Sports photography can be a very tricky field to become involved with, especially with so many photojournalist eager to get the snapshot of that perfect catch, or just the right angle on the winning pass. The competition is at large, so it is extremely important for you to be on you're a-game at all time, and progressing on a daily basis.
Lights, camera, action!
That's right; get out the manuals to your camera. Get ready to read about photography, new techniques and everything in between. Stay up to date with industry standards, and trending shots that have been making their way in to the magazines, on billboards, et cetera.
Research your way to the top. There are no free passes in this highly competitive field! (Except for the ones to the game, of course) Get to know your competitors work during your research, read everything you can about them and keep your eye on their work. You need to understand what you're up against so you can further yourself in the field. Just like the sports you're photographing, you need to understand the competitors plays and reasoning behind their shots.
Get ready to make some decisions: are you going to use film or digital? If you already own a camera, you'll need to make sure it can take photos at a minimum of six frames per second-in the world of sports photography it is ideal for the camera to take around eight or more frames per second. Your lens is extremely important to make your shots look great. If you haven't already, invest in a high quality lens with great focal length and aperture. Industry standard says a fixed 200 at 2.8 is the absolute minimum with least noticeable results.
Get schooled
You will also want to take photography classes at a local college if you haven't done so already. Start taking hundreds of photos; make sure you're taking photos of moving objects. Begin to toggle shutter speeds and aperture so you're able to utilize the tools you've learned in photography class.
Game on!
Start out at local sporting events and photograph the movement, gathering shots you know you've seen before in classes. Prepare to shoot several rolls of film and take your time with the project-if you're moving too fast your work could appear sloppy. Remember the goal in mind is to become an amazing sports photographer.
Understand the sport you've chosen to photograph, you're better able to understand and anticipate action when you understand the game. Once you feel comfortable with your photography at local events, start building a portfolio. You'll need a high quality leather portfolio-these may be costly, but think of it as an investment in your future.
Once you've laid out your best work, start looking for places that are hiring, or just by sending samples of your work. You'll want to work with philosophies like 'big fish, small pond' for a while to allow yourself to get better at your work and grow as a sports photographer. Once you have quite a few professional sporting photos, you'll want to start weeding out your amateur portfolio one by one. Next, apply for a position with a newspaper in a small town and let the games begin!
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