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I'm a high school senior and just enrolled to my university to major in Communications, but there is an option for Sports Communications. I want to be a sports photojournalist; should I think about changing my major or leave it as is Any other advice you'd give a young sports photographer who's trying to kick-start her career??

I already have a website set up to sell photos and showcase my portfolio. I'm currently an Editor-in-Chief of my school's yearbook and attend sporting events regularly. I also plan on joining the newspaper at my university and the Association of Women in Sports Media chapter there. Is there anything else I need to do now and/or plan on doing throughout college?

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Doug’s Answer

Aubrey, my advice is simple: Shoot often and shoot everything you can. Shoot team and individual sports. Start with youth and move on to high school and college. Shoot ball sports, racing (ski, running, motorsports (motorcycle) and anything else sports oriented. Use a telephoto lens where you can to get tight shots. Use a wide-angle lens where you can safely get close to the action. Fill the frame, don’t leave a lot of dead space around the action. Don’t ignore the preparations, the celebrations and the disappointments that come with sports competition. Get a fast-shooting body to get multiple shots and select the best in post. You don't need the latest expensive body. Please pick up a used body like the Canon 7D; it will serve you well. Stick with one brand as you add more lenses, etc. Faces are essential; look for passion in their expressions. Don't get hung up on payment; just shoot, shoot, shoot, and get the experience and critiques. Find an accomplished photographer and "apprentice" to them and learn. You will get better with experience. I started in high school in the 60's shooting film and processing myself. Digital opens up a huge door because there is little incremental cost. Good luck.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for these helpful tips! I've been renting out a Canon 6D Mark II through my school and am on the hunt for a personal camera; I appreciate your recommendation. Aubrey
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Kathleen’s Answer

For most college programs -- such as Liberal Arts --- you don't have to formally declare your major till the end of sophomore year, so I think you can "decide" the more specific path (Communications vs Sports Communication) after your first 3-4 semesters. Talk to your college advisor about this as well and see what they think is best. Most first years are designed to be more "broad" to encourage freshman (and sophomores) to "try" new things, see what is out there, and take more general and core courses. But you can also follow your passion! You can do that by getting involved with sports and athletics on campus, be it through existing clubs (join some!), through the formal school teams (go to events!), or via the school newspaper/news site. You may be to take photos for the school, for a team, for the local news.
Does the school have social media sites / channels specifically for each team (men's/women's teams), or even for the mascot, etc.?
There are many opportunities to be a part of athletics, and you can often create your own (via clubs).
And look for internships early on...some may be open to freshmen, but definitely sophomores.
Main goal: Once you get to campus, dig in, put yourself out there, and find the opportunities that feed your soul and your passion.
In many cases, finding your people and your community doesn't have to be a straight line to your major. Enjoy all the newness!
Thank you comment icon Thank you for these tips! I'm very thankful that my college has social media for practically all athletics, plus internships beginning as a sophomore. I'll make sure to get in contact with them as soon as I can, thank you again! Aubrey
Thank you comment icon My pleasure. Wishing you the very best. It's an exciting time! Kathleen Carlin-Russell
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Donald’s Answer

Hi Aubrey:

I was editor and publisher of a neighborhood newspaper for more than 25 years. I think you might want to consider whether you want pursue sports photography or photojournalism. And I would argue that they are two different things. For example, I live in Portland, Oregon. There are sports photographers and videographers that work for the Portland Trail Blazers professional men's basketball team. And there are photojournalists that cover sports including the Blazers either as freelancers or working directly for online newspapers, magazines, and television networks, for examples. Photojournalists shoot photos that tell the truth, good or bad. For example, what if I assigned you to cover a sports story (perhaps teaming you up with a reporter) that shined a light on a controversial subject, that could have serious repercussions. Are you OK with that? Do you want to work for the team (marketing, communications) or cover it independently as a member of the media (photojournalism)?

Donald recommends the following next steps:

Talk to sports photojournalists. Talk to sports photographers. Which do you think fits you're way of thinking, your talents, your objectives? As a retired journalist, I hope you consider photojournalism, but that's my bias. What do you want to do?
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! I'm really considering photojournalism because I love to tell all types of stories with my photographs. At my school, we have a vendor who photographs almost all sporting events and I've been able to work with him a little bit. I'll make sure to ask him more about what he does. Thank you so much again! Aubrey
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Tom’s Answer

Hey Aubrey, you're off to an amazing start! I also studied communications in college. It's a fantastic degree because it opens up so many doors! I've used my degree to work at a magazine, run an ad agency, and even dive into high-tech industries doing market communications. Plus, I've helped small businesses with a unique plan I called a "Communications Physical." It's such a flexible degree, and I highly recommend pursuing it.

"But I want to do sports photography."

That's awesome! You can definitely make that happen. Try to take as many sports photography classes as you can for a minor. Also, get involved in as much sports photography work as possible.

You've got this! Good luck!
Thank you comment icon I'll make sure to keep that all in mind, thank you so much! Aubrey
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Martha’s Answer

Hello Aubrey, that sounds really interesting and it looks like you're off to a great start! I'd say, it depends on whether the classes in Communications vs. Sports Communications are very different, and whether you can take complimentary classes in both... It's always better to keep your major as wide as possible and then, if you have the possibility to do so, take specialized courses or have intern/work experience at specific fields, just in case later on you want to try something else.

So, if the courses available in Sports Communication sound more interesting to you, and you definitely want to make a long career out of it, I'd say go for it. If not, you can always wait or change :)

Good luck and keep on pursuing your dreams!
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Aubrey
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