We Never Shoot On Speculation!

This is the principle that is absolutely fundamental to the way that we shoot action photography. We never shoot on speculation! Once you understand this simple concept, you’ll be on your way to earning consistent money by shooting action photography. So what does this mean? Shooting on “speculation” essentially means “spray and pray.” In other words, simply scanning the field for good shots, taking those, and then hoping (and perhaps praying) that your customers will buy the photos you take. This has been common industry practice for a long time, and one of the primary reasons why so many photographers struggle with making money from action photography. As soon as you abandon this mentality, you are 90% of the way there!

 

So then, who do we shoot and why? We only shoot the subjects who have prepaid for our service. That way we can offer better quality photos and service to each customer as well as ensuring that we are being fully paid for all of our work. We highly recommend that you use the bands (included in the Starter Kit) to identify your subjects on the field. We also make use of the Card Envelopes by writing the details of the game and the subjects on them so we can more easily reference that information, as well as to keep our media cards organized during and after the event.

 

Getting Setup

To get started using the GFcrew App and the GFcrew process, you'll need to sign up with GFcrew which you have already done. Next we highly recommend buying the Starter Kit. The Starter Kit has everything that you'll need to get started with the GFcrew process. The next step is to setup the GFcrew App.

The next step is to make sure that you have the correct equipment for shooting action photography. Mainly this comes down to personal preference, but make sure you have all of the lenses, batteries etc that you’re going to need during the game.

Find a an event where you think you can make money, and get permission to shoot.

 

Marketing & Getting Paid Upfront

In order to make the process of marketing as easy and seamless as possible, we've created high quality marketing collateral which is included with the Starter Kit. These include the flyers, which can help spread the word and create a better understanding of what services you're offering at your event. Check out our article where we cover a basic pitch that you can adapt to your purposes, as well as a few common objections that we hear from customers. Once you've made the sale, give the customer a lanyard from the Starter Kit.

Having the customer wear a lanyard (especially one with your business card attached) serves several important purposes. First, it makes the customer feel good because they have something in hand that represents their purchase. The lanyard also has important information that will remind and help the customer better understand your process. Also, other parents may ask what it is and become interested in hiring you.

 

 

 

Registering the athlete

Once you have a customer agree to sign up, the first step is to register the athlete and take payment for your services. First, add a new customer to CaptureLife Events App, record the athlete's details, and then take the customer’s payment method. Once you've done that, make sure you add the athlete’s information to a card envelope.

 

Giving the Athlete a Band

Next, make sure that you confirm the athletes information including team name, uniform number, jersey number, field position, and give the athlete a yellow band to put on their shoe for the purpose of on-field identification. Generally, if the player is right handed, we have them place a band on their right foot. This does not necessarily apply to indoor sports however. In basketball, the band will come off the shoe, so generally we either do not use them, or we can have the athlete place it around their ankle if they are willing. In some sports such as ice hockey, it is advisable to forgo the band altogether.

 

Give the Parents a Lanyard

Next, give the parents a lanyard (100 Lanyards are included in our Starter Kit) so they have something they can hold on to until they receive their photos. If they choose to wear the lanyard (which they typically do), it functions as a piece of very effective marketing material often prompting other potential customers to ask what it means.

 

Pre-Event Prep

It’s important to double check that you have all of the athlete's information on hand and that it’s completely accurate before you begin. That means double check that you have your card envelopes filled out correctly. You’ll be relying on these throughout the game to keep track of what you’ve shot, and what you haven't.

Make sure you know where the players you are photographing during the game will be. Thinking about this ahead of time gives you the opportunity to choose spots where you’ll have a superior vantage point. Being able to anticipate where the players you need to shoot will be, and knowing ahead of time what settings you may need in those positions can be a huge advantage.

When you position yourself, be sure that you're cognizant of not being in the way of the game or the officials. All it takes is one mistake with positioning, and you can find yourself back in the stands with the parents very quickly. Be careful.

Once the game starts, keep track of what photos you’re getting of each player. We recommend using the dot system to do this efficiently. The dot system works as follows:

One dot next to a player’s jersey number might signify that you have a couple good head shots of that player. Two dots might represent also having a couple batting or hitting photos, and so on for photos such as sliding catching, and running. Feel free to modify the dot system in a way that is most useful for you to keep track of what you need for each player and what you intend to capture.

 

A Few Suggestions For Efficiency

It may be advisable capture close-up head shots for each player near the beginning of play. During half time, it can be a good time to pick up some team shots, shots of the players talking with the coach, and “water drinking” photos. These are often colloquially referred to as “mom shots” because they are often so much appreciated. It is also common for parents to approach you after the game and ask if you took photos of their child. This is a great opportunity to hand out flyers, and explain what it is that you offer.