Is there a career to be had from event photography these days?

AandJPhotography

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11 Jul 2012 - 8:49 PM

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Hi all
a quick question about event photography?
I have been enjoying photographing various events on my travels, various Harley and racing bikes, motocross etc and was curious if theres any market to be gained in photographing at these?
I ask as it seams no matter where you go these days there a never ending number of "people" with All the gear and usually no idea?
But more recently i attended an event by request of a biker friend to photograph a bike meet and to post results on my site for their group to look at afterwards and order prints ir they wish?
Great experience for me and potential orders if i do well and they like my results..
There was a.. shall we say... self proclaimed "Pro" there with some hefty kit, a few 5D`s, a 10-20mm, long lenses etc pretty much getting everywhere at once and usually intentionally in the way? as they do! you know the ones!!
A bit of googling afterwards i discovered that the "pro" has a Flickr account and then puts hundreds of full size free downloadable pics on there for all to have!
I was quick shocked that an apparent "Pro" with considerably expensive kit after 3 long days and very late nights would then just have a Flickr account and then give everything away for nothing to anybody who just clicks on it?
It seems from their site that they enjoy giving their pics to magazines and proclaim how they were "contracted" to do the shoot for said magazine?
Self gratification i think and big ego perhaps.
But as this seems more evident wherever you go today, why would you buy prints form a pro when theres so many like this about with the kit doing it for nothing and making full size files accessable for all?
Just google an event you took part in and sure enough you can find many pics of yourself, Right click! Save and Print!!
Curious on your experinces and thoughts?
A can of worms i am sure.
I would like to invest in more kit and make more of my photography but struggle to see why?
Especially with the costs of attending and travelling to events etc.
Thanks
A

AandJPhotography

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11 Jul 2012 - 9:05 PM

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Thanks
I am 100% self taught and generally keep myself to myself and avoid other photographers!
The more professional they look the more i avoid them?
Had far too many experiences photographing landscapes and sunsets near to me and had the ignorant, rude and blatantly inconsiderate photographer with all the kit and huge tripods and lenses look down at you like poo on their shoe? walk past and set up in your view??
So generally have learnt myself with little if no respect for other togs..
I know theres many good and friendly one`s out there?
I`ll let you know when i meet one?
ha ha
A

janeez (e2 Member)

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11 Jul 2012 - 10:25 PM

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Why avoid other photographers? You say all the gear, no idea but unless you speak to them you will never know. I make a point of meeting up with other photographers at wedding fairs to chew the fat and put the world to right. It's a great way to share information and gain knowledge and if I am booked on a particular day then I can pass their details on and vice-versa. Next time you meet a tog with all the gear why not ask them how they find using that particular lens, tripod, camera or whatever it might be. You never know they will probably be delighted to talk to someone who is interested in them and you could gain some valuable knowledge as well.

puertouk

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12 Jul 2012 - 12:32 AM

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I'm amazed at your attitude really. You call other photographers whatever names, then have the cheek to come on here and ask PHOTOGRAPHERS what they think and ask for their advice! Amazing! I'm a pro and live in Tenerife and I meet a lot of people every week. Whether that's client or people I chat to, I always have time for them. I tell all my clients, if they have a question in the future, drop me a line with the problem they have and I will try and help them if I can.

I see other photographers out and about, which you would expect on some of the photo shoot locations I visit. These people are from all around the World, who are mostly on holiday. I met a group of Americans and a group of Canadians last week whilst out with my family and I got chatting to them about photography. I spent around an hour with them having a drink and enjoyed every minute. It turned out , both parties were from camera clubs in their respective countries. The American group are coming back next year and were so impressed with me, they have booked me for a full week!

It costs nothing to chat and be civil with other people, especially photogrphers, as they are always looking to find out new things and chat to fellow snappers. Maybe if you take a leaf out of this pro's methods, you just might get your chance to sell your images. It's not all take in this World.
Stephen

Lordharding

12 Jul 2012 - 9:44 AM

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Maybe the other guy does it for a hobby and gets pleasure out of putting them on the web
I have a national car show and I have two profffesionals that go and take hundreds of photos and put them on thier websites and on mine too
They would not ask me a penny for their work as they know all the proceeds form my events go to the various charities we support just under £50 K at the moment and do it for the love of it and to show to others how talented they are
Lots of people stop to talk to them and they are so pleased to talk and pass on their knowledge and show off their equipment
Maybe you should talk to the men with their fancy equipment as maybe they are shy and would be happy to talk to you

Maybe they have spend thousands on fancy equipment and would be keen to discuss the good and bad of things they own

Maybe the same people don't drink ,smoke ,gamble or chase loose women and choose to spend their hard earned on equipment

There is lots of people in the world who do different things for nothing and no financial gain
Although I have a couple of salaried jobs the greatest pleasure I have in life is my volenteer work ,in giving business and marketing advice ,whether it's planting a tree in public or turning up at an event and giving a talk or suggesting they could do this and that to improve the feeling in that or handing over a cheque to charity is amazing
So I recomend you talk to the next photographer
He might me a really decent bloke who could learn you a lot

lemmy

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12 Jul 2012 - 12:00 PM

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First of all, photographic equipment gives you no guide to whether someone is a professional photographer or not. I have a very expensive classical guitar. Does that make me a professional guitarist?

Secondly, by definition a professional photographer must take photographs for profit. That doesn't stop him doing charity work or taking pictures for pleasure alone, of course.

But you do seem very prone to making sweeping judgements, A. Why didn't you talk to the guy if what he was doing interested you so much? It's no good thinking of taking up photography as a career if you are too shy to talk to people.

As to whether there is a market for pictures at those events, that depends on whether you can do it better than the people currently doing it. Remember, little of being a professional photographer is about your photography. Anyone can learn to work a camera and take a picture. What makes a professional is experience, contacts, creative ability and, most of all, personality. Of course, if you have those attributes, you will succeed in most businesses.

You ask why anyone would buy prints from a pro when they can do it themselves. Because his pictures will be better. If they aren't, what is he for?

JackAllTog (e2 Member)

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12 Jul 2012 - 12:37 PM

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Quote: keep myself to myself and avoid other photographers!

Hi Guys, No you won't make much from events as you will have to work with other photographers "sharing" prime space.

Also if this guy did have "5D`s, a 10-20mm" then he also had an APS-c camera too as the 10-20 wont fit the 5D.

If someone with a big camera stands in front of you - maybe he is thinking "well i've been asked to shoot this and sorry but the guy with the small camera is most likely to be just a snapper so i'd better get in there and get a decent shot" - he is not on an ego trip he just does not know if you can also produce good shots for the group he has an interest in.

Change you attitude to a Live and let live one and the answer could be much better for you. Good luck to the both of you but remember event photography needs big attitudes and lots of gregarious contact with everyone.
Really, get involved, join a camera club, post photo's - explore together.

Best Wishes,
Stuart

thewilliam

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12 Jul 2012 - 5:33 PM

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Quote: First of all, photographic equipment gives you no guide to whether someone is a professional photographer or not. I have a very expensive classical guitar. Does that make me a professional guitarist?

I said "the right kit" and not the "best" kit. Colleagues who do have event photography well sussed often use cameras that have a very low pixel count. This makes for a smaller, and quicker to process, file size that's good enough for the intended print size but wouldn't be of much use for enlargements. Amateurs would often scorn such equipment.

Good event photographers tend to choose their imaging software and printers very carefully.