Gymnastics Event - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

06/28/2005 09:07:01 PM · #1

This weekend i went to a gymnastics competition and i got these photos of the competition, acrobatics gymnastics are way cool, i love it, and it amazing how wonderful the strenght and the agility these people have...
hope you enjoy as much as i did.
Gymnastics

smilebig4me1x

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

06/28/2005 09:10:09 PM · #2

this one is my fav of the collection..i love the colors and the comp here!

gusto

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX APO RF HSM for Canon

06/28/2005 09:25:40 PM · #3

what was the attendance of that event? just think of the opportunity that was presented if contact was made with the event organizers a month or two in advance and you were the official photographer geared up for sales ;) BTW nice shots, "gotta like those head balancing acts"

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX APO RF HSM for Canon

06/28/2005 09:28:58 PM · #4

Originally posted by gusto:

This was an event that wasn't very much talked about or promoted...
But i might have an opportunity next time since my girlfriend's cousin works with the gymnastics around that area and they usually organize those things...
It was the portuguese tournament...
Let's see if next time i have better luck.

gusto

Canon EOS-7D

06/28/2005 09:35:32 PM · #5

You should seriously pursue that idea, try and make direct contact yourself if at all possible; I've seen these types of events generate $10,000 - $15,000 in sales on a 3 day weekend event especially when you incorporate the event sponsor into your promotion and packaging. By incorporate I mean specifically decorative borders on photos that are printed event name, date, venue, competition name etc...

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX APO RF HSM for Canon

06/28/2005 09:59:54 PM · #6

Originally posted by gusto:

But how can i make that happen... take the photos go over night throught them and do that and how do i generate the prints all that process so fast... I know it ain't impossible put how can i manage to do that in one day...
This event is from the whole country but there aren't that many people watching it..
How much would i sell the prints?

gusto

Canon EOS-7D

06/28/2005 10:47:23 PM · #7

to begin with, you'll need to get an idea of the attendance, number of participants, and on a limited budget this method works wonderfully.

Your not gonna be able to do this alone as a one man show...
Hire someone (2-3 persons Ill explain later) you know has some aptitude and can be your runner in a sence.

Shoot at a medium file size on a large card, you'll need several cards at least a gig each...

Have one of the runners with you at your side,to keep you on track with the next performance coming on stage.

Youll shoot to folders on your card as the assistance makes note of the folder name in relation to the team name performing.

As your card approaches being full and between performances (usually a pre scheduled break in the days event) your runner will take that card back to your sales area, and load the card on either a laptop of very basic computer attached to a simple inkjet printer. doesnt have to be fancy or one that prints high quality.

Your second person is going to print contact sheets with medium thumbnails for each team , each thumbnail will have the file name below the thumb.

Place these contact sheets into a sleaved book and lable the front with the team name then place these on the sales area for parents and team participants to view.

This process continues thru the day.

Typically you will get a roster a day or two before the event, this really helps in planning estimated times you will need your runner. Most of the time a runner isnt needed to shawdow you unless time between performances is very tight and you have difficulty managing team names and the relationship to the folders your shooting to.

This is a very easy way to break into the event photography arena, its a bit tedious in concept but works. and after a few successfull events its easy to go ether wireless or shoot thru a network.

PS: forget the concept of post processing photos, your dealing in bulk here, and 99% of the customers dont consider, sharpning, color correction etc... your concerned with getting good action shots and taking prepaid orders on the day of the event. Put together simple packages they can put together themselves while there looking at contact sheets, wouldnt hurt to only sell 8x10's or discounted packages of 8x10's

you'll have time later too do the post processing where required. In most cases if you have taken time for lighting and location for the shots there will be minimal processing required.

We are at this point shooting right into a laptop and all the photos are sent right to the server on site seconds after the shot is taken. When the photos hit the server thumbnails are automatically generated and seperated into teams that we have entered into a database before the event begins. Our customers are able to walk up to a kiosk and enter the first letter of their name or team name and view photos of there performance without having to sort thru thousands of photos of other teams. We also incorporated a new feature where portrait shots are automatically rotated on the server, this way all the customers arent standing there with their heads tilted trying to get a look at the photos. They can put together their own package on screen and complete the process by walking to the cashier and provide their last name where the transaction is then completed.

Message edited by author 2005-06-28 22:58:34.