selling sports photos

rosms

I shoot running events and am searching for a good way to connect to the runners to sell the photos. I think that some companies will market my photos for me. Can anyone inform me about the process and what I need to do? Dick Ross

STP03Bluesi

What I do is sell mine on the different forums. I cover alot of automotive events in Florida. I find the forum and post up some shots, and lock them so they cant remove them. Then use either Smugmug for the processing or a nother source.

Hope that helps


Christopher B.

caughtnaction

Re: Question about selling shots!

rosms wrote:

I shoot running events and am searching for a good way to connect to the runners to sell the photos. I think that some companies will market my photos for me. Can anyone inform me about the process and what I need to do? Dick Ross

I use Photoreflect and now have my own website that I download my pictures to, you get to pick the lab you want out of the choices and then set your own prices! So you can set your prices low or high your choice!
When your customer orders pictures this company takes the payment and then sends you a confirmation of order and then ships the order directly to the customer without you touching anything else!! It is the best thing I've done, then about every 2 to 3 weeks you get a check for what you sold less 18% and the cost of the developing. My website is caughtNaction.com is you want to check it out! Hope this helps! KS

MikeMcA²

I take the pictures, upload them to SmugMug, and then post a link to my SmugMug site on the internet blogs that discuss the events in question. Since for me, it's motorcycle racing and I'm a racer, I am already there anyway and some of the folks know me as a contributor and racer, but didn't really know I was a photographer. Just that post with link and no other marketing or advertising, and I've driven almost $250 in sales of 5x7 and 8x10 prints in 2 weeks. This with the prices really low because photography isn't my business and Harley racers are all on a budget.

My next step will be to email the teams who don't frequent the web with the same link, and email some of the top sponsors. I have already gotten one shot picked as the cover for an international piston company, and they've bartered their product which I use for my bikes, so that will be several hundred bucks in actual "stuff" done via the ol' barter system.

SmugMug also does all the printing/shipping/packaging/credit card transactions and emails me notifications each time someone buys which contains what they've bought and their name. Also tracks the profit, lets me set my own prices, lets me decide what I want to sell, etc.

Mike

rosms

Thanks for the replies
Thanks for the replies, but I think that I am really looking for the company that will contact the subjects... I am aware that there are firms that will take the order/money, print, package and mail the print... I need a company that will take the registry information and use it to contact the customer somehow. I hope there is someone who is doing this now??? Thanks again, Dick Ross

natephoto

I've never heard of a that type of marketing company before, but try just handing out cards at the event/game to participants and parents. That's sure to at least get you some page hits.


Nate

Zanotti

rosms wrote:

Thanks for the replies, but I think that I am really looking for the company that will contact the subjects... I am aware that there are firms that will take the order/money, print, package and mail the print... I need a company that will take the registry information and use it to contact the customer somehow. I hope there is someone who is doing this now??? Thanks again, Dick Ross

This company does what you are talking about:

http://www.maxpreps.com/


However: You must be certified by them to take shots, they take the lion shares of profits, and they are extremely limiting on what you can do with the photos yourself.

If you want to know more about the business side of Sports Photography, go to:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/

Very interesting articles, great message board - and you cant just join - you must be sponsored and have your work reviewed. They have some good workshop videos on the site and a 5 day boot camp if you really want to learn more.

Z

rwells

Just for a heads-up, you might want to do a search for "peter wolf".


Here is one interesting thread.

EDIT: I just noticed that you are already aware of Peter Wolf via another thread of yours.


I shoot for PSO, and I don't think that they nor MaxPreps handles anything but prep school pics.


Good luck, and let us know if you find a company that will fullfil your needs.

rosms

Contacting subjects after the shoot
I really appreciate your input. I have talked to Bright Room also. Tough part is getting the word to the potential buyer after the event and I am finding slim picking. Thanks, Dick Ross

Zanotti wrote:

This company does what you are talking about:

http://www.maxpreps.com/


However: You must be certified by them to take shots, they take the lion shares of profits, and they are extremely limiting on what you can do with the photos yourself.

If you want to know more about the business side of Sports Photography, go to:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/

Very interesting articles, great message board - and you cant just join - you must be sponsored and have your work reviewed. They have some good workshop videos on the site and a 5 day boot camp if you really want to learn more.

Z

rosms

Contacting customers after the shoot
I am handing out cards with the web site address now and it does get traffic. My issue is getting the card to folks that are flying by on bicycles or in a running road race. Thanks for the note, Dick Ross

natephoto wrote:

I've never heard of a that type of marketing company before, but try just handing out cards at the event/game to participants and parents. That's sure to at least get you some page hits.


Nate

rosms

Need a sponsor for sportsshooter
I will need a sponsor for sportsshooter before I can enter queries about contacting runners after the event... Any sponsor out there?? Dick Ross

Zanotti wrote:

This company does what you are talking about:

http://www.maxpreps.com/


However: You must be certified by them to take shots, they take the lion shares of profits, and they are extremely limiting on what you can do with the photos yourself.

If you want to know more about the business side of Sports Photography, go to:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/

Very interesting articles, great message board - and you cant just join - you must be sponsored and have your work reviewed. They have some good workshop videos on the site and a 5 day boot camp if you really want to learn more.

Z