Shooting a 10K Run

[Scoody]

Got contracted for a charity 10k run. It is a big event with lots of participants. The charity wants a few shots for their blog, which I am doing for free but they are also allowing me to make a bit of money here by taking and selling action shots. I am at a loss at how to keep track of who is who and keeping things sorted. Do I set up a booth and preregister runners before the event? I have done other events (bull rides, rodeos, mud races) and the subjects will come up to me and ask me for photos. It is never on this scale and not as helter skelter. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[tirediron]

Print up a BIG sign with your name & website/tel # and have it beside you when shooting as well as at the finish line, along with lots of business cards. Sort by bib # and let them call you. This is a tough gig on your own. Ideally you want to get a few shots of the first runners across the finish line, but for the rest of the herd you want something scenic. What I've done is recce the course, find a nice scenic spot to shoot the bulk of the runners, ideally fairly close to the finish line, and I bring my bicycle; as soon as the first half-dozen are across the line, I ride up to my pre-chosen spot and shoot the whole race. Don't forget of course to get the start.

 

[MSnowy]

I've shot a few races because my wife is a runner and I'm there to watch. I wouldn't expect to make much money from online sales. Your best chance for sales is on site printing.Lots of people will look online but very few if any buy. What it does for me is drives people to my site where they to purchase more landscape prints.

 

[Scoody]

Luckily I have a lovely assistant (who is also my wife) who will be helping with some of the logistics. I already have a banner ordered.

 

[mdruziak]

Tough to make money from a gig like this. But here are some ideas:

• Use social media before, during and after the event to let the participants know what you are doing. You need to do a lot of posting on all the major outlets in order to get noticed. Maybe even get a list of the runners and try to follow them on instagram and twitter. If you are really serious, take out a Facebook ad.
• See if the promoters will add something about your photos to the program, or pre-race communications with the runners . If there is an announcer, see if he can make announcements.
• Of course you need a website that supports selling photos,
• Try to get photos that the friends and family of the runners can't get. Most will be very happy with free cell phone photos from their friends.
• If the sponsors have teams, photograph the teams before the event and try to sell the sponsor photos. But, what's going to happen is that after you line them all up, someone will produce a cell phone and say "Hey take one for me." You could also give the sponsors free prints to frame with the hope they will hire you for photography in the future.
• Keep track of the runners by the time they finish. You can set up a remote camera at the finish line that takes a photo every few seconds when the runners start crossing the finish line.