Sports Cards How To's - DPChallenge Forums

10/29/2007 09:57:38 AM · #1

I have been shooting the games for the local college hockey club, and want to draw some ideas from an experienced crowd about how to profit a bit from it to help pay for the equipment that I have, and to help generate income for new equipment as well.

I started out shooting for a friend on the team, so I have provided images for the team at no cost for their web site, and for their own individual prints. There is a big public supporting for the team though, and I think that possibly making trading cards could be fairly profitable. So, here are the questions I have:

1. Do I need signed model release forms for each shot that I use?

2. Do I need permission from the ice center to use the shots I take there for profit?

3. If so, what would be the ethical division of profits? I take the shots, the team supplies the action, and the ice center provides a location to both shoot, and possibly sell, the photos.

4. What is a good program to use? (I have looked at FotoFusion, and really like what it can do, but haven't purchased it yet)

5. What is a good printing facility for such cards?

I would really appreaciate any and all answers to my questions, and other pointers that you have learned along the way.

Thank you.

AJSullivan

10/29/2007 11:12:28 AM · #2

There is probably a lot more to deal with since they are students. You might have to approach the school, since youll be using their name on the cards. Definitely gonna need some sort of release from the players, and I would also set forth a very very very formal contract. Youd have to more then likely split profit with the club as a fundraiser, even with the work you've done in the past for them. If you include the ice rink, they wouldn't be involved, in my opinion, in any direct sharing of profits, but what you could do is sell them to them either on a consignment, or give them a whole sale price and let them mark it up as they wish.

Im almost going to guarantee you are going to have to ok it with the school though.

Oh - Topps Amatuer Sports Cards look pretty cool, and they come packaged in a foil wrap, but I don't know if they will do "mixed" packs or if they will only do individual player packs.

Message edited by author 2007-10-29 11:13:57.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/29/2007 11:48:02 AM · #3

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

You might have to approach the school, since youll be using their name on the cards. Definitely gonna need some sort of release from the players, and I would also set forth a very very very formal contract.

I'm almost going to guarantee you are going to have to ok it with the school though.

Thanks, I will look in to that aspect further. Any idea for pre-formatted contracts?

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

Oh - Topps Amatuer Sports Cards look pretty cool, and they come packaged in a foil wrap, but I don't know if they will do "mixed" packs or if they will only do individual player packs.

Is that something easy to get in to? I googled it, and really couldn't come up with much in the first 10 hits. I will look in to it after work too. Does anyone have a URL to share for that?

Scott

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

10/29/2007 11:49:26 AM · #4

Marathon Press makes sports cards for photographers. They'll print one or 500.

10/29/2007 11:27:34 PM · #5

Thanks Cindi. Anyone else have some tips, answers, etc?

Message edited by author 2007-10-29 23:30:47.

Prof_Fate

10/30/2007 12:23:51 AM · #6

Most any lab that does sports stuff (and that's most of them) do some type of trader cards. Some (the better ones IMO) are 'press printed' cards - they look like the Topps cards. The older method is 2 photos glued back to back to make a two-sided card.

H&H color lab has cards, as does profilmet.com and many many many many other labs.

As to the release thing...who's buying the cards? 99.99% of the time (for amateur sports) the players or parents are they buyers - no release needed of course.
If you selling to the general public then you'll need a release - what agreement do the players have with the team (if any) and the team with the league and them with the venue. Whose given you permission to shoot? Ask them.

AJSullivan

10/30/2007 09:26:24 AM · #7

Scott - the TOPPS site isn't up and running yet, as far as I know, but I read a few write ups about it online and in some mags.