Freelance Sports and Live Action Photographer

Get paid to travel and capture the excitement of North America's largest dance competitions!

DanceBUG is actively seeking skilled photographers for our February-June competition season. If you have a background in shooting sports, concerts, dance, or other fast-paced live events, we will provide you with training in our workflow and the art of dance photography.

Your role is to shoot; we take care of the editing!

Why You'll Love This Opportunity:

Starting pay at $25/hourGuaranteed minimum pay for daily and event workPaid travel daysAll flights, hotels, and rental cars covered by DanceBUGPrivate hotel accommodationMeals or per diem compensation providedUp to $700 equipment stipendPaid training sessions availableNo editing responsibilities on your partConsistent weekend work available throughout the seasonSeason Overview: February-June
Typical Travel Schedule: Thursday/Friday through Sunday/Monday
Event Locations: Across the United States

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

Photographing fast-paced dance performances with changing stage lightingCapturing sharp and well-timed action shotsCollaborating with DanceBUG's media team at live eventsBacking up, transferring, and uploading images according to DanceBUG's guidelinesTraining Provided:

Previous dance photography experience is not necessary.

All new photographers will receive virtual training in January, followed by at least two live training events with experienced Senior Photographers to prepare them for independent work.

If you're adept at photographing action, we will teach you the nuances of dance photography.

Photography Experience Desired:

We're in search of photographers skilled in capturing fast-moving subjects like:

SportsDanceConcertsTheatreGymnasticsFigure SkatingCheerleadingLive EventsYou should be comfortable operating your camera in manual mode with continuous autofocus (Servo/AF-C) under varying lighting conditions.

Please note: Portrait, studio, real estate, landscape, product, or architectural photography experience alone does not qualify for this role.

Requirements:

Must be authorized to work in the United StatesReside within approximately one hour of a major airportAvailable for regular weekend travel during the seasonPossess a valid U.S. driver's licenseA valid passport or REAL ID-compliant driver's licenseComfortable with driving for 5-6 hours when necessaryAble to work long production days and lift approximately 25 lbsMust pass a criminal background checkEquipment Requirements:

Photographers are required to have their own professional equipment, including:

Two mirrorless camera bodies from Canon, Nikon, or Sony24-105mm, 24-120mm, 24-70mm, or 35-150mm constant-aperture zoom lens70-200mm zoom lensf/2.8 is preferred; f/4 is acceptableFour 64GB+ memory cards and a compatible card readerA minimum of three batteries and two chargersA monopodNote: DSLR cameras and other brands are incompatible with DanceBUG's proprietary photography system.

Ready to Apply?

Please include:

A link to your live-action photography portfolioYour current city and stateA brief overview of your relevant photography experienceJoin DanceBUG, a leader in dance media and event technology for nearly 25 years, and enjoy a season filled with travel, live events, and photography opportunities across the country.

Apply today - we can't wait to see your work!