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Aiden
Student
Grundy Center, Iowa
1
Question
Updated
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What is the best career path for Sports Photographers/Videographers?
1. What is the pay like for Sports Photographers/Videographers?
2. Most of the professionals I talk to go to college to study business marketing, should I do that or study something else?
3. What are the best cameras to use for Sports Photography AND Videography?
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1 answer
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Aiden !
I am happy to provide some advice about becoming a videographer which will be a very satisfying career !
Video and Photography are special in that it can be for any event, any people subject and anything you point your camera at. It is not limited to one form or subject such as Sports only, it is an overall skill used in any moment in time. To be as versatile as possible will surely lead you to getting a lot of work. Therefore, I do advise going to a college that has a Film Department and not majoring in Business Marketing unless you want to go into corporate business. Much of your work will come from networking and contacts which you can make at college and have access to their sports and the Athletic Departments. Business Marketing is indeed an awesome major, but not for aspiring Videographers and Photographers. The people you've spoken to most likely had great contacts and a special opportunity to do this work in sports.
Keep in mind that Videography and Photography is something you will have to learn in person, on campus in order to develop the essential skills and experiences you will need to bring it to the world. You will need to learn various equipment, not just one kind or what people say is "the best", you will need to be well rounded additionally in computer graphics software and keep up with the latest techniques. You need to have experience with lighting, portraits, landscapes, crowds and everything life has to offer. Photography and Videography is a specialized technical and creative skill that needs focused education. Seek out a college education for this at a college that offers visual arts, or consider attending film school. If you want to do this as a hobby, then you do not need to take it this far, just learn on your own online, but to work seriously in this field you should have a degree that will certify your ability and a portfolio of your work. Plus school is very important for future opportunities while you are in college. Networking is vital in all of the fine and performing arts and college is a great start for it.
No one can tell you what "the best" cameras to use for sports are. Cameras are cameras and sports is the subject. It's never too early to research cameras and if you go to EBay you may find some inexpensive ones to start out with. It's more than "the camera" it's lighting, angle, shot type, speed, etc. It will be great fun to experiment while you learn different cameras and you will find the ones you like best by doing that. You can even go to thrift stores to get deals on various cameras. Many people do superb videos and photos with their smart phones, too.
So, the best path to become a professional Photographer and Videographer would be to enroll in college or film school, get lots of experience and learn as much equipment (including sound) as you can, learn software, be open to shooting more than just one subject and make a lot of contacts so you will have opportunities.
As a footnote, no one can accurately say how much money you would make because it's going to depend on where you work, what venues you work in, how many projects you work on per month and many other factors. So try not to be too concerned about the money just yet, just start learning and have fun every step of the way !
I hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
I am happy to provide some advice about becoming a videographer which will be a very satisfying career !
Video and Photography are special in that it can be for any event, any people subject and anything you point your camera at. It is not limited to one form or subject such as Sports only, it is an overall skill used in any moment in time. To be as versatile as possible will surely lead you to getting a lot of work. Therefore, I do advise going to a college that has a Film Department and not majoring in Business Marketing unless you want to go into corporate business. Much of your work will come from networking and contacts which you can make at college and have access to their sports and the Athletic Departments. Business Marketing is indeed an awesome major, but not for aspiring Videographers and Photographers. The people you've spoken to most likely had great contacts and a special opportunity to do this work in sports.
Keep in mind that Videography and Photography is something you will have to learn in person, on campus in order to develop the essential skills and experiences you will need to bring it to the world. You will need to learn various equipment, not just one kind or what people say is "the best", you will need to be well rounded additionally in computer graphics software and keep up with the latest techniques. You need to have experience with lighting, portraits, landscapes, crowds and everything life has to offer. Photography and Videography is a specialized technical and creative skill that needs focused education. Seek out a college education for this at a college that offers visual arts, or consider attending film school. If you want to do this as a hobby, then you do not need to take it this far, just learn on your own online, but to work seriously in this field you should have a degree that will certify your ability and a portfolio of your work. Plus school is very important for future opportunities while you are in college. Networking is vital in all of the fine and performing arts and college is a great start for it.
No one can tell you what "the best" cameras to use for sports are. Cameras are cameras and sports is the subject. It's never too early to research cameras and if you go to EBay you may find some inexpensive ones to start out with. It's more than "the camera" it's lighting, angle, shot type, speed, etc. It will be great fun to experiment while you learn different cameras and you will find the ones you like best by doing that. You can even go to thrift stores to get deals on various cameras. Many people do superb videos and photos with their smart phones, too.
So, the best path to become a professional Photographer and Videographer would be to enroll in college or film school, get lots of experience and learn as much equipment (including sound) as you can, learn software, be open to shooting more than just one subject and make a lot of contacts so you will have opportunities.
As a footnote, no one can accurately say how much money you would make because it's going to depend on where you work, what venues you work in, how many projects you work on per month and many other factors. So try not to be too concerned about the money just yet, just start learning and have fun every step of the way !
I hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best !