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08/24/2009 05:19:32 AM · #1 |
Hey,
My name's Andrew, i'm 16, and I've been doing photography since October last year. I have won a couple of photography competitions and as a result, was asked to shoot a charity golf event this Friday. I have a Sony a350 DSLR and an 18-70mm lens and a 70-300mm lens. I presume the 70-300mm will be the most useful for something like this??? If anyone has any pics of golf shots they have done or any advice, it would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Andrew |
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08/24/2009 05:29:06 AM · #2 |
| Hey and welcome to DPC. No need to post in two threads. Someone will reply soon no doubt to help you out. |
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08/24/2009 05:38:35 AM · #3 |
What they probably want is shots of each foursome on a tee, and possibly one of each golfer on the tee, or possibly on the green. They usually don't want action shots. You'll want to use the 18-70 for the group shots. If no one tells you to do otherwise, set yourself up on a tee with a nice background behind it and good light, then shoot each group as they come to the tee. Usually they all have their drivers in hand with the head resting on the ground in front of them.
Do check with the organizer who asked if there is something else they had in mind, or if something along the lines of the above is what they're looking for. Quite often one of the sponsors will spring to have prints made to give out at the banquet afterwards - be sure to ask about this, too, and whether or not they are expecting you to do it. |
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08/24/2009 05:46:26 AM · #4 |
I am not a pro by any means, but I shot a Charity golf event a couple years back. The main objective from the client was to get group shots of each team, so I hung out at one of the holes and shot them as they came through. I got a couple candids here & there, but the group shots were made available after the tourney for purchase with profits going to the charity.
I can't remember what lens I used - I think I used my 10-22. Your gear sounds like it will work fine. You may need some fill flash and/or reflectors, but there's usually not much time for reconfiguring things between groups. Just watch the sun and follow basic guidelines for outdoor photography.
There's a few pics (out of 50 or so) from the event here.
Good luck.
edit: just checked - I used the 10-22 for the group shots (corrected above)
Message edited by author 2009-08-24 05:49:39. |
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08/24/2009 05:54:47 AM · #5 |
thanks for the speedy responses....I will inquire about the group shots, i had thought, though being as inexperienced as i am, was that the type of shots they would be after would be either during a swing or the follow through and try and get some good expressions on their faces as they teed-off???To be honest i don't know about the group shots, i though it was going to be a bit more casual...Art Roflmao those group shots look awesome! I'll certainly try hard to get anything nearly that good!
Thanks for the responses and if anyone else has any tips or even some advice on etiquette, it would be greatly appreciated.
Andrew
Message edited by author 2009-08-24 05:55:27. |
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08/24/2009 05:55:58 AM · #6 |
Welcome to DPC.
Here's a few questions you should get the answers to that will help you out.
First, what type of golf tourney is it? Will it be timed starts (each foursome tees off at hole 1 and then continues on) or shotgun (everyone ties off at different holes all at the same time)?
Will you have access to a golf cart? If not, insist on one to allow you to get around the course.
Will you have anyone else with you on the shoot? If there is more than one shooter, you can have a stationary shooter for tee shots, and a second 'candid' shooter.
Do you have access to a backup camera and batteries? These are long shoots and you want to make sure you have enough equipment to get the shoot in total.
Thoughts:
If it is a timed start, you can set up at the first tee (as  Melethia stated) and get shots of each foursome (a typical shot is set them up so that all have their drivers in their hands (all pointing in to each other) Shooting this near a banner advertising the tourney is a good idea (or great view of the first hole etc). Once everyone has teed off, I would borrow/ rent a golf cart and start shooting live action. Shooting tee shots and putts on the green are always a good idea. Get out of the cart, go say hello, and get in pretty close so you can get decent shots.
If your tourney is a shotgun start, I would recommend starting at hole 18 and drive your way backwards (rent/ borrow a cart) and shoot each group as you pass them. My guess is that if you go through the course 2-3 times, you should be able to get each group on a tee somewhere. Your other possibility is to set up at one hole and catch each group as they come through. The unfortunate part about this type of shooting is that all shots will start to look the same.
Most golf tourneys take from 4 to 5 hours so you can catch almost everyone if in the cart driving from 18 to 1 over and over again. One last thing, pay attention to the golfers, you need to be quiet and respectful when they are shooting, and need to not move when they are 'addressing' the ball.
I would think that the 18-70mm would work great for most of the shooting. If you are willing to get out of the cart, you can get up close and get some good action shots. |
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08/24/2009 06:54:14 AM · #7 |
Wow, thanks  bassbone you have thrown up some interesting thoughts that hadn't really crossed my mind. The battery life of my sony is usually quite good, i was thinking it would last at least 5 or 6 hours of shooting because i photographed a moto trackday not so long ago and was shooting pretty consistently for about 3 hours and the battery was about 50%? With regards the cart, it hadn't been mentioned. This was through a friend of a friend and it was just like "turn up and shoot as the official photographer!" So i know very little details!
Also in terms of what sort of start it is.....I haven't a clue! As far as i know i'm the only shooter.
One last thing, i'm worried about what will happen if it starts to rain??? Would it be O.K to just put the camera in a big clear/see through plastic bag with a hole for the lens to poke through, because to be honest i don't want to buy a really expensive cover type thing????
Any ideas...?!!
Thanks,
Andrew
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08/24/2009 10:39:08 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by bongodopey:
One last thing, i'm worried about what will happen if it starts to rain??? Would it be O.K to just put the camera in a big clear/see through plastic bag with a hole for the lens to poke through, because to be honest i don't want to buy a really expensive cover type thing???? |
A 2-gallon ziploc freezer baggie with a corner snipped off so it can stretch snugly over the front of the lens and seal will work just fine.
R. |
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08/24/2009 10:50:43 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by bongodopey:
One last thing, i'm worried about what will happen if it starts to rain??? Would it be O.K to just put the camera in a big clear/see through plastic bag with a hole for the lens to poke through, because to be honest i don't want to buy a really expensive cover type thing???? |
A 2-gallon ziploc freezer baggie with a corner snipped off so it can stretch snugly over the front of the lens and seal will work just fine.
R. |
Much more durable(I've had mine for more then three years. And less then $30.
Rain covers
Matt O'Harver |
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08/24/2009 12:39:35 PM · #10 |
Thanks MattO and Bear_Music. I think i'll end up using the freezer bag as the "gig" is on friday and the rain cover probably wouldn't arrive on time.
Thanks
Andrew |
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08/24/2009 05:55:41 PM · #11 |
oddly enough, golf tournaments have been one of my business's growth areas over the past few years. the key is knowing exactly what the organizers are looking for; with that, you will be able to determine what you'll need in order to be able to get the job done. tournament shooting comes in two flavors: shots of the teams or action/candids. of course, sometimes they'll want both, but, in the end, they'll settle for one or the other--unless they're ready to spend extra.
shooting teams
most tournaments will have between 18-36 teams, typically about 24. more than likely, they'll have a shotgun start with each team starting at the same time from different holes. you MUST have a golf cart, because you'll be covering the course backwards, going from hole 1 to hole 18 to hole 17, continuing through until you meet up with the first team you shot; this way, you won't miss anyone. you'll need a course map so you'll know where you're going and you'll need a team list so that you can check off the teams as you shoot them.
you'll need a good strobe, because you're going to need a good fill to light up their faces under their caps and hats...and you'll need to make sure you have a lot of batteries for your strobe. you'll also want something in the 24-70 range lens-wise. anything wider with distort, anything longer will be too tight.
compositionally, make sure everyone has a club and that they're all looking at you. you are going to be probably 10-15' away, depending on the type of shot you'll be delivering. i drop to one knee in order to be lower than eye-level: i really want to be below the shortest person's hat. tell them you're going to count to three and that you want their eyes WIDE OPEN. you are only going to have time to get one, maybe two shots of each group. make sure you know what you're doing with your strobe before shooting the first group. even though most of the players will have been through this drill before, you still can't keep them waiting while you chimp your shots. also, if you have a group with a lot of dark clothing or dark-toned skin, you'll need to adjust your exposure--just don't forget to roll it back for the next group.
the nice thing about shooting teams is that you really don't have to worry about anything other than getting a sharp shot of each team. if there are only 18 teams, you'll probably take less than 50 frames, including your test shots!
however, the big gotcha on shooting golf teams is that they typically want the photos printed on-site so that they can be delivered to the participants before they leave...
...and that, my friends, is a lot easier said than done. [now, i am by no means putting on the 'prof-fate' hat, because i do believe anyone can do this type of work. but, there are some logistics that must be planned for in advance.]
you are going to need a couple printers, plenty of ink, plenty of paper, a laptop, and some processing software that can run batch actions (such as photoshop). ok, you could get by with one printer, but you'd really better hope that you don't have any problems with it or you will be totally hosed. and you don't have to have photoshop, but, if you don't you'd better be ready to hand process all your images very, very quickly. keep in mind, if you have 25 teams, you'll be making 100 prints. if you can print one a minute, you're going to need over an hour and a half just to do the printing! as with anything else, the closer you come to getting it right in the camera, the less time you'll have to spend processing the images.
as for printers, just about anything will do--as long as you're aware of any possible short comings (such as the $30 printer that drinks ink and only prints one 4x6 a minute). the key is to try to keep your consumerables under 50 cents a print. if you have enough lead time, you can shop around for your paper and inks; otherwise, buy them at least a day or two before the event. you'll also want to do enough test printing before the event to have a real good handle on what to expect when it's show time.
also, you'll need plenty of workspace because the images are going to need a little time to cure before you can stack them on top of each other. you'll also need a system for keeping them organized.
if at all possible, it would really be great to have some help. maybe the tournament organizers have some volunteers that can help you out (drive the cart, help with the printing, whatever). it's not impossible to do it all yourself, but it doesn't leave much room for error, especially considering how many moving parts there are to the whole process.
i have a checklist of what i'm going to need and i make sure it's all packed the night before. onsite printing is challenging enough without getting to the job and finding that you're missing something.
in terms of what to charge, you'll need to find the happy medium between 1) what you need to make hourly and the cost of your consumerables, and 2) what the event has budgeted for photography. a fair hourly rate could range from $25-100 an hour and cost of prints might be 50 cents. they might have budgeted $400. if you can get everything done in 4 hours and your prints cost you $50, you'll be making over $75 an hour. you might want to run numbers through a spreadsheet to work out some best and worst case scenarios.
the biggest mistake you can make, though, is attempting to do something like this and not having the equipment or workflow necessary to pull it off. not only will you look bad, but you'll be making the event organizers look bad.
shooting action/candids
even though this is a lot less stressful than shooting team shots and printing them onsite, it is almost as much work. you'll need a golf cart, a course map, and a list of participants. i also recommend riding the course backwards, working your way through the entire group, shooting until you meet up with the first group you shot.
typically, the goal here is shooting interesting images that the organizers will be able to use to sell next year's event. yes, you need some good golf photos (driving, pitching, putting), but more importantly, you need pictures of people having a great time interacting with one another. you want photos that will make those that missed it wish they hadn't. you're not there to document the event, you're there to sell the next one.
if you aren't quite sure about what to shoot, look for golf tournament brochures, postcards, and such. look online. go by different golf courses and see if they have any stuff that you can pick up about upcoming tournaments. just look for ideas as to what you need to be looking for.
as for delivery, simply find out from the organizer what they expect and when they expect it. sometimes, they might be looking for a CD within a couple days or the following week; sometimes, though, they might need 5-10 images that day that they can include in a newsletter that's waiting to go to press!
again, get it right in camera, batch process your images, and you'll be done in no time.
as with shooting teams, what you charge is going to be somewhere between what you need to make on an hourly basis and what they have budgeted. if they only have a couple hundred dollars budgeted, you'll need to figure out just how much shooting and processing you'll be doing for that amount.
a quick note about model releases: it's not your problem. it's the organizer's problem. since they are the ones that are going to be using the images, it will be their responsibility to get releases from the participants (and they usually do that on the registration form).
another thing to keep in mind in terms of pricing this type of work is whether or not you are going to have to provide your own help. even if you have a bud out there just to drive you around while you shoot candids, you'll probably need 25 bucks or so to toss their way.
good luck, have fun, and if you have any more questions, please feel free to shoot me a pm.
skip
btw, here's a link to my most recent tournament. |
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08/25/2009 08:48:13 AM · #12 |
Skip - I would think regarding the photo printing, you can easily go and get the images printed at a costco/walgreens in time for the end of the tourney (especially since most of these charity tourneys end with a luncheon/auction/happy hour). Just print 6 of each team (1 each, and 2 just in case extras...as .35 each, the additional $5 won't kill ya)
Message edited by author 2009-08-25 08:49:58. |
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08/25/2009 08:58:49 AM · #13 |
I've only shot one tournament, and they were looking for lots of action shots as well as the groups, and I put together a slideshow to music for their dinner afterwards. I completely agree with everything said here, particularly the need for a golf cart. If you can get a list of the groups up front it's helpful, just to check off & make sure that you got everyone. The first hole may be the easiest & most picturesque, but there may be a different tee where you're really close to a putting green or two, or perhaps another tee as well. I found that sort of spot was priceless - after shooting a group, turn & get the action shots on the other holes.
Oh, & be VERY careful! I thought it would be fun to have shots of people teeing off from in front & way to the side, but a fast drive missed me (and my 70-200 lens) by a couple inches. I actually got the shot - a ball coming straight toward me with the golfer in the background! |
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08/25/2009 09:09:10 AM · #14 |
I regularly shoot our Company golf day, which is made easy for me by the fact that it's not a shotgun start, so I can hang around at the first tee and do the group shots before they all go off. Another thing that makes it easy for me is that there are plenty of cross-overs on the course we normally use, one of them actually has one tee pointing over the previous green, so that I can shoot a team holing out and then teeing off at the next hole without having to worry about missing anyone. Maybe it's worth scoping out where tees and greens are close, so that you can do that. I don't have to print out on the day, so normally do a triptych for each attendant consisting of the group shot, one shot of them putting and one shot teeing off (with some luck, I managed to get one or two with the ball coming off the club).
If you're shooting people teeing off, I would suggest using your longest lens at its longest focal length and setting your position from there, so that you're as far away as possible from the tee when you're photographing.
Good luck.
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08/25/2009 09:17:07 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by Bebe:
Oh, & be VERY careful! I thought it would be fun to have shots of people teeing off from in front & way to the side, but a fast drive missed me (and my 70-200 lens) by a couple inches. I actually got the shot - a ball coming straight toward me with the golfer in the background! |
I know a few golfers that would attack you with a club for even getting in thier line of sight while they are teeing off, or on any swing for that matter. |
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08/25/2009 11:03:53 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by bongodopey:
....If anyone has any pics of golf shots they have done or any advice, it would be most appreciated.... |
Here's a golf shot I took of my friend after too many beers...
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08/25/2009 12:17:59 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by ajdelaware:
Skip - I would think regarding the photo printing, you can easily go and get the images printed at a costco/walgreens in time for the end of the tourney (especially since most of these charity tourneys end with a luncheon/auction/happy hour). Just print 6 of each team (1 each, and 2 just in case extras...as .35 each, the additional $5 won't kill ya) |
a lot easier said than done ;-)
i know there are situations where going to costco/walgreens might work, but from my experience the past three years, that has never been the case. after shooting and processing, i haven't had much wiggle room time-wise, especially to risk getting to a kiosk and finding a line. or, finding a machine that hasn't been calibrated yet...
as the saying goes about the weakest link, it's better to go on an ramp up to print them yourself, removing possibly ill-fated reliance on others from the equation.
of course, if there are no time constraints, you really are free to do whatever you want ;-) |
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09/12/2009 04:31:27 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Skip:
good luck, have fun, and if you have any more questions, please feel free to shoot me a pm. |
F*%^ing brilliant, Skip. I'm the second shooter this coming Wednesday for the FORE Ladies Only Charity Golf Tournament at John Daly's Thundering Waters Golf Club. This amazing bit of your brain/experience could not have come at a better time for me, thanks!!!!
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09/15/2009 08:39:01 PM · #19 |
OK, tomorrow is my big day. Someone wish me luck, or break a leg or whatever photogs wish each other...this is my first 'assignment', of sorts, beyond making images for family, friends, challenge entries and blog-posts. Strange to say it, I'm sort of nervous. 
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