Question about photographing an event

[Stormdancing]

I want to go to this event coming to our city and take candid shots. http://www.firefighterchallenge.com/ Maybe some posed type shots with the firemen in full gear etc. Do I need to contact the event sponsor since I will be passing out my business cards in hopes of selling a few of the shots to the participants? How should I approach this?

[KABeach]

Originally Posted by Stormdancing

I want to go to this event coming to our city and take candid shots. http://www.firefighterchallenge.com/ Maybe some posed type shots with the firemen in full gear etc. Do I need to contact the event sponsor since I will be passing out my business cards in hopes of selling a few of the shots to the participants? How should I approach this?

Before showing up to any event with the intent to sell images, I highly recommend contacting the event organizers, explaining what you indend to do and receiving permission.

There may be a photographer already under contract to do what you are planning, or they may have reasons not to allow you do do it - or photo restrictions you need to know about.

The plus side is, if you get permission, you can often arrange to have the event organizers promote your photography business.

Cheers!
Ken

[Stormdancing]

I knew you would come through for me.
Since I posted I've found the local event manager's name and phone #. I will be giving him a call here.

Thanks!

[KABeach]

After looking at the website, I have an additional thought - if they give you an OK to shoot, see if you can get a pass or an ID that will allow you into areas that might be otherwise restricted to the public: maybe in front of rope lines and such (many events have sections restricted to media).

An important part of event sales is to get images the general public cannot get.

Cheers!
Ken

[Stormdancing]

Ok, I called. Not a problem. I would not be allowed in the "Bull Pit", but taking candid photos throughout the crowd and of the events and passing out cards is fine with the event organizer. Woooooo hooooooooooo
He did say that they used to have a pro covering the "Bull Pit" and donating her time and work to the organization but she got too busy with weddings.

I called him back and said if I sold any pictures that I would be willing to donate a percentage of my profit to the local firefighters. (My FIL was a firefighter.) He said they also wanted to do a calendar of the events and that we could work something out so I could be the official photographer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! Thank you for suggesting I call 1st. It has opened many doors of possibilities.

[KABeach]

Excellent!

Let us know how it all works out!

Cheers,
Ken

[Stormdancing]

He'll be sending me an email when he gets off duty tonight.

Of course now as always, there's the nagging worry of can I do it with the equipment I have. No place to rent, beg, borrow or steal around here either.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Originally Posted by Stormdancing

He'll be sending me an email when he gets off duty tonight.

Of course now as always, there's the nagging worry of can I do it with the equipment I have.* No place to rent, beg, borrow or steal around here either.

But if you could, you wouldn't be familiar with it!

[Stormdancing]

That's true. Be nothing worse than fumbling around with unfamiliar equipment.
Beturazz I'll be out constantly between now and then shooting every moving thing I can find. I've done pretty well in that department with what I have, but more practice is not going to hurt.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Originally Posted by Stormdancing

That's true.* Be nothing worse than fumbling around with unfamiliar equipment.
Beturazz I'll be out constantly between now and then shooting every moving thing I can find.* I've done pretty well in that department with what I have, but more practice is not going to hurt.

The boy scout motto applies here: "Be prepared".
Got a (couple of) good bounce card(s)?
http://www.photocamel.com/index.php/topic,13980.0.html
Got spare, charged batteries? Spare flash cards or portable photo storage? Backup camera and flash? Monopod? Reconnoitered the venue? Preselected vantage points? Know the day's program? Might there be a briefing you could attend?

[Stormdancing]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

The boy scout motto applies here: "Be prepared".
Got a (couple of) good bounce card(s)?
http://www.photocamel.com/index.php/topic,13980.0.html
Got spare, charged batteries? Spare flash cards or portable photo storage? Backup camera and flash? Monopod? Reconnoitered the venue? Preselected vantage points? Know the day's program? Might there be a briefing you could attend?

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes. Won't know vantage points until competition is setup. I know where I'd like to be - in an aerial lift. Schedule and all the poop is being emailed to me.

When I was speaking of beg, borrow or steal some equipment, I'm not talking about bodies, etc, I was talking about a faster lens or a bigger zoom. Not much of a learning curve on that.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Originally Posted by Stormdancing

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.* Won't know vantage points until competition is setup.* I know where I'd like to be - in an aerial lift.* Schedule and all the poop is being emailed to me.

When I was speaking of beg, borrow or steal some equipment, I'm not talking about bodies, etc, I was talking about a faster lens or a bigger zoom.* Not much of a learning curve on that.

Dunno where you reside, but if you know exactly what lens you would want/could use, could you rent it in your area?

[Stormdancing]

Nope, there is no where to rent anything like that here. Louisville, Nashville, St Louis and Indy all about 3 hours away.
Town of 300,000 you would think there would be a decent camera shop. The one Mom and Pop shop told me last summer that digital was just a passing fad and proceeded to pull out some poster size print and ask me if digital could even compare to that..............................

[cyclohexane]

LOL, that's where you pull out a poster of equal or larger size that looks better.

[KABeach]

Just a fair warning, long fast glass does have a learing curve - learning to work with that shallow DoF can point out technique errors you may have not noticed before - the learning curve isn't that bad, and you get used to it very fast, but there is in fact a learning curve.

Cheers,
Ken

[Stormdancing]

Originally Posted by Squirrel

Just a fair warning, long fast glass does have a learing curve - learning to work with that shallow DoF can point out technique errors you may have not noticed before - the learning curve isn't that bad, and you get used to it very fast, but there is in fact a learning curve.

Cheers,
Ken

Oh I agree Ken! I can only dream right now about long fast glass though. Still not the learning curve of borrowing a DSLR when you've only used a P&S

[Rokcet Scientist]

Originally Posted by Stormdancing

Nope, there is no where to rent anything like that here.* Louisville, Nashville, St Louis and Indy all about 3 hours away.
Town of 300,000 you would think there would be a decent camera shop.* The one Mom and Pop shop told me last summer that digital was just a passing fad and proceeded to pull out some poster size print and ask me if digital could even compare to that..............................

LOL, that's where you pull out a poster of equal or larger size that looks better.

And then you ask them how often in their lives they, or anyone really, have actually had a real need for poster size prints...

[Stormdancing]

So far the largest I have had printed was 11x14 for a gift. I did buy some 16x20 frames that I want to use in my son's room.
The poster looked well loved and worn, like he pulls that out for every person who asked about digital vs film or even hints at the question.

[Stormdancing]

OK here we go!
From the event organizer

My thoughts are that you will be provided access to the "bull ring" for good angles to
take pictures. We have competitor goody bags, if you provide about 300 business cards
we can be sure that each competitor gets a card put in their bag. The volume of
pictures over the four hour time period will be about 5 to 10 pictures taken every 3
minutes for action shots. Candid shots are up to you.

Got my cards all ready to go! Now to come up with a table idea. Nothing fancy - some cards, a photo or two printed out.
Any ideas on that?

I will be donating a portion of my profit from print sales back to the local Firefighters and that is fine with me.

Now here's the best news of the day. I got my hands on a Magic Drain Pipe (Canon 80-200 2.8L) for a good price. Bought from a trusted, respected shooter on another forum. Should be here tomorrow. Yes it's an older lens, but tack sharp and just fine for a poor person. (Especially now)

[Rokcet Scientist]

Originally Posted by Stormdancing

[...] Now to come up with a table idea.* Nothing fancy - some cards, a photo or two printed out.
Any ideas on that?

Please advise what that 'table' is about.