The surf it brings together sea and waves, but also loneliness, patience and adrenaline. Surfing is connected to summer in the collective imagination, but it is also a sport for the other seasons including winter with the strong wind that breaks the cheeks, cold water and bruised feet. From the love for surfing was born SeeYouSurf.com, an all-Italian start-up fueled by the sporting passion of four surfer friends and the desire to fix memorable memories, waves, surfing, but which no one ever immortalized with a photograph.
It is a virtual meeting place that allows photographers from all over the world to post their shots by geolocating each image, categorizing it according to the so-called spot, the place where you surf, and the date. THEThe surfer or the person interested can buy the single image for an amount that generally varies from 5 to 50 euros on the PayPal circuit. Surfing was the first, but now the platform opens up to other sports, the most spectacular ones.
“Seeyousurf was born from a passion for surfing and from an episode a few years ago,” he explains Gherardo Marchelli, co-founder of Seeyousurf, «I had been surfing really well that day in Levanto, one of my favorite and most familiar spots since the distant 80s. I knew that a photographer had taken some photos, I had seen him while I was in the water, but I was unable to track him down and find his works, I thought sadly that I didn’t even have a photo of those memorable waves ».
It was that day that he began to imagine SYS, a virtual place where you can easily find the photographers present in a certain spot, browse the albums and download your photo. «I talked about it to my friends and surfing companions, Nicola Lampugnani, immediately enthusiastic about the idea, and then Andrea and Alessio Murroni, who embraced and supported the project. So we started finalizing the platform, to constantly improve it up to the structured community of today, with photographers who have embraced our project from the beginning. Our dream has now grown and we have expanded the platform to other “spectacular” sports of water but also of land, action sports such as downhill and the whole world of biking and then motocross, snowboard, in short, any adrenaline sport is welcome on Seeyousurf.com “
When did you realize it worked?
“Right from the start because shortly after the site was put online there were the first sales of photographs, naturally in the places where we were most present and where we ourselves or the photographers (often branded Seeyousurf with t-shirts and caps) let it be known that they would put photographs available. Then we got the confirmation when there were the first sales on the other side of the world, it was exciting to see that from Bali, Indonesia, Portugal, California photographers and surfers met thanks and SYS. Then I photographed myself in places where I passed for the first and only time and some time later I saw that some photos were being bought. It was enough to let the surfers in that spot know that they would find the photos on seeyousurf.com. Another moment that made me realize it worked was when I was able to buy photos myself that photographers I didn’t know personally had taken of me on different surf days and in different spots. Finally I had some printed memories and the photos were beautiful ».
Who is your typical user?
«First of all the photographers who use SYS as a platform to sell their photos. The great thing is that you don’t need to be a professional photographer, the platform is open to everyone. Of course, those who manage to take the best photographs are more successful, in surfing you need advanced equipment with important telephoto lenses or even better with diving equipment. Then surely the best results are obtained by those who are more extroverted and let surfers know that they will be able to see each other on Seeyousurf and buy their photos in action.
On the other side we have athletes, both experts and newbies who love to see each other in action and have a beautiful photographic memory. Much appreciated are the photographers who have a constant presence in the spot, they almost become friends with regular surfers, they know their “photographic” desires. In fact, as in all sports, it is important that the photographer immortalizes the sportsman at the right time, otherwise the photograph is not appreciated and purchased. We are also much appreciated by novice Surfers who like to see themselves again in the photos of the “first times”, the first time they stand up, the first wave trampled … in this case they do not give importance to the photographic technique, but acquire the memory of a moment that gave him joy and emotion ».
How can it also be useful for those who do not practice these sports?
«Of course for photographers it is an opportunity to try their hand at a photograph that is perhaps different from the one they usually take, action sports photos can really be spectacular and give great satisfaction to those who take them. It is a working opportunity for both professional photographers and for those who love photography and gaining experience can also earn something. It is also an excellent gift idea … friends, children or boyfriends of the sportsman can look for the photo that portrays the birthday boy (the albums are geo-localized so you just need to know where and when he surfed – or practiced his favorite extreme sport, now that the platform is multisport), buy it and have it printed. Giving memories is one of the most exciting things ».
Why the expansion to other sports?
“It is something that several photographers have been asking us for some time, but also sportsmen, those who surf often ski or snowboard and generally love the adrenaline sports to which they dedicate themselves when the waves are scarce. With a multisport platform we increase the job opportunities of a photographer, who will have a unique and convenient tool to sell his shots in various sports fields ».
What are the possibilities for expansion and any related businesses?
«The expansion possibilities are many: from location-targeted advertising and now also on the basis of sport up to the collaborations that we call “business”. For some time we have been working in partnership with some surf schools so that they can offer their members quality photos that can be used in an easy and functional way. This business could also expand to other sports now that we are multisports. We would like to create an app with geolocation to allow an easy and immediate meeting between photographers and sportsmen. Finally, we would like to develop an indexing of the best performing photographers to be able to promote them at sporting events based on their location ».
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