Sports Shooter - Before Looking for sponsor

[jstpeter]

Not sure if this is the right spot for this but... ( admin feel free to move if it is not )
Are there any senior members of Sport Shooter in TPF that are willing to sponsor me for sports shooter?

I am trying to take my work to the next level and have been studying and practicing my sports photography for a while now. You probably have seen my weekly additions to the weekly HS football challenges, but if you would like to look at my football portfolio PM me and I am more then happy to send you the link.

Thanks all!

Jason

[Stephen]

Why not post your best 10 images and see if you get a sponsor?

[jstpeter]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Why not post your best 10 images and see you if get a sponsor?

I can do that but thought that may be too forward...but since you asked. I will just include the link. If you have the ability to sponsor take a look and let me know what you think and if you would be willing go ahead and shoot me a PM.

http://www.pbase.com/jstpeter/sports_portfolio

Thanks
Jason

[dm_tunstall]

I will make one suggestion to get you started on your edit down to 10 best.
Do not submit any shots that are not tack sharp or intentianally blurred for effect.
Do not submit photos which contains only your subjects backs.
Remember that these guys are looking at your shots not having seen any of your work before. They are brutally honest in reviewing them. You should submit a cross section of your work. Do not be afraid to submit an image of something other than sports, if it is something you are very proud of and a great shot.

BTW: That's a cool old house in your Pbase galleries. Victorian?

[CaptainTom]

Do they want to see different sports, or can you just do football, or soccer, etc. ??

[jstpeter]

Thanks all, I guess I should just pic my 10 best and put them out here. Let me give it some thought and I will come back and edit my original post with my pictures.

[stacyreeves]

i applied without a sponsor, and got in, fyi, so it is possible. i've heard that they're harder on you, but i have no idea if that's actually true.

also, ditto on the adding something other than football, or even sports. I picked five photos from five different sports. The other half of my portfolio was features, and when I was accepted, it was the features that people commented on and complimented most.

also, some of those images look like you applied some heavy noise reduction to them, and i know they look down on that.. a little noise is not really a bad thing.. and ditto on the not submitting any images that aren't 100% sharp. in their eyes, if you can't find 10 solid photos that aren't sharp in all of the images you've taken, you're not even close to being ready for SS. not saying that's true, but that's how they see it.

also, what are the specks in some of those images? is that rain?

[jstpeter]

Originally Posted by stacyreeves

also, what are the specks in some of those images? is that rain?

Yes that is rain.

[Tom]

I would make sure all your horizons are perfect.

I would submit pictures from multiple games. It seems like all of those pics are from three games.

I would think diversity is good, too. It is SportsShooter, not FootballShooter.

Like others have said, include some shots other than sports, too. Show that you are a solid all-around photographer.

*I have never applied to be in SS.

[dm_tunstall]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

I would make sure all your horizons are perfect.

I would think diversity is good, too. It is SportsShooter, not FootballShooter.

They do prefer ball sports. I had a friend get denied because all his images were motorsports. Seems some of the Kalifornia types don't think motorsports are sports. I ticked off one of the sports shooter gawds griping about how that was BS.

I will commend you for putting images out for people to critique. It takes a lot to ask for peoples comments and then being able to take them. But it will make you a better shooter.

[MyKey]

I'm a Senior Member and orig. got in like Stacy did, and I agree with her statements whole heartly.

On sponsering, well I will be honest, when you sponser someone you are putting your reputation in the sporting world on the line and while I have done it in the past a few times, I knew the individuals very well and trusted them. You will find a sponser I am sure but as with me most need to know the person they are sponsering more than by their work.

With that said, get yoru 10 best images together and have some nice text tied to them and apply and see what happens. If you do not get in then I would start looking for a sponser.

Originally Posted by dm_tunstall

I will commend you for putting images out for people to critique. It takes a lot to ask for peoples comments and then being able to take them. But it will make you a better shooter.

DITTO!

[LSCSN.com]

As a sports shooter member that got in before the sponsor was needed I agree with all the comments that you have received. While at the football games look for the side moments that make good photos. Artsy photos of the band/cheerleaders/drill team etc.

Stacy had a couple of really cool band shots in her slideshow from one of the A&M games.

If you don't have shots from other sports what I would do is start a folder on your computer and when you get one of those "man that is a great shot" shots then stick it in there and at the end of the season (May 07) then take a look at all your great shots and get a combonation of 10 really great shots that way.

And I would agree with another's statement that if you can meet a member and get to know them that it would go along way in helping you find a sponsor.

Hope that helps!

[stacyreeves]

Originally Posted by dm_tunstall

They do prefer ball sports. I had a friend get denied because all his images were motorsports. Seems some of the Kalifornia types don't think motorsports are sports. I ticked off one of the sports shooter gawds griping about how that was BS.

Your friend probably didn't get in because ALL of his images were motorsports, not because all of his images were MOTORSPORTS, if that makes any sense. They did a feature on the front page the other day of great motorsports photography, as well as some on swimming and boxing, so I don't really think they're biased against non-ball sports.

[Abel]

i need to try to get in as well one of these days soon...

[zepp]

I don't think it's matter of only having one sport but more of a matter of having good images cropped for interest that are well captioned with correct spelling and verbage. Six of my current images on my sportsshooter page are sports while the other four are concert images.

If your really eager to join then take the time to read the tips on the page and prepare your images as outlined and give it a go.