Selling pictures at Track Days
Discussion
Hi everyone,
Been a long time since I was on here last.
Thought I'd ask you guys about Track Days. You see as I'm struggling to fund myself as a university student at them moment I have considered trying to sell my work at Track Days. Now I'm not entirely sure what the rules are, but I have heard that if you're caught selling your work at an MSV Track Day, they'll kick you out. So I'm not going to get into trouble with them.
But is this the case for other Track Days? Can you sell your work at various Track Days or do you have to have a permit to do so. I want to make sure because i don't want to end up being the bad guy in the photography world so soon.
Hope you guys can help!
Been a long time since I was on here last.
Thought I'd ask you guys about Track Days. You see as I'm struggling to fund myself as a university student at them moment I have considered trying to sell my work at Track Days. Now I'm not entirely sure what the rules are, but I have heard that if you're caught selling your work at an MSV Track Day, they'll kick you out. So I'm not going to get into trouble with them.
But is this the case for other Track Days? Can you sell your work at various Track Days or do you have to have a permit to do so. I want to make sure because i don't want to end up being the bad guy in the photography world so soon.
Hope you guys can help!
The only place I think you might have any joy is on an airfield day. Easytrack, Bookatrack and Motorsport Events do them (or did when I was a track hound)... contact them and ask.
But, as stated above, whenever I've seen people doing this, the expectation is to come away with a CD or prints... which may need a bit of thinking about.
Good luck
But, as stated above, whenever I've seen people doing this, the expectation is to come away with a CD or prints... which may need a bit of thinking about.
Good luck
You will definitely need PLI, but as a professional you should have that anyway.
Selling at tracks you will have to have agreements with trackday organisers in place (and most probably already have their photographers), so you can have an office, hire an assistant, as whilst you are out shooting you will need someone manning an edit/print station where people can see the images and buy prints there and then - you may need credit card processing systems etc too.
A good dye sub printer you can rent out.
The other option is to sell through a website but you then need to set that up (something like zenfolio might help), and again have that arrangement in place with the trackday organisers and their clients so they know where to find the images. The print on site method is probably going to earn greater sales though as i don't shoot trackside and have little interest in it probably not the best person to take advice from!
Selling at tracks you will have to have agreements with trackday organisers in place (and most probably already have their photographers), so you can have an office, hire an assistant, as whilst you are out shooting you will need someone manning an edit/print station where people can see the images and buy prints there and then - you may need credit card processing systems etc too.
A good dye sub printer you can rent out.
The other option is to sell through a website but you then need to set that up (something like zenfolio might help), and again have that arrangement in place with the trackday organisers and their clients so they know where to find the images. The print on site method is probably going to earn greater sales though as i don't shoot trackside and have little interest in it probably not the best person to take advice from!
Rather than going to the trouble of printing out a floppy bit of A4 that they then have to carry round for the rest of the day, I'd show them the photos on a laptop, take their address and their money, and get it posted to them the next week, eg direct from Photobox or similar.
But everyone has DSLRs and long lenses so don't expect to make any money out of it, certainly not after the costs.
But everyone has DSLRs and long lenses so don't expect to make any money out of it, certainly not after the costs.
Simpo Two said:
Rather than going to the trouble of printing out a floppy bit of A4 that they then have to carry round for the rest of the day, I'd show them the photos on a laptop, take their address and their money, and get it posted to them the next week, eg direct from Photobox or similar.
I'd disagree, people are a lot more likely to put their hand in their pocket for something they can take away there and then, the events I've done print on site, with a dyesub and a viewing station, have been much much more profitable than those where I took orders for prints.Simpo Two said:
But everyone has DSLRs and long lenses so don't expect to make any money out of it, certainly not after the costs.
^ Given the OPs initial post saying this was to try and make some money, this is going to be his real issue.It's far cheaper for the driver to search on Flickr a few days after the event and grab shots posted by one of the many "amateurs" that invariably use track days for practice.
It's already been mentioned above, but most of the big track day operators have exclusive deals with companies who specialise in track event photography who may well be paying for the rights to take and sell photos at the events. To get trackside you would need PLI cover, and the permission of the track day organiser who has hired the circuit as well as the circuit themselves and possibly a licence/permit to sell on site.
The best chance you have of making money would be to approach the established track day photography companies, and ask them if they need an extra photographer at any events they are covering. Not sure if they would pay you a flat rate for the day, or a percentage of sales. At least then you wouldn't need to stump up for PLI cover, and get a valuable insight into the type of photos customers will buy. They will be looking for photos they can use straight out of the camera without any editing required.
The best chance you have of making money would be to approach the established track day photography companies, and ask them if they need an extra photographer at any events they are covering. Not sure if they would pay you a flat rate for the day, or a percentage of sales. At least then you wouldn't need to stump up for PLI cover, and get a valuable insight into the type of photos customers will buy. They will be looking for photos they can use straight out of the camera without any editing required.
I'd agree with the advice of other posters, try getting a job / helping out with an established track day photography company rather leaping straight into it yourself.
In all honesty it's a lot of work for what you will probably get out of it, and there's probably much easier ways to earn some money as a student.
In all honesty it's a lot of work for what you will probably get out of it, and there's probably much easier ways to earn some money as a student.
Appreciate the advice guys. I understand more what I need to do. Truth is I just dream about becoming as good as some of the biggest guns out there and I feel like I'm going nowhere. People still tell me it's impossible to and I sometimes think perhaps I should just put the camera down and do something else. I've had this ambition on my mind for years now though :/ Of course I know another job is necessary for now because I'm still a kid in the photography world I'm only 20 aha.
If there's anything that will help me the please send it through. My email is info@willaron.com.
jurbie said:
Simply business. If you are after cover then they do some sort of referal scheme which knocks the price down a bit. Drop me a PM if it's something you're interested in.
If there's anything that will help me the please send it through. My email is info@willaron.com.
Just as an aside Will, and feel free to completely ignore me... you might want to get someone old and boring to check out the 'about' page on your website (well done for getting one together btw), it needs a bit of sorting IMO, - as I say, needs old boring eyes to add some business spin, rather than enthusiasm (of which you obviously have a lot).
GetCarter said:
Just as an aside Will, and feel free to completely ignore me... you might want to get someone old and boring to check out the 'about' page on your website (well done for getting one together btw), it needs a bit of sorting IMO, - as I say, needs old boring eyes to add some business spin, rather than enthusiasm (of which you obviously have a lot).
It could do with some copywriting polish but the small red text makes my eyeballs implode. Good start though.Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff