Supercross Media Credentials

GuyB wrote:

Please don't take this as me raining on your parade, but I'll just provide a little background on this. Getting Supercross credentials is always tough, but...

Please don't take this as me raining on your parade, but I'll just provide a little background on this.

Getting Supercross credentials is always tough, but during Covid times it's even harder. The media pool is considerably smaller than it has been in previous years.

Acquiring a pass requires a purpose. Where will your stuff show up? Newspaper? Magazine? Web site? (Your instagram's not going to cut it...unless you have a few million followers.) How many eyeballs will see it?

Your best bet might be to try and acquire one through a local newspaper. In normal times they're always trying to boost pre-event sales...but these aren't normal times, and there are limited ticket sales.

One thing I would not suggest is letting them know that you just started shooting this year. That's not to say that it's impossible (in the past I have seen photographers on the floor with Instamatic cameras and looking completely lost), but they want people who are there to get maximum exposure, and great stuff. Get some experience at local/regional events. Work your way up the ranks. Maybe in the future, I'll see you in the infield.

Snoqualmie wrote:

Create a business selling pics to local riders from local races. You will make money. Tip: Look at what Paul Buckley does in New England. Submit...

Create a business selling pics to local riders from local races. You will make money. Tip: Look at what Paul Buckley does in New England.

Submit race reports and photos to Cycle News ( I actually don’t know how feasible this is any more to be honest...) and other regional publications/ websites. This is a good way to get started and get your name out there.

Look at other motor sports for similar opportunities like local karting, sprint car racing, etc.

Try to make your images stand out by being different - anybody can shoot a whip, etc. But how many people can capture an image that shows the true human emotional side of moto?

GuyB wrote:

Please don't take this as me raining on your parade, but I'll just provide a little background on this. Getting Supercross credentials is always tough, but...

Please don't take this as me raining on your parade, but I'll just provide a little background on this.

Getting Supercross credentials is always tough, but during Covid times it's even harder. The media pool is considerably smaller than it has been in previous years.

Acquiring a pass requires a purpose. Where will your stuff show up? Newspaper? Magazine? Web site? (Your instagram's not going to cut it...unless you have a few million followers.) How many eyeballs will see it?

Your best bet might be to try and acquire one through a local newspaper. In normal times they're always trying to boost pre-event sales...but these aren't normal times, and there are limited ticket sales.

One thing I would not suggest is letting them know that you just started shooting this year. That's not to say that it's impossible (in the past I have seen photographers on the floor with Instamatic cameras and looking completely lost), but they want people who are there to get maximum exposure, and great stuff. Get some experience at local/regional events. Work your way up the ranks. Maybe in the future, I'll see you in the infield.

docweedon wrote:

I used to shoot Supercross back in 2010-2016 mainly for (at the time) BTO Sports race team, and would provide/sell photos to companies within the industry...

I used to shoot Supercross back in 2010-2016 mainly for (at the time) BTO Sports race team, and would provide/sell photos to companies within the industry for their various marketing efforts and submitted to the various magazines. But there was a tightening of the photo pool a few years back and now Feld wants to make sure they are giving photo passes to people with a purpose to be there, as GuyB said. Feld wants as much media exposure and eyeballs as possible, but don't want Joe Schmo out there causing a liability. There was a time that there were maybe 40 photographers running around down on the field and over half had no business being there, which was insane if you think about it.

As GuyB said, work your way up in the ranks, shoot local races and create a name for yourself within the local racing community and then you might get a chance to shoot SX for a website, Moto mag or a local newspaper.