I’m sure I’ll miss quite a bit here, but I thought some of you might benefit from insights if you’re looking to get into the professional side of Sports Photography. Here is my latest experience for a nationally ranked D1 Football Program.
Week before game: Receive email request to work the game. Work out details regarding media credentials, photo formats/size, frequency of shoot through email. Confirm spot in stadium media room for in-game processing. Client wants photos for media at arrival, each quarter, and post-game, and any major events immediately. 3x2 JPEGS only for in game, open to other crops following the game.
Day before game: Charge all batteries, clear all cards, pack up:
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Nikon z9 attached 70-200 f/2.8 for close-up work.
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Sony A1 attached 600 f/4 for cross-field work.
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Laptop for in-game processing. Portable mouse, charger, etc.
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Additional lenses in bag: Sony 400 f/2.8, Nikon 24-70 2.8, Sony 135 mm 1.8
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Two extra batteries for Sony (has the extended grip with 2 in). 1 extra Battery for z9.
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2 512gb CF-B’s for z9 in camera, two extras. 2 1920gb CF-A’s in camera for Sony, two extras.
Confirm upload location for in-game photos is live for the team’s media group.
Night Before Game: Lie awake debating 600 f/4 vs 400 2.8. I can’t decide this, so I use both in game.
Pre-Game: Arrive 3 hours early to set up in media room. Walk about a half mile from media parking carrying way too much stuff. Some people are smarter than I am and use pushcarts. Don’t drink too much water as bathroom breaks are few and far between.
Shooting begins, Capture:
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Team arrival off bus. Take about 200 photos. Head to media room pick 5, process and upload.
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Q1. Very early touchdown, run to media room, pick 2 photos, process upload. Return to field. 3 minutes before quarter ends, return to media room as opposing team is on offence. Process 5 photos, upload.
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Q2. More of the same. Lots of touchdowns in this one and lots of running back and forth to the media room.
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Halftime. Have a couple of minutes to breathe. Process 5-10 photos, upload, return to field 2 minutes before kick-off to catch team coming back on field.
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Q3. More of the same.
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Q4. More of the same.
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Postgame: My team wins. Photographing celebrations, walk-offs, fans, etc. Run to media room, send the best 5-10 of the postgame immediately. Start processing the other photos thereafter about 4 hours in total after processing. (I keep a notebook on a fly-fishing cable in game to write down the best photos of each set of shots to help this part speed up.)
Next Day:
- Receive call asking for player specific adds inside 1 hour. Provide 8 photos of the players.
Totals:
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8,000+ actual photos. The Z9 and A1 shoot exceptionally fast and I tend to be on the high side.
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100-120 finals provided.
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15,000 steps.
Overall: An absolute riot to shoot football this way IF you don’t mind chaos and crazy speed.
Get out there and start doing it. Volunteer for high school or less sought after sports initially. Use the highest shutter speed you are capable of with a reasonable ISO. I shoot soccer at 1/5000 in daytime at an ISO of 250-500. I start lowering shutter as needed to keep ISO under 2000 and start ti be more picky about shots that don’t require the faster speeds. Makes for a great game catalogue. You can have much higher ISO and get away with it but lower is always better when possible.