How do i become an extreme sports photographer?
I’m just finishing up high school and would like to pursue this career. I snowboard, skateboard, kite board, long board, and have surfed before. I love extreme sports and would like to make it a career.
I love the thrill and would not be afraid to get into the action.
That’s awesome. I hope you keep this passion and continue to pursue this. Many give up. I, myself, am trying to be a professional photographer. Anyway, the first practical thing to do would be to get yourself started with a DSLR, the best the budget can get. Shoot everything you possibly can. Once you feel comfortable with a DSLR it’s time to move to more advanced things such as getting better lenses, understanding your style and working with it. Every pro-photographer has a certain signature-style. Just a tip for future purchases; you wanna buy telephoto lenses (fancy term for close-up zoom) that have low f stop. This will give you a great depth of field effect. There’s a Canon 75-200 mm (I think?) that costs about $160. It’s a great lens to familiarize yourself with zoomed shots. Needless to mention you’re gonna need a good tripod. Photography is an expensive hobby and you have to invest a lot in yourself in order for you to build a great portfolio for clients to look at. Start documenting your work in a free wordpress blog. If the budget suffice then get your own domain. It’s a fun journey.
Good luck, friend. 🙂
Before anything, you need to learn how to shoot action events and be one with your camera
You will also need a lens like a 18-200 mm mounted on a good dSLR if you are going to be shooting motocross, snowboarding or skateboarding. Only with a good sample of your work will you get "All Access" venue passes.
If you are going to be shooting as the participant in the sport, you will need a good waterproof camera like a GoPro.
References :
proFotog
Develop your skills, obtain good equipment, take lots of photos, and start selling them to magazines, news media, et al. If you are prolific and good you’ll eventually build up a reputation. It dosn’t happen over night.
References :
That’s awesome. I hope you keep this passion and continue to pursue this. Many give up. I, myself, am trying to be a professional photographer. Anyway, the first practical thing to do would be to get yourself started with a DSLR, the best the budget can get. Shoot everything you possibly can. Once you feel comfortable with a DSLR it’s time to move to more advanced things such as getting better lenses, understanding your style and working with it. Every pro-photographer has a certain signature-style. Just a tip for future purchases; you wanna buy telephoto lenses (fancy term for close-up zoom) that have low f stop. This will give you a great depth of field effect. There’s a Canon 75-200 mm (I think?) that costs about $160. It’s a great lens to familiarize yourself with zoomed shots. Needless to mention you’re gonna need a good tripod. Photography is an expensive hobby and you have to invest a lot in yourself in order for you to build a great portfolio for clients to look at. Start documenting your work in a free wordpress blog. If the budget suffice then get your own domain. It’s a fun journey.
Good luck, friend. 🙂
References :
Here’s my portfolio, I’m not very good. Just wanted to give you an idea of what an amateur portfolio could look like.
http://www.randomrockey.com
I suggest reading this profile …
http://www.rangefinderonline.com/features/profiles/Scott-Cramer-From-t-6474.shtml
… and this article:
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/covering-sports-beat-capturing-action
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In short, learn photography, build a strong portfolio of action shots and then approach the picture editors at the magazines that you like and slowly you will get work. If you happen to take a great shot of a pro somewhere, send it to his sponsors and they will pay you to use the shot if they like it. The hard thing about what you like is that the companies that hire you know that it’s fun and you are excited about being around the sports so they don’t pay very well. I’ve shot my share of extreme sports but it’s not the main way I make my living. At your age you can make a living doing it if you are good. As you get older you will find that you need to be exceptional to make enough money to support a family. Of course you expand and do advertising shots of extreme sports and what not. Anyway, just shoot and shoot until you have unreal images. Good luck.
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