Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

After reading the many valuable responses, and the requirements/limitations that some of you have experienced, I am a lucky fellow!
As I stated earlier, I am a novice but do enjoy shooting the the HS sports games. I have been to venues all over New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, I have taken pictures at some collages tournaments and have never been question, or stopped from taking any shots.

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

Pretty much the way it is in all states just not live scanned in all states.
I shoot school activities myself for a Senior portrait firm. My coverage is part of their contract. Since I am a freelance and a professional I understand the rules either implied or otherwise. I check in with who ever is in charge when I arrive and wear a photo ID with my name and the studio name on it. The only advantage the OP has is he knows the school principle. Since I have been doing this with the same studio for a few years most recognize me by site as do the local police because I do enjoy a few conversations with them as I used to do police work. I also try to look professional at all times. Wearing a photo vest and a specific ball cap they all know my by sight. I even talk with the parents who are out to photograph their kids giving them photo advice when asked. All things I do, I do to make everyone comfortable with my being there.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Can we start pushing back against political correctness?

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

We have given up on school sports for our website,privacy concerns.Ruddy PC people.But OK to shoot for local papers.Don't understand the reasoning....Last sports day we covered,several people had already put stuff on line courtesy of Facebook...

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I worked for a school photography and publishing company for several years. Before being hired I needed a background check related to sexual, physical abuse of anyone, regardless that I had worked for, and retired from, the Federal Prison System and had a complete FBI investigation before that employment.

During my employment with the photography company the words shoot, bomb, weapon, and several others were forbidden to be used.

For the last three or four years there, photographers were not permitted to touch a person even to tie a shoe, arrange a scarf or hat, or move a lock of hair. Posing was accomplished via words and pointing or hand gestures and demonstration with our bodily movements.

The possibility that a parent would make an outcry was the reasoning.

I resigned and retired and am happy I did. Now if I take photos of children the parents are present and can take care of the problem. I’m even reluctant to touch an adult.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I sort of agree with you, Chuck, but when it may interfere with getting a photography gig, or keeping a steady source of income, I’m willing to become flexible. See my previous post in this thread.

Another Chuck

tomcat

You also need to let the umpires, referees, and other officials AND the visiting coaches know that you are shooting officially for the school and not some nut-case parent. I always do this as a courtesy just to develop a rapport with them, even though I don't have to. I ask them if they would like a couple of shots of themselves and one time a basketball ref said "yes" because he was developing a portfolio for other jobs. They always appreciate my letting them know my purpose. This is especially true if you intend to be in a baseball dugout. For baseball, I find the best place is 3rd base dugout because you get the close calls at first, runners sliding into 2nd/3rd and the close calls at Home. For Volleyball, get up as high in the stands as you can, right along the center of the net so you can get the spikers. For soccer, I find the off-sides line near the goalie is best for me because you're in position to get goal shots and goalie saves. For basketball, it has always been harder for me to find the ideal angle since they come from everywhere.

As as equipment goes, if you are starting out and have the budget, get yourself a Sony A9 and a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for all of the sports, indoors and out. As of yesterday, the A9 has the best FF 35mm low-light shooting capability. For Nikon, get a D500 for soccer and baseball and the same lens. For basketball, get a used D3s because it's the best Nikon for low-light shooting. I would not get anything Canon because they can't shoot well in low-light----and I know the Canon folks are going to squawk, but folks, don't even come to this banquet. I've been shooting high school basketball and volleyball for years and I know what I am talking about, so give this poor fellow a break and don't confuse him with your Canon fan-boy suggestions (ha). Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

tomcat

I am a retired Professional photographer, loaded with the Nikon equipment from my jobs. I shoot my grandkid's games and gymnastic competitions for every participant and give the parents the CD. I do this for one sole reason: I played baseball and basketball in high school and my father only saw one game my whole life. I have no pictures of me at all playing anything other than the team pictures in the Yearbook. So the reason I do this is so that the parents can have some idea of their children's sports performances. Many of these parents cannot get to the games and some work 2 jobs and cannot ever get to a game and so they never see their kids playing. It really brings tears to my eyes when a player and/or parent hugs me and says "thanks" for the pictures. They have adopted me as their "papa mascot". So I consider this God's gift to me to let me live a fruitful 70 years, have a Nikon D500 & D3s, and the skill to give those kids a lasting memory. So "Yes" by George, I will do it for free and will not take a penny. And believe me, the "pro" photographer is not making a living doing this.

fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California

I have been shooting High School sports (Football, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, & Volleyball) for about 12 years. All related to the schools that my grandchildren have attended. I publish the pictures on the school site for parents and students alike. I personally do it for the Kids, not for money. I get a lot of satisfaction out of providing memories for the athletes and their parents. Also some of the photos are used in their Yearbooks. I hope that this will bring back memories of the friends and good times they had in school. Also, when they become grandparents and can show their grandchildren that they did in fact play high school sports.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I guess all those professional sports shooters using Canon IDXMKIIs and white L series lenses (which you see in abundance at every major sporting event) just haven’t gotten the word yet, just like those shooting the Nikon D5 (which actually, according to DXOMark, has slightly better low light/high ISO performance than the Sony) 😸. The price for either the D5 or 1DX2 is 1k$ higher than the A9, but in many cases the lenses of the same FL are less expensive (a Sony 500 f4 is 13K$, while the 500 f4 Canon is 9K$), and of course, both Canon and Nikon systems have a much wider selection, which is why they are currently the standard for the majority of serious sports shooters. The A9 is an excellent platform, but Sony has a ways to go before they own sports shooting in the way Canon and Nikon do now.

I’ve also been shooting indoor HS sports with a Canon 5D3 (which can be had used for <$1500, which is about 1/2 the cost of a used A9) and fast lenses for many years, often at ISOs of 10,000 - 12,800 with minimal noise, and had a number of them published. The low light/high ISO performance is less than a stop worse than the A9, and perfectly adequate for low light indoor sports. I will say that having shot a 1DX2 (which is a remarkable sports camera), I would love to have one if I were shooting professionally. Btw, this is from a Canon user, not a Canon “fan boy”. Photography is not a zero-sum game - there are many platforms that will be perfectly adequate for indoor low/light sports photography. High ISO performance, fast lenses, and skill, knowledge of the sport and proper anticipation are key.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Please give us an update on your lunch with the principal. It will be interesting to learn how what you learned from him lined up with all of our comments and suggestions.

Photocraig

That's a worthy goal. "shooting" is confusing and at best mildly of putting. Perhaps unattainable, but any effort to enhance the global vocabulary and language usage is a good thing. In the age of multisyllabic aversion, I'd love to adopt a suitable synonym.

SHARPIE, sorry, but you're UP!
C

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

Don't know why you would give this kind of advise other than the fact that you are a "Nikon fan boy". According to DXOMark the D500 (ISO 1324) has slightly less low light performance than the D7200 (ISO 1333) and they are only slightly better than the Canon 80D (ISO 1135) or the 7d MkII (ISO 1082). None of these are really low light queens. The Canon 5D mk IV at ISO 2995 is slightly better than the Nikon 810 (ISO 2853) or the D750 (ISO 2956). In fact, the Canon 6d MkII has a better ISO rating (2862) than the D810. The Nikon D3s that you recommended is ISO 3253 which is no better than the Canon 1DXMkII at ISO 3207 and ahead of the Nikon D4s at ISO 3074.

The only thing you are really right about is the Sony is better than all the rest for low light, but in reality any of the top tier cameras from Canon, Nikon or Sony will give professional results with the proper lenses, and in most cases the Sony lenses are more expensive with not as many choices. Something to consider when developing a system. So why give advise that is less than accurate just because you shoot Nikon?

Bill

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If you look closely at the OP photo, it is Definitely a long and expensive NIKON lens over his shoulder. Which makes me wonder why he is asking the question in the first place. BUT, he PROBABLY wants to keep it in the Nikon system and the Nikon 200-500 would give him that.

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

You are right. Didn't notice the lens and equipment, but going back and reading the OP, he didn't ask about equipment anyway, but about legal issues and experiences rather than what equipment to use.

Guess some of us jumped the gun on equipment advise. OOPS!

Bill