If you’ve landed on this article page, you’re probably searching for a
good business idea—an idea that’s light on the pocket but heavy on
returns, promising both a fulfilling journey and potential profit.
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How
to Start a Sports Photography Business
Starting a photography business in Nigeria can be an exciting
and rewarding entrepreneurial journey if you plan well. With
rising internet connectivity and social media use in the
country, there is huge potential for photographers to thrive.
Responsibilities of a Sports photographer: Sports photographers
are professionals that are hired to shoot quality photos at
sporting events, of athletes, and crowds cheering on their
teams. They are usually trained as photographers but also have a
thorough knowledge of the sports they are assigned to shoot.
They can also specialize in shooting two sports that have
similar characteristics like soccer and hockey which are both
fast-paced, unpredictable sports.
Below are some of the responsibilities of a Sports Photographer:
Sports Photographers work closely with journalists, picture
editors, and everyone concerned with a project to agree on
requirements.
As a Sports Photographer, you will photograph sporting events
and personalities while noting the captions for the photographs.
Sports Photographers usually work with deadlines. They make sure
all the photographs are appropriate, processed, and ready before
deadlines.
As a Sports Photographer, you must keep yourself up-to-date with
all the current happenings in your area of specialization. If
you photograph soccer, you must know what is going on with
soccer teams.
As a Sports Photographer, you will have to protect and maintain
your photographic and electronic equipment.
Sports Photographer
Skills of a Sports Photographer
Active Listening and Attention to Detail: As a Sports
Photographer, you must pay attention to every detail and give
full attention to what other people are saying. You must take
time to understand the points being made and ask appropriate
questions.
Social Perception: You must be aware of people’s reactions and
understand why they react the way they do. This is especially
important because, in games like soccer, you must shoot the
reaction of the players in the winning and losing teams. Their
reactions are sometimes more important than their actions when
conveying the story.
Technical Skills: Sports Photographers need to know how to use
digital and non-digital cameras as well as industry-standard
software such as Photoshop and Lightroom.
Problem-Solving Skills: Being a Sports Photographer, you must
have the ability to identify complex problems and develop
solutions to those problems.
Creativity: You must be creative in taking photographs and have
an eye for pictures.
Other important skills for every expert in Sports Photography
are: Patience and concentration, Strong networking skills,
Ability to work in a team, Critical thinking skills, Active
learning skills
What are the costs involved in opening a sports photography
business?
You will need a website. If used for basic advertising, it is
only a few dollars a month. If you are using it as a portal to
upload images for review and ordering by customers, that can run
a few hundred dollars a month. Your photography equipment is
your greatest investment. You should expect to have a
high-quality DSL camera with a variety of lenses able to shoot
portraits, action, and landscapes. $5,000 will get you decently
equipped. You need reliable transportation able to carry all
your lights and cameras, too.
What are the ongoing expenses for a sports photography business?
Your regular expenses will be maintaining your equipment,
transportation, and computers. You will also need a small budget
for promotion. It is truly your time and talent that is of
greatest value.
Who is the target market?
Your services will be in demand by schools and community
organizations. Parents and local leaders will have the most
input into whether you are the right photographer for their
children.
How does a sports photography business make money?
You are essentially selling a service, not a product. You should
expect to charge a fee up front for the shoot and editing that
will compensate you for your time. You will also receive a
percentage of any pictures ordered for print or those burned to
a DVD or drive.
How much can you charge customers?
You are not just charging for the time it takes to complete the
shoot–usually two or three hours. You should also include in
your fee the time it will take to review and edit images.
Professionals will charge between N100k and N200k for a
team/individual shoot, with prices increasing depending on the
difficulty of the shoot and the amount of time spent at the
event. Printed photo packages range from N1000
to
N2,000.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Smart scheduling can be your best friend. If you are able to
schedule multiple teams for a single-afternoon, you save on
transportation and setup time. Large teams and groups offer a
better return for your efforts, with more opportunities for
sales of prints. Think of offering addition individualized items
such as books, albums, coffee mugs and T-shirts to further
personalize your business brand.
Define your brand: Your brand is what your company stands for,
as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A
strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
How to promote & market a sports photography business
Parents, teachers, and administrators will return for more once
they find a quality photographer. If you target your startup for
young children, your business will grow along with the kids,
possibly extending into college. Promotion includes sending home
flyers with all the players, issuing email newsletters through
the entire year, and taking out advertisements for league
programs. Sponsoring the concession stand or uniforms are
another way to drive awareness of your business. Offer a
discount for customers that refer new business your way. Get
involved in the league Facebook Group and continually post
pictures of sporting events with your name on them. Promotion
will be a year-round project.
How to keep customers coming back
While you are busy promoting your business by appearing at local
events, your happy customers are showing the latest pics of
their kids to their friends. Your crystal clear images are the
fastest way to attracting a new client. Ensure your website
reflects exactly the types of images you are offering to your
clients with clear pricing. Once proud parents receive their
beautiful pictures, they will be loyal to you for the next
decade as long as you maintain a high quality of artwork and
customer service.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a sports
photography business?
Start out small by contacting sports leagues with which you have
a relationship. In order to build a portfolio, offer to waive
your fee for the opportunity to share the images with potential
future clients. Make sure to get waivers from any parent who
agrees. Once you have developed a sample website and portfolio,
attend the sign-ups for Little League, neighborhood BBQs, and
community events with a table that offers your business card
along with free snacks or sodas to get your name out there.
How and when to build a team
If you are full-time, you might need an assistant to schedule
shoots, manage your books, and help with setting up equipment.
Otherwise, this business tends to be run as a one-man show.
Get our Practical Guide on How to set up Sport photography
business in Nigeria. We have put together this simple guide to
starting your sports photography business. These steps will
ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered
properly and legally compliant. This comprehensive guide covers
all the key steps and considerations for launching a profitable
photography studio or freelance business in Nigeria.
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