How do I be a photographer at mx events?

[McLovin]

Okay, so I have the Nikon D5100, with a 300 mm telephoto lens for sports blah blah. Anyway, I'm looking to be a photographer at thunder valley (I live 5 minutes away) for the nationals. How do I get to go trackside with it? Do I go to the office and purchase some license or what?

[bdownen323]

There's a whole application system through MX Sports. I've looked into it, you have to be a part of a known company (RacerX, Vurb, etc...) to get on the infield.

[Stormz]

I am going to go out on a limb and say you need a device that can take pictures, be at the race location at the time of the event, and use prior mentioned device to capture portraits of people riding their dirt scooters.

Just a hunch...

[pinit24/7#12]

I am going to go out on a limb and say you need a device that can take pictures, be at the race location at the time of the event, and use prior mentioned device to capture portraits of people riding their dirt scooters.

Just a hunch...

Genius.......*claps*

[Pumaxcs]

Considering what happened last year at Lakewood they aren't going to give out to many passes like that this time.

[bdownen323]

This is from MX Sports' website about media. Have at it.
https://fs23.formsite.com/racerproducti ... index.html

[Ddavis]

I am going to go out on a limb and say you need a device that can take pictures, be at the race location at the time of the event, and use prior mentioned device to capture portraits of people riding their dirt scooters.

Just a hunch...

Spot on.

Getting a media vest? Might as well jump off a 10 story building and the chances of surviving are better than getting a vest.

[Ddavis]

Yet again I got one somehow so might as well go try it

[TGphoto]

Okay, so I have the Nikon D5100, with a 300 mm telephoto lens for sports blah blah. Anyway, I'm looking to be a photographer at thunder valley (I live 5 minutes away) for the nationals. How do I get to go trackside with it? Do I go to the office and purchase some license or what?

Just some quick advice..

1. You most likely won't get in this year to take photos. Don't mean to sound like an ass, but its unlikely. You need to make contacts. MX Sports will not allow anyone on track if they are not affiliated with any website, magazine, etc. Some guys get in there under their own name, but thats because they have been around for awhile. Since that little incident last year at Thunder Valley, MX Sports is even more stricter on handing out passes. I'm still waiting to hear back on my pass for Hangtown.

2. As mentioned before, make a ton of contacts in your local area. Learn from some of the other local photogs or media related guys that are in your area. Some of these contacts can lead to photo work and possible credentials for events.

3. DON'T WORK FOR FREE! I stress this more than anything. Way to many "newb" photographers trade their photo work for a credential. Don't do that. Not only does that kill money making opportunities for you, but it kills it for others down the line. I see it firsthand. Media companies know that they can get away with not paying a few guys and it kills opportunities for guys that have been around the block to make some money. I've been "outbid" by people who throw their name in the mix just to get "credit" on the side of the photo and not make any money. Its sad. Get a business sense and stick with it.

4. Get decent equipment. The first thing I would focus on though is better lenses, like a 70-200 2.8 or 4.0. Great lenses drastically help make a photo better. A D5200 is ok. A bit of a beginner camera. Look into a D7000 or something similar. I too am a Nikon shooter and shot with a D7000 for about a year and a half. Not bad for the price and I shot about 5 Outdoor Nationals with it.

5. Post your photo on forums. Motocross forums, Photography forums, hell, even here on the forums. Let people critique your work and don't get disgruntled if what people say is not what you wanted to hear. You'll get better that way. People will point out things in photos that you might not see. It's also a chance to get your name out there too.

If I can think of anything else, I'll post it up, but this is all I got for now.

[McLovin]

Okay, so I have the Nikon D5100, with a 300 mm telephoto lens for sports blah blah. Anyway, I'm looking to be a photographer at thunder valley (I live 5 minutes away) for the nationals. How do I get to go trackside with it? Do I go to the office and purchase some license or what?

Just some quick advice..

1. You most likely won't get in this year to take photos. Don't mean to sound like an ass, but its unlikely. You need to make contacts. MX Sports will not allow anyone on track if they are not affiliated with any website, magazine, etc. Some guys get in there under their own name, but thats because they have been around for awhile. Since that little incident last year at Thunder Valley, MX Sports is even more stricter on handing out passes. I'm still waiting to hear back on my pass for Hangtown.

2. As mentioned before, make a ton of contacts in your local area. Learn from some of the other local photogs or media related guys that are in your area. Some of these contacts can lead to photo work and possible credentials for events.

3. DON'T WORK FOR FREE! I stress this more than anything. Way to many "newb" photographers trade their photo work for a credential. Don't do that. Not only does that kill money making opportunities for you, but it kills it for others down the line. I see it firsthand. Media companies know that they can get away with not paying a few guys and it kills opportunities for guys that have been around the block to make some money. I've been "outbid" by people who throw their name in the mix just to get "credit" on the side of the photo and not make any money. Its sad. Get a business sense and stick with it.

4. Get decent equipment. The first thing I would focus on though is better lenses, like a 70-200 2.8 or 4.0. Great lenses drastically help make a photo better. A D5200 is ok. A bit of a beginner camera. Look into a D7000 or something similar. I too am a Nikon shooter and shot with a D7000 for about a year and a half. Not bad for the price and I shot about 5 Outdoor Nationals with it.

5. Post your photo on forums. Motocross forums, Photography forums, hell, even here on the forums. Let people critique your work and don't get disgruntled if what people say is not what you wanted to hear. You'll get better that way. People will point out things in photos that you might not see. It's also a chance to get your name out there too.

If I can think of anything else, I'll post it up, but this is all I got for now.

thank you a lot! I just thought that the nikon d5200 would be a pretty good camera since it has the same specs as a canon t3i and one of my local photographers uses it for mx shooting. But Currently I'm looking into that 70-200 2.8. By next year I think I'm going to invest in the D7000 or the D4.