Weird call...

[DoctorWu]

Just got a weird call from a guy who said he was with ESPN2. He says he needs me to take a few pictures of 2 Arena Football players at American Airlines Center on sunday afternoon that they will need for their broadcast of the game on Monday night. He wants to keep the price under a "couple of hundred bucks" so say $200 for arguments sake.

I asked him why he'd be calling me, and told him that I would have thought ESPN would have resources in place for this kind of thing. He said it was short notice, they're having trouble finding someone who can do it and that they really don't have a big budget...his words "Hey, its not like its the NFL or something"

What I'm trying to figure out is...is this some kind of a scam? If it is I'm trying to find the downside....if the only downside is I don't get paid....I might be willing to take a chance for the exposure and potential portfolio building. The only big issue concerning my time is that its the middle of the afternoon on Mothers Day

Has anyone been approached to do this kind of thing before? Should I be skeptical or am I being unreasonably paranoid. What could go wrong?

[Clayton Wallace]

The only risk I see here depends entirely on your wife and mother :0

[Ropinamoment]

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

The only risk I see here depends entirely on your wife and mother :0

Did they tell you where they got your name and number from, or state how and when they intend to pay you?

It does sound like a good chance for exposure and portfolio building.

[ggmex4wd5sp]

Does this mean you get "credentials" to go to the sideline to shoot. That alone could make it worth while. Then to get published would be a bonus.

[Lghtning4u]

Just take your friend Smith & Wesson. You'll be ok!

[CaptainTom]

If he is legit, he will provide credentials that will give you access.

I'll do it.....

[Wes]

I'd be interested in knowing how he got your name and contact info (unless you've done a ton of this stuff before).

[DoctorWu]

Ok...here's the story - short one.

He got my name off a search on craigslist... I post ads on there occasionaly.

He is definately legit. To call him back I called the main corporate office for ESPN up in CT. where he said he was out of and they transferred me right to him.

They obviously want to do this as cheaply as possible or they wouldn't be doing a search on craigslist.

Anyway, I agreed to do it for the $200 and he's setting everything up. He actually called me a little while ago to say there is a slight chance it might not happen because one of the players has a scheduling conflict and is trying to move something around so who knows.

Thanks everyone for your replies. My wife is fine with it btw. my mother on the other hand.....

[JoeBannon]

Great opportunity. Maybe it will lead to more work.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by JoeBannon

Great opportunity. Maybe it will lead to more work.

I agree.. I'd love to do that sort of thing. I said at the beginning of this year my goal was to get into much more serious PJ and Sports photography rather than so many weddings. Sure there is money to be made in weddings and I still shoot them 3 or more times a month...But since I do not rely on photography as a primary income, I'd love to combine my love of sports and photography. Only makes sense to me... Now I just gotta get out and get my 2007 sports portfolio together. Started with the Byron Nelson a couple weeks ago. Hope to get Cats, Rangers, Colonial and various other events over the next couple of months. Stars once they begin workouts...Maybe even some soccer at some point. Pretty much missed my Basketball opportunities. :(

Anyway, congrats on the opportunity. I hope it works out well for you.

Let us know.

[CaptainTom]

Just being on their list is a major step in the right direction.

[shawn patrick]

Wow! I'm a little bit jealous! Did you craigslist ad state that you specialize in sports photography or was it more of a general ad? I go to craigslist all the time looking for work but never have considered putting an ad up. I guess I've been worried that I would get 500 request to work for nothing and no legit requests.

[DoctorWu]

Originally Posted by shawn patrick

Wow! I'm a little bit jealous! Did you craigslist ad state that you specialize in sports photography or was it more of a general ad? I go to craigslist all the time looking for work but never have considered putting an ad up. I guess I've been worried that I would get 500 request to work for nothing and no legit requests.

Nope, just a general ad, doesn't say anything in the ad about sports...Portraits, Weddings, Corporate events, families, points to my website which has no sports on it at all.

[dcnctx]

How did it go?

[DoctorWu]

Originally Posted by dcnctx

How did it go?

It didn't. One of the players couldn't make himself available until today and ESPN said that was too late for them to do what they needed to do to the images for tonights broadcast.