Sports Photographer

Imagine being on the sidelines of a football game, focused on one player, when out of the blue, a 300-pound linebacker comes barreling your way!

Do you stay with your initial subject and snap the shot or get the heck out of the way? Instincts and timing will be your guide -- a little luck wouldn’t hurt either.

Get up close and personal with the world’s greatest athletes and sporting events, and consider a career in sports photography.

Sports photographers work mainly for newspapers, magazines and Websites covering events and selling their work to appropriate publications. This is usually done on a freelance basis. But there’s never a shortage of events.

Opportunities abound. All you need is a keen sense of timing, an eye for art and action, and be very resourceful.

While academic courses are a useful starting point, formal training or university study will vary. Because of the self-employed aspect of the work, training is largely on the job and self-directed.

You should learn and master the use of technical equipment, including high-spec zoom lenses, since the action is often taking place at a distance. Develop an interest or working knowledge of the sport to get the most appropriate or marketable shots.

To start: Work your way up to sporting events in your area that allow you to get close enough to the action. Try something fairly basic such as a high school soccer game or a tennis match. Build your portfolio gradually.

Practice, practice and practice. This is how you will master the timing and skill it takes to get a world-class shot because you don’t get a second chance.

Salaries at the top end of the profession range from $45,000 to $95,000, but can be much higher for those who become famous. Think Annie Leibovitz.

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