23
Athlete Marketing DIY
by John Hawley
So often people have the expectations as newbies that they will be paid for their magazine shoot and great success will follow. In fact, more often than not where athletes have the opportunity to shoot it may involve airfare and a hotel stay to the shoot that may have an early call time and require you to work on set for repetitive shooting including possibly memorized dialog if for video and the athlete receive nothing else in return not even a glossy 8 x 10. There is typically no requirement that the photos ever make it into print either. Where there is payment I've heard of major mag title covers paying $50 and taking three to six months to collect.
This isn't a criticism of the publishing business, but a wakeup call to athletes that you should do more of your own marketing and not expect the bus from Hollywood is going to roll up, sweep you off your feet and carry you off to the good life.
As an athlete you have to put the work in and generate the value that is then sought after by publications, sponsors and the like creating the climate where they want to throw money at you. To accomplish this requires maybe a little tweaking to your current routine. Know that when you are working a booth for a sponsor that you in turn have the opportunity to market yourself directly to the companies clients. Take a few selfies with fans while working the booth and tell them to check them out on your social media. This will increase your own fan base while working for others even if only for a tub of protein. If you are fortunate enough to get a magazine shoot even if free do your best and ask in advance for a certain number of complimentary high resolution images from the shoot for your own marketing and note you will do your utmost to positively promote them on your social media, etc.
As important as anything else be positive about the choices you make even if only publicly as you can make a better one next time. Grow from your experiences and hard work offstage as well as on.
DO IT
YOURSELF
ATHLETE
MARKETING
Florida Fitness Photography