You Only Get One Shot! That's Why You Hire a Professional Photographer.

I get phone calls all the time from a Mom or a Dad, asking me to give a price to come out and photograph their son or daughter playing a particular sport or a coach will call me to come and shoot a team in an event.

My prices are not the cheapest. I generally charge between $250-$400 per event, depending on the circumstances.

While I don't get a lot of resistance to my pricing, due to the reputation I have as a sports photographer, I still occasionally do get the; "Wow! That's pretty high."

My response is always one of two questions, depending on what mood I am in.

Response one: "Are you referring to price or cost?" or "What criteria do you use when choosing a professional sports photographer?"

Are you paying for photos or are you paying for memories?

If you are simply buying pictures, find someone with a camera from Best Buy and give them $25 and let them post 400 shots on their website.

If you have a special occasion and you want it captured for a keepsake, you need a professional.

When you hire a professional sports photographer to shoot action photos of a sporting event, you are not only paying for their time and effort, you are paying for their experience, knowledge of the game flow, understanding angles and momentum and anticipation.

You paying a professional sports photographer for their professional grade cameras with extreme low light capabilities. You're renting their high speed professional grade lenses that can run $8000 to $10,000.00.

I've shot tens of thousands of action photos in little league baseball, select ball, football, basketball and other sports.

Every now and then I capture a moment like this.

Eaton, Ohio 8th grade basketball player Donnie Nicodemus was driving to the hoop in the Southwestern Buckeye League Championship game in Camden, Ohio at Preble Shawnee High School recently.

The lighting in the gym was not the worst I've shot in, but it wasn't good either.

I was shooting a Nikon D700 with a Nikor 80-200mm 2.8 lens and 5000 ISO and 1/800th of a second.

When I grabbed this frame and looked at the image, I realized that I had gotten Donnie's Mom in the background.

This wasn't just a picture, but rather a lifetime keepsake for Mom and son.

There is no greater satisfaction as a professional sports photographer than presenting a parent with a shot like this. I've shot a lot of pictures of Donnie as a result of little league photography. One I shot of him this past year was this pitching photo, with the Eaton Express, which became one of my favorites.

Why do you pay a professional photographer vs "Mom or Guy with Best Buy camera", you don't pay a professional for pictures and images. You hire a professional for memories that will hold a special place in your heart and soul for years to come.


Posted by Monroe Ohio photographer Vincent Rush, Cincinnati Sports Photography and Dayton Sports Photography of Monroe Ohio. Vince Rush can be contacted by phone at (877) 858-6295 or by email at vrush@rushintl.com or visit http://CincinnatiSportsPhotography.com

Vincent Rush is a an Ohio based professional sports photographer that primarily serves as a Dayton Sports Photographer and  Cincinnati sports photographer.

The Delivery

Sports Photograph by Ohio Sports Photographer Vincent Rush

Posted by Monroe Ohio photographer Vincent Rush, Cincinnati Sports Photography and Dayton Sports Photography of Monroe Ohio. Vince Rush can be contacted by phone at (877) 858-6295 or by email at vrush@rushintl.com or visit http://CincinnatiSportsPhotography.com Check out my about.me profile!

2011 Eaton Little League Highlight Video

2011 Eaton Little League Highlight Video






2011 Eaton Little League Baseball Highlight Video. Photos by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Cincinnati Sports Photography

“Our Summer Song” by Forever the Sickest Kids

“We are the World Tonight” by an Unidentified Artist and originally played in ESPN’s 2011 Little League World Series Highlight video (My wife thinks it may be the lead singer for The News Boys)

All but a few action photos were shot by Vince Rush in Eaton, Ohio, during the 2011 Little League season.

Posted by Monroe Ohio photographer Vincent Rush, Cincinnati Sports Photography and Dayton Sports Photography of Monroe Ohio. Vince Rush can be contacted by phone at (877) 858-6295 or by email at vrush@rushintl.com or visit http://CincinnatiSportsPhotography.com Check out my about.me profile!

The A List:: Super Sports

 Little League Sports Action Photograph of Eaton Ohio Little Leaguer, by Vincent Rush of Cincinnati Sports Photography

Robert Beck is a Sports Illustrated contract photographer with over 25 years experience shooting all manner of sports events. He's as comfortable applying his skills to his son's flag football game as he is to prowling the sidelines at the Super Bowl. We recently asked him to share some tips from his A-list of sports shooting advice.

• The first thing I look at is the background. Whatever the action is, the background will complete the picture. I don't want a busy background—a lot of fences or light glaring off a fence. A lot of people in the stands are okay, but I don't want one person walking by or just standing around. Some sports are good with the bench as background, like lacrosse or football, with coaches and players behind the action. Shooting Little League is trickier. The field is an odd shape, and I try to crop out distractions. I shoot the batter so the bench is in the background as opposed to two parents and otherwise empty aluminum stands reflecting light. The rule of thumb: real clean or real real.

• The first lens in my kit is the 70-200mm zoom lens [AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED]. Very sharp, very fast, and if I have to shoot through a fence, I shoot wide open and the fence won't even show. It also offers me a lot of flexibility in composing; too tight, I zoom out, too loose, zoom in. My next lens is the 200-400mm [AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED]; fabulous for any sport, just perfect.

• I'm shooting D3 right now almost exclusively. I also have a D700 and a D300. Focusing is quick on all, but the D3 is a little faster in its burst. But I suggest you don't get caught up in shooting sequences. In reality the high point of action is really one or two frames, especially in sports where a ball is struck. The ball is only going to be in there for one frame, and if a kid is fielding the ball, the ball's only there for three frames. Generally, five frames per second is fast enough.

• The truth is that professional sports are almost easier to shoot. The younger the kids, the less you can anticipate—they don't have a sense of timing like the pros or older kids; the young kids are all a little bit off the timing. Be prepared.

Posted by Monroe Ohio photographer Vincent Rush, Cincinnati Sports Photography and Dayton Sports Photography of Monroe Ohio. Vince Rush can be contacted by phone at (877) 858-6295 or by email at vrush@rushintl.com or visit http://CincinnatiSportsPhotography.com Check out my about.me profile!

Game Winner

Maybe even better than the sports action photograph shot by a professional sports photographer with the best Nikon or Canon equipment, is the "Moment" shot.

I was shooting, not the Cincinnati Reds, but the Eaton, Ohio, Henny Penny Reds of the Eaton Little League Association.

As a meaningless side note, I used to work at Henny Penny in the warehouse in 1986 and I played softball for Henny Penny that same year.

I had been watching this player crush the ball all day and he was beginning to dial in the pitcher. I just happened to catch him in full swing, dropping the bat and taking the home run trot on this series, but the best picture of all was the "Moment" he was swamped by his team mates as he had hit the game winning blast.

The ONLY thing that would have made this shot any better, would have been if he had just held his head up.

Being a great sports photographer in my opinion has a lot to do with anticipation and a feel for the flow of the game.

People will ask me at CINCINNATI SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY http://cincinnatisportsphotography.com

how I always seem to be in the right place at the right time. I often comment that I study the game that I am covering and I pay attention to the players tendencies. Sure I attribute luck to it also, but there is nothing more rewarding than being at that right place at that exact moment and you look up and the other photographers are standing around comparing the size of their lenses...or what ever they discuss in their huddle.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Another Example...Amatures vs. Professionals

Here are sports photographs of the same pitcher for the A's of Eaton, Ohio Little League. One picture is your typical "GWC" (Guy With Camera) or unfortunately, what a lot of wanna be sports photographers post on their web site for viewing and possibly purchasing.

As one can easily see, the one picture was shot during warm ups with no concern for all the non essential distracting background noise. You have players not paying attention to the warm up pitches and telling the viewer that this is not even a "Game Time" picture.

The athlete is caught in an awkward body position that is very unflattering to the subject and the angle of the shot is a "Grandstand View" at best.

There is also no contrast adjustments, color correction or selective cropping.

I actually shot both of the pictures to illustrate a point.

The more professional angle of the pitcher was also shot in between innings during his warm up tosses. As a Dad buying the picture to frame up on my wall in my man cave for all of my friends to see, it's obvious which picture makes my son look like he is bringing some serious heat, and which picture makes my kid look like "he's at that awkward stage".

If you want people to value your skills as a sports photographer, you yourself have to place a value on your brand, your style and your attention to detail as a professional photographer.

by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Average Joe

I often say that the difference between Sports Photographers and Picture Takers is the understanding of the game and the ability to work for the shots that most people never get.

This is a good example of what I see at most sporting events in and around the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio area. This "Sports Photographer", covering a baseball game in Dayton, Ohio stood at this position and shot from this one angle the entire game. He never moved and never even changed his lens position.

As it turns out, this was one of the most exciting Little League Baseball games of the year. You can see my shots at www.CincinnatiSportsPhotography.com under Sports
/ Baseball / Eaton vs. Shelbyville

These are the guys that think they are sports photographers, but in reality are nothing more that picture snappers.
Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Pig Pen

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Near Miss

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Big Fishes

I've been shooting a lot of baseball lately, as my son Zach plays on two All Star teams, Monroe & Eaton. Along the way, you happen to come across some great captures. I've always said that photography can be like fishing at times. If you keep casting your line, you're bound to hook a big one. During a little league baseball game, I will shoot 4-500 images, of which I crop and edit them down to 40-50 of the best.

This is one of those "fish"


Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

If Looks Could Kill

Is there anything that needs to be said about this picture? This is just one of those that, as a sports photographer, you take home and download on your computer and just have to sit back and smile about.


Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Letting it Fly

One of my favorite sports photograph angles is the 3rd base line on a right handed batter. When you catch him hitting the ball and taking off toward first, you've got a great shot...if you use the right frame in your series and you have a high enough shutter speed.

The this Eaton Ohio Little League game, I was shooting sports photography when I caught the batter ripping a single to right field. Shutter speed was 1/1600.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Walk Off Homer

One of my favorite shots of all time in sports photography is capturing the jubilation and chaos that follows a walk off home run in little league baseball.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

The Dog Pile

An instant classic sports photograph. Shooting sports photography in Eaton, Ohio, about an hour north of Cincinnati and 30 minutes west of Dayton Ohio, I was in perfect postion to capture the little league tradition of the dog pile at home plate, upon a home run.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Picked Clean

Shooting sports photography in my old home town of Eaton, Ohio, I happened to run into an old softball buddy of mine by the name of Rick Richardson. It just so happenes that his son was playing in the Eaton Little League for the A's.

It's always cool to be able to grab a quality sports photograph for a life long good friend.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Down the Middle

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

The Pro Angle

I've learned a lot about sports photography, by looking at sports photographs. Weather it be Cincinnati Reds, Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine or news Papers.

I've said before, that the lazy sports photographers that post to sports photography web sites, merely stand in one spot, sit in one place or stand on the side lines with a mono pod and shoot the same angle.

In Sports Photography, this is what I call the Pro Angle. Lower than the eye's of the standing player, and coming down the slope of the mound to give that "flame thrower image.

While shooting little league baseball in Eaton, Ohio, I shot this pitcher on the Eaton Bee's getting ready to fire a blistering 45mph heater. But it looks a whole lot faster. Parents love these shots.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

What ever you say Coach

Some of my best youth sports photography in both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio has came from those extra special moments that few people actually notice. In this Eaton Little League coach pitch game, I caught this nice picture of a coach giving a little one on one instruction to a boy who just got his first hit.

Jell's Restaurant in Eaton, Ohio is a proud sponser of youth sports in the Preble County area. Owned and operated by Yoshiko "Yoshi" Gillette, they are the best eatery in Eaton, Ohio.

Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295

Line Shot

It's a very busy time of year in being a sports photographer in the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio areas. Little league Baseball is in full swing everywhere and every night is a chance to capture special sports photographs that parents love to buy.

I am in that fun time of the year where I come home, log onto my email and see new sales being made every day, though my web site.

Whe I am in the role of a Sports Photographer, I am always looking through the lens and wondering what kind of picture I would want to buy as a parent.

While photographing a baseball game in Monroe, Ohio, I happened to catch this perfect shot of an 8 year old hitting a single. I'm not sure how far the ball went, but I do know that the opposing coach was wanting him tested for Nutrilite Vitamins.
Posted by Cincinnati and Dayton Sports Photographer Vincent Rush of Monroe, Ohio. For more information (877) 858-6295