may be that you can parlay your presence there into several corporate gigs as well. On non-nordic event days, you may be able to pick up corporate lunch/reception photography if you have made outreach to those sponsors beforehand.
Lastly, look at your weekly revenue you will be losing while away. If you generally earn $1k a week gross, and have $500 a week in overhead, you will have lost $3k and still have that $1500 to pay, for a total loss of $4,500 that you will need to cover. |
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Philip Bowen, Photographer
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Kampala | UG | Uganda | Posted: 12:42 PM on 08.31.09 |
->> Thank you for the info, George and John. It's very helpful. I will definitely use my contacts in the ski industry to find out their plans for the games. I've had good luck the past few years with my World Cup images, but just got worried that my hands might be tied by Olympic restrictions...
Like I said, I haven't nailed down the specifics. My intuition says that expenses will be covered but that the income from the publication that is giving me the access wouldn't be better than what I would be bringing in at home (where I can watch the games on HD, be with my family, and sleep and eat like a normal human).
That said, I think it is silly to turn down a big time opportunity just because at first glance the numbers don't add up. I would rather grab a situation like this and figure out how to make it work than dismiss it because the money isn't there (initially). Thanks again for the advice...I'll keep pushing to figure out where I can bring in income.
SportsShooter is a great asset. I've received nothing but helpful advice from real professionals here. Will definitely continue to pay my dues (behind the lens and via paypal to SS) so that down the road I can answer youngster's questions here. |
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Patrick Fallon, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 2:17 PM on 08.31.09 |
->> Hey Philip,
I'm going to be at ET [tech] at the games this year, be sure to say hi!
George and John,
Good advice from both of you, thanks for sharing.
Patrick |
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 3:33 PM on 08.31.09 |
| ->> Phillip, just curious. How did a guy in Kampala wind up doing Nordic events? |
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Philip Bowen, Photographer
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Kampala | UG | Uganda | Posted: 4:59 PM on 08.31.09 |
| ->> More accurate would be how did a Nordic guy wind up in Kampala :) I'm from MN and was a cross country ski racer and worked in the XC industry before following my wife's career to Uganda in 2006. I've maintained all my contacts on the US Ski Team, though, and travel to World Cups every year. I do a bit of NGO documentary photography here and hope to be able to get back to East Africa on projects once I'm back in the states for good. |
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