Football Photographers

RADDERS76

RADDERS76

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PAUL
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Just a quick question. I know nothing about sports photography but yesterday I was at the Aston Villa game (I'm a Villa fan, I suffer every week :() I was wondering are the photographers freelance or work for agencies or papers? You do see some of the same ones there every home match.

Paul
 
That's got to win an award for the most helpful response!

You do tend to get the same photographers at a game, we have a few of the same faces at our matches. They're agency guys (just speaking for our matches). And then there's the club photographers as well like me.
 
In the Premier League, it will be a combnation of club snappers (who will typically be working for or putting their stuff out through an agency, too), some working directly for national/local papers and the majority being agency guys, anything from Getty/Action Images/Back Page Images/PA/Reuters/AFP/EPA downwards. There may also be the odd solo freelance, too. Back in the days before the Premier League/DataCo setup footy togs were typically a mix of newspaper snappers/stringers,agency guys and solo freelances, with the clubs deciding who they gave access to. The agencies have become more dominant over the years, not least because anyone with a DataCo licence can become an 'agency' if they want and the modern tech is very do-able.

The lower down the leagues you g0 the less likely you are to see the big agencies present.
 
Thanks for the 'helpful' responses :) I seem to be spending more time watching the photographers than the actual match nowadays, which isn't really surprising given how rubbish we are!

Are the rewards worth the effort? Payment wise? I'd love to give it a go and might try some Sunday League matches.

Them white Canon L lenses seem to be very popular.

Paul
 
Don't bother doing this as a way of making money. Check out how much those big white lenses cost, even second-hand...
No matter how good you are, you'll spend an awful lot of time and cash before you see any financial return on what you do. Either that or never at all.
 
Oh no, not a chance. Just intrigued. There's no way I can afford the equipment needed. Like I say would like to have ya go Sunday league level with what I've got.
 
Do Sunday League because you love footy and taking nice pics of your mates. No money coming your way but what a great way of having fun with a camera and doing it on your own terms. If you love doing it and want to try your luck at higher levels then go for it. Most footy snappers start that way, I'm sure.
 
RADDERS76 said:
Are the rewards worth the effort? Payment wise? I'd love to give it a go and might try some Sunday League matches.
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Of course it is.. the people regular at those football matches are not hobbyists..your not allowed a licence unless your there to make money.. so yes its worth it for most of the guys there.. But not for some..

As for sunday morning football.. theres plenty of opportinity to make money.. in fact most of my living is made from non pro football

I think slideshow alvie got out of the wrong side of the bed... if nobody makes money then why are they doing it ? :)
 
KIPAX said:
Of course it is.. the people regular at those football matches are not hobbyists..your not allowed a licence unless your there to make money.. so yes its worth it for most of the guys there.. But not for some..

As for sunday morning football.. theres plenty of opportinity to make money.. in fact most of my living is made from non pro football

I think slideshow alvie got out of the wrong side of the bed... if nobody makes money then why are they doing it ? :)
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100% this - amateur and women's football makes me as much money as any professional football I photograph
 
Never said/meant that most of the people doing it don't make money. What I meant was don't get into this to make money because it's hard and very competitive, especially when you're up against some of the best in the business. There's no guarantee that you'll make anything out of it, especially given how much the necessary kit costs.
Anyone who's succeeded in this - or any other area of photography for that matter - got into it because they loved doing it and the money that followed was but a consequence of that and how good they managed to become.
 
KIPAX said:
Of course it is.. the people regular at those football matches are not hobbyists..your not allowed a licence unless your there to make money.. so yes its worth it for most of the guys there.. But not for some..
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Unfortunately there seem to be more and more hobbyists at professional games who aren't interested in making any money from it and are just happy to get access to games - this is down to agencies adding these people to their license IMHO.
 
tophatter said:
Unfortunately there seem to be more and more hobbyists at professional games who aren't interested in making any money from it and are just happy to get access to games - this is down to agencies adding these people to their license IMHO.
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Its the flaw in the system.. I worked hard to get my licence,. but now I can add anyone i want to it.. they dont even have to have a camera.. i can add anyone and give them dataco accreditation .. its a big flaw :(


ADDY ON BIT For clarity.. I have never had anyone on my licence.. just me:)
 
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Sideshow Alvie said:
Never said/meant that most of the people doing it don't make money. What I meant was don't get into this to make money because it's hard and very competitive, especially when you're up against some of the best in the business. There's no guarantee that you'll make anything out of it, especially given how much the necessary kit costs.
Anyone who's succeeded in this - or any other area of photography for that matter - got into it because they loved doing it and the money that followed was but a consequence of that and how good they managed to become.
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I've got ten pics in the papers today - half of them from a pro game last night - half from amateur - I didn't get into this because I love it (though I do and wouldn't be able to make money competing against agencies if I didn't have a specialist knowledge of my subject) I got into it to make money - nobody should be pitchside at a professional football match just because they love taking pictures of football. Sadly it's really easy to get into a lot of stadiums - and probably harder up here (where there's no licence) than it is with the Dataco licence in England and Wales where as per Kipax's post above anyone with a licence can set themselves up as an agency and send anyone to a game.
 
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