I am not a professional sports photographer, but I have photographed professional sports.
My Spot on the Floor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. 2017
If a photographer feels inclined to shoot pro sports it usually happens at a shutter speed faster than 1/600th of a second and an f-stop that is wide open. The settings don’t actually change that much from sport to sport either, and if you know the game well enough the standard angles and sight lines should come relatively easy to you. So why is it hard for you to get out there and shoot professional sports?
It boils down to three things; space, familiarity, and money. None of which are in your favor.
Normally, there is not space for someone who is not shooting for a publication or the actual league itself. Think of it in terms of how many news outlets your city has and assume that at least all of them have one or two photogs that shoot sports, and in some cities that fills up a ton of space right there. Plus, the league (any pro league) will have a few photographers at every game so now there is maybe a spot or two left? Here is where the other factors come in, these remaining couple of spots to any given sporting event.
Familiarity, and I mean with the right people working for the team, are you in contact with your teams’s media coordinators? If you aren’t cancel all that I have said and figure that piece out first. If a team staff member does not know who you are forget about getting to shoot anything. Ask, ask again, and then probably ask again, be nice and persistent about it while knowing you will not get any marquee games. Be nice, ask for them to keep you in mind and most of all be patient.
World Soccer Icon Didier Drogba in Orange County, California After Scoring an Equalizing Goal. He is also stepping on my phone in this frame. 2017
Last but not least, money. They are not going to give you money, unless you got an actual job with the team or league, you don’t work for them or the league. If you manage to shoot a game you can keep the photos for your own marketing purposes like portfolios and resume builders. You could even give the good ones to the team or a local news source (potentially for money) probably for nothing more than the credit.
Overall shooting a game will only lead to more exposure and opportunity so if you can eat those first games for no money and little access you can be well on your way to shooting with some sort of consistency. I am not at all looking to pursue this path, but whenever I have the opportunity, shooting of any kind is fun and the variety keeps me on my toes.
Be nice, have fun, and make awesome photos.