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Getting people sponsored/Photography published

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MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
Alright so I'm finally buying a camera after about a year of using someone else's. People I ski with know I'm into photography and want me to take pictures of them. A lot of these kids are damn good and have sponsors so there are going to be great opportunities to get a lot of quality pictures. I've been talking to them and they think it would be dope of I could send pictures into different companies to try to get them sponsors. If any of you guys have info on the steps of this process and how hard it is etc. it would be appreciated. Additionally, I would like to know any places where I could get my skiing photography published and just kind of out there.
Nov 21 2010 1:21PM
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OGHolliday
Posts: 2390 - Karma: 2,430
I dont know of that many people who get sponsored through pictures. Its usually video. I also know its possible to get your photos out there, but I dont really know who to speak to. Anyways good luck.
Nov 21 2010 1:50PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
You need to find a photographer who can show you the way, maybe by being his/her intern or something. Getting photos published in big magazines is hard, I'm sure you've noticed there's only a handful of names you see in the captions in the big ones.
Nov 21 2010 2:34PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
I think the spy website has a good list of stuff to send in for sponsorship. Check that and most companies have certain dates that you're supposed to send in stuff for sponsorship consideration. Look on their websites for those.
Nov 21 2010 2:42PM
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Baskin.
Posts: 1387 - Karma: 13
Don't try to hard to contact them..let them come to u
Nov 21 2010 2:46PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
if you dont even own your own camera im gonna say getting published is going to be a LOT harder than you think it is. all the best good luck, but dont get your hopes up too high.
Nov 21 2010 2:54PM
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MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
Alright I look out for photographers around here. I haven't seen too many people on the mountain with cameras though. And I'm really not looking at being published in magazines or anything big like that. Just stuff like the articles that are on the home page of NS.

And thanks I'll go look at company websites.
Nov 21 2010 2:56PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
That's almost as big of a deal as a magazine, not really a "just". Good luck... And you better good at photography. Haha
Nov 21 2010 2:58PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Put a portfolio together of your best shots. Then, like said, get in contact with a local photographer who has has experience in the publishing field. Ask him for tips.

Like said, it is very hard to make a name for yourself in photography. There is that group of names that you always see in most ski mags.
Nov 21 2010 2:59PM
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MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
Haha yeah I guess I really don't have any idea how hard it is but I might as well give it a shot. I don't think I'm super good at the moment but I think with a little time I'll be able to get there. I've a lot of people compliment me on my pictures (no not just retarded girls on facebook). It really doesn't mean jack shit but it makes me feel good haha.
Nov 21 2010 3:08PM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219

dont listen to this clown, your starting off no one knows who the fuck you are. i've only been shotting of like the past year and only really got like 12 days shooting due to other shit but i got a few publications, the key is to be email people, i started with emailing jorgan and dan carr. big help doing that. the next thing is emailing editors of magazines, getting them to know who you are and showing off your work, the more work you show the more likely you are to get published, but only show your good stuff. another thing you need to do before all of that is get a website, flickr would be fine, just dont be one of those annoying people that puts every photo they have ever taken on their people dont want too look through 100 crap photos to see one. a newschoolers homepage publications is just as good as a magazine,

/rant

Nov 21 2010 4:07PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
You can't get people sponsored just by sending photos. There's a million kids out there with a big bag of tricks. Companies are looking for ambitious kids that will do their best to promote a brand with their skiing, exposure and attitude.

I'm sure all your friends would be stoked if you send a couple photos to a company and that company send them goods, but the fact of the matter is that unless you are simply fucked up good, to get sponsored people are expected to approach it professionally with a resume, cover letter, and promo photos / video. So yes, you can help, but your friends need to do the work.
Nov 21 2010 4:28PM
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KapitolPhoto
Posts: 1399 - Karma: 3,250
Build a portfolio, introduce yourself to editors via email and always value your work, never work for free.
Nov 21 2010 6:26PM
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mnjib
Posts: 5592 - Karma: 362
100% correct.
Nov 21 2010 6:30PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Don't want to thread jack.
But if a photographers photo is published in a magazine, the magazine bought the photo right? Is the athlete entitled to a percentage of the photo earnings?
I remember vaguely when I signed on with Kicking Horse that any published shots (regardless of size), athletes got earnings from it. I can't remember if that was from Kicking Horse, or the photographer though.
Nov 21 2010 6:41PM
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KapitolPhoto
Posts: 1399 - Karma: 3,250
I believe that's an arrangement with the athlete's sponsor.
Nov 21 2010 6:45PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Ok. That is what I have been thinking as well.

Thanks man.
Nov 21 2010 6:47PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Athletes get money if they have photo incentives written into their sponsorship contract. It doesn't have anything to do with an agreement between photographer and athlete.
Nov 21 2010 6:52PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Yea. Back when I signed with Kicking Horse, we had the photo incentives included in the contract... Unfortunately, I don't ski for the resort anymore.

Thank you
Nov 21 2010 6:54PM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,089
haha, uhh how is is supposed to have anything to show? I mean you gotta work for free in the beginning.....
Nov 21 2010 8:43PM
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KapitolPhoto
Posts: 1399 - Karma: 3,250
Nope, you don't. Trust me, I made that mistake in the beginning. Take it from my past experience, it's hard to make money from your work if you end up devaluing yourself in the beginning. If a company wants to use your photo, you should be compensated accordingly. Photo credit is not payment.
Nov 21 2010 9:03PM
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-Dan
Posts: 7130 - Karma: 51,754
he means don't do a job/event for free, but going out and taking pictures cause you can is different. At least I think that is what he is getting at.
Nov 21 2010 9:09PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Never work for free.

But personal work to build a resume isn't working for free. You're shooting what you want to on your terms to get the best result exactly as you envision, so you can use it to promote yourself.
Nov 21 2010 9:14PM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,089
yea.. I didn't say anything about giving photos away for free, just that taking them is the work. You have to press the shutter button for free in the beginning.
Nov 21 2010 9:16PM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,089
Work not done under a contract with no compensation is working for free. Spin it however you want, building a portfolio or whatever, but if you weren't paid to take the photos in the portfolio that would be work done for free.
Nov 21 2010 9:22PM
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MACAQUE
Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696
Thanks guys. Solid advice in here.
Nov 21 2010 9:43PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
yea for sure, it seemed like you were talking about giving away photos to people, but I see what you are saying. You for sure have to put time in to build a body of work.
Nov 21 2010 10:17PM
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KapitolPhoto
Posts: 1399 - Karma: 3,250
Of course I should put it out there that I am, for the holidays, offering to photograph veterans and their families at no cost*

I'm not saying that every time you click a shutter you should hear a "ka-ching," just that my original point was that say you get a great shot of the aforementioned athletes and their sponsors are like, "that'd look great on our blog, can we use it?" Be sure to see the value in your work, because they do.

Here's some good resources:

http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/cdb/index.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1435454294/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1598633155&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=11KF9KXDFQBS1XE21BXP
http://www.cradocfotosoftware.com/fotoQuote-Pro/index.html
Nov 21 2010 11:14PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
no you dont. you are screwing other photogs and mostly yourself if you work for free.
Nov 22 2010 1:44AM
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Z-Juice
Posts: 3151 - Karma: 1,504
best method, kinda hard these days tho
Nov 22 2010 8:30PM
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