Breaking news, you've got photos...what next?

ukaskew

ukaskew

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I assume this has been discussed before but couldn't find anything, the New York plane crash got me thinking (I didn't put this in the Business Forum as it's not really related to professional photography, I'm specifically asking what the average joe should do)

Thought I would list two different scenarios as they appear to me to warrant different answers.

1) I'm in my apartment overlooking the Hudson River, the US Airways flight is coming down, I grab my camera with Sigma 120-300 and get pin sharp photos of the plane hitting the water, and then a full sequence of the rescue effort etc. Within minutes I have the photos loaded onto my PC...what do I do next? I'm guessing the obvious choices for the average person (in the UK at least) would be to email them to the BBC, or to phone/email a national newspaper (without really knowing what you're doing)

2) I'm on holiday in New York, happen to be walking near the Intrepid and have my camera with me, I capture the full incident, from impact to rescue. I'm still stood there watching, but obviously don't have a PC to hand so don't have any way of doing anything with my pics. I assume, at some point, it would be quite easy to approach a news truck or reporter and say that I have photos.

Just interested on the best plan of action in both scenarios really, particularly the second as it's more likely. I've intentionally stated that I've got impact photos, so with hindsight they would easily be front page worthy as there doesn't appear to be any others taken at that time.
 
UKASKEW

I'd say although you've missed the boat on the first contact/shots! This is still gonna be a "hot off the press story" in the U.S.

I also know from experience, that in in the U.S they're gonna go on about this and the pilots heroic actions for days (Agreed) :clap:. Talking to various people, perhaps an interview of the pilot, and then theres the investigation!

IMHO, if you have the shots that you say you have. Sod your holiday, I'd be hailing a CAB and asking him to take you to the biggest NEWS office there in N.Y not sure if its ABC or FOX, but the cabby will know.

Once there walk in and tell them what you have, but don't hand anything over until you have an agreement in place "SIGNED". They may not offer you a fortune, but then they might! :clap: Make sure you play it cool cos of course there are loads of news orgs over there! THey will be just as happy to have the shots WON'T THEY, - bit of hustling and B$^£&t goes a long way in sales!!!:lol:

Once you have it all signed and sealed then let them view the images but in YOUR presence, if they are serious and realise you are, it shouldn't be a problem. Don't forget you own the copyright. If they don't play ball then walk away - BLUFF. If they are still not interested get in a cab and go to the next news office.......

Its unlikely anyone else has the shots you have, so they are worth someting.

Take it from there - Anyway thats what I'd do.

I would ask you, whatever the outcome of the business side of things, to perhaps offer them to the AAIB in the U.S. I know that it has been pretty much determined to be a bird strike but they still might be interested in them if they show sequence. That of course should be made clear in your dealings with the newspaper. Once they have run them, IF they do they lose their worth to them anyway!

So what are you waiting for.....?

Thats from one average joe to another!

GOOD LUCK :wave:
 
I would do as above in NY, jump in a cab.

Can happen though, mate of my Dad's got a good picture of a famous Jazz player (or some type of musician) having a heart attack on a golf course, and he dies from it. He's still racking in the royalties years after.
 
jcoutts said:
UKASKEW

I'd say although you've missed the boat on the first contact/shots! This is still gonna be a "hot off the press story" in the U.S.


IMHO, if you have the shots that you say you have. Sod your holiday, I'd be hailing a CAB and asking him to take you to the biggest NEWS office there in N.Y not sure if its ABC or FOX, but the cabby will know.
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Ukaskew is presenting two hypothetical scenarios. At no point has he said that he has any pictures in reality. :bang:
 
ok so now that we have the holiday situation covered what would you do in the UK were the BBC isnt always near you how do you get the right contact straight away for these kind of things? and make sure you get something out of it
 
Sorry, purely hypothetical, should have made that clear!

Just amazed by all the shots that were being shown on UK TV literally 50 minutes after the incident. I wondered what the process behind all of that is, and how to get the most out of it if you were in that situation.

In my specific hypothetical situation, I would also be interested in who else would need my images, I'm sure the Air Accident Investigators would need them
 
a few years ago my brother got some photos of a car that had parked in the front room of a neighbours house just after it had happened. A bit later after the car had been removed some of the nations papers turned up, my brother mentioned to one of the togs that he had a film with shoots of the aftermath and was instantly offered £300 for the undeveloped film. Today I would think that the same thing might happen but they would take the memory card
 
ukaskew said:
Sorry, purely hypothetical, should have made that clear!

Just amazed by all the shots that were being shown on UK TV literally 50 minutes after the incident. I wondered what the process behind all of that is, and how to get the most out of it if you were in that situation.

In my specific hypothetical situation, I would also be interested in who else would need my images, I'm sure the Air Accident Investigators would need them
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I am sure that most of the pics that appeared were given to the news stations without any monies changing. Most people who are not togs or particulary into it would realize the finanical value that the shots might have
 
This is an interesting thread.
Has anyone actually done it?
I saw SW mention having an auction lined up. But how would you organise it?
Do tv pay more than newspapers?
Do you go in with a price in mind, or wait for them to offer?
If you email the BBC (for example) with the pics, prior to agreeing a fee, have you just handed them over for free?

Obviously, I'm daydreaming that I'm going to one day get 'that' photo, thats worth fighting over...but just incase it happens tomorrow, I want to be prepared!

edited to add: thanks Ian, I think those links are excellent.
 
Often with these things time is of the essence, so the quicker you can get the pictures to them the better. If you were on holiday and caught something on camera, I think they would probably get the memory card from you by bike courier or something like that.

Different places will have different rates for pictures. I know the BBC aren't generous but if it was something unique then maybe there would be an exception. The more commercial operations may be more interested in buying the picture from you and syndicating it to different outlets.

In the case of the airline ditching in the river, the relevant investigation teams would be interested.
 
Would it not be better to contact a photo agency? Yes they would want a cut, but a deal with them for x% of the sale price for every sale/use of the photo, including a big exclusive deal at first?

That way a someone used to dealing with this kind of thing handles the deal and it goes to a massive audience, in this case, globally? They would also be useful managing future royalties, if it was a shot that was used going forward?

just a thought
 
When the Buncefield Oil depot went boom a few years ago one of the members on the OcUK forum lived rather close & was woken by the blast. Hegrabbed his camera & went for a stroll before the Police etc had it cordoned off and took a few snaps.....

He initially posted the shots on the OcUK forum but people suggested he phone the Newspapers, after a short time he took the pictures down as he'd been offered a large lump of cash for them :)

From what I remember the majority of the Sun the following day was his shots :D
 
Byker28i said:
The shot of the terrorist on fire at Glasgow airport was given to the papers which then went all around the world. That was a surely a mortgage paying shot
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They went through an agency (universal News and Sport) and something i'd recommend if you catch something like that to getonto an agency as they wil find you a better price that you would get yourself and would even start a bidding war between the papers for exclusives etc they also make sure the pictures are paid for if used.
 
Reuters have a 'citizen journalist' part on their website where you can submit photos, if they are up to scratch they will then be in touch about paying for their usage etc :)
 
The "taken at home with access to a computer" bit seems pretty well covered then, I'm still thinking that not having access to a PC (i.e. on holiday) may be a bit more limiting, though, particularly in the panic of wanting to get your photos 'out there' pretty quickly. I guess you could always try and find a Internet Cafe or something.
 
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