From the Sidelines to the Screen: Showcasing Youth Sports Photography Online
Photography is your passion and your life. As a youth sports photographer, you need to build your personal brand to market yourself to other schools, coaches, parents, etc.
This means curating some of your very best photos into an online portfolio or social media website. Attracting more clients is how you grow your business, so not only are you a photographer, but you’re also a marketing professional.
Not sure how to build your online portfolio? Sport Stars Photography has some suggestions for curating your best photos as a tool for gaining new clients.
Important: Always Ask Permission
Before you do anything, ensure you have permission from the athlete and their parents before showcasing their photography online. You must always respect boundaries and maintain children’s safety if you are using your photos as marketing material.
Curating Your Photos
Not every picture you take is a 5-star, award-winning photo, and that’s normal. Building your online portfolio and personal brand is about taking your best photos and showing them off as what you are capable of. Let’s look at some ways to curate your photos.
Picture with Purpose
When selecting your best photos, don’t just choose the ones you think are technically excellent. Most people hiring you won’t know the specifics of photography composition, so they may not view the photo like you do. Look for photos that have a purpose, that show the best side of the athlete, and make a statement.
Awesome Before Edits
If you look at a photo before editing it and think, “Wow, this is awesome!” then you probably have a portfolio-worthy photo. If it only improves with some adjustments, you can be confident that the photo is great.
Represent Your Style
Every photographer is different, so make sure portfolio photos showcase your style of photography. If you are great at lighting, choose photos that showcase your subject with excellent lighting. Always choose the photos where you’ve brought out the subject’s best smile.
Tell a Story
We don’t mean a literal story, but the way you arrange your photos in your portfolio should make sense, if possible. If you are showcasing your dancer's photography, try to arrange your photos to transition smoothly from one to the next. Remember: your portfolio doesn’t have all your best photos. It’s a collection of the best photos.
Ask for Opinions
If you’re really stuck, select a few of what you think are your best photos and get opinions from people you trust. Photography is very subjective, so you don’t have to take every opinion as fact, but they can help guide you to certain photos over others.
Upgrade as You Improve
The more photos you take, the more you improve. Don’t be afraid to swap out older photos with newer, better ones. These will show your growth as a photographer and make your skills stand out.
Presenting Work Professionally
Why is it so essential to present your work in a professional manner? Your potential clients need to see that you are capable of photographing young athletes and making them shine. After all, parents want to keep these photos forever, and ensuring that the results are your very best is important. That’s how you get hired and create a recurring clientele.
Having an online presence is essential for any business because that’s where your potential clients will find you. Word of mouth still works, but you need an online presence to back that up. Think of your own experiences. Have you chosen to avoid a specific business because you couldn’t find anything about them online?
It’s also worth noting that working with children is a sensitive subject. That’s why asking for permission is so important. Your clients must know you are trustworthy and take their children’s safety and security seriously. Building relationships through trust is the best way to create a larger, steady clientele.
Highlight Achievement with Sport Star Photography
Young athletes work hard to improve their skills in their sports, and their hard work should be showcased. Keep these moments forever with student-athlete photography by Sport Star Photography. Our team of professional photographers can help your school, league, or dance studio show off your athletes’ achievements through photography.
Call us today at 612-824-3509 or contact us online to schedule a photo shoot.