Press Photography

R8JimBob88

R8JimBob88

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James Stockton
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I have a week off work away from my usual job next month, soooo I am working with my local paper to gain some experience :) :woot:

Apparently they work lots of weekends so I can offer some assistance then too, but this means I should also have a press pass to use and benefit from.

Has anyone on here ever done press photography? What do you think of it?
 
local papers pay absolutely nothing.....a regional paper wanted to use one of the pictures I did of a powerboat race team in this years Round Britain. They saw the shot (it was a full bleed DPS in an international mag) and wanted to use it. BUt, when I gave them a fee for its use, they said they didn't pay for pictures as they had no budget for pictures.

I responded by saying that that was utter rubbish...did they have staff photographers?

Yes.

Do they not get paid then?

Yes.

So you do pay for pictures.

They put the phone down.

I didn't allow the use of the picture.

Nationals are a bit better, but you then lose all control of your work as it will be on their website and everywhere very quickly - and you need to chase up all those foreign uses that lift it off the web. You got any contacts in Thailand? Or Australia, Or south America, or Africa, or Malaysia, Or Japan?

So when your "news" picture gets used over there you will be able to get your money for its use?

I thought not. Neither do I whixch is why I keep well away from "loose" publications - unless the payment is sufficient to warrent me then writing off the picture(s) for good.

I have some pictures which make me a couple of grand a year, simply because I have retained control of them. They get used and used, and those pictures will never be repeatable. So it was a good job I kept them tight.

Press passes...another subject. You will be doing local stories, like the cricket club U13s. You don't need a press pass for that.

Trackside at motor racing? Ok, you might get the odd trackside pass. So do dozens of others. Very often that isn't where the big story is anyway....it is normally behind the scenes.

If you are happy working for their profits for nothing - go for it. They won't complain. Just like you wouldn't complain if someone said they would happily come and work for you for nothing for a week - justthink how muchpaperwork you could get them to catch up on for you! How much does a secretary or book keeper cost these days? I pay mine £50 per week for 6 hours.
 
Lensflare said:
Press passes...another subject. You will be doing local stories, like the cricket club U13s. You don't need a press pass for that.
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I think you missunderstand what a press pass is, it's to show that you are a working newsgatherer, it would be especialy useful for exactly what he says. local stuff then when questioned why he is taking pictures and who far he can show.

A press pass does not get you entry to events. it's just a means to prove who you are.

However. the criteria for a press pass is that you are making most of your earning from news gathering as a photogrpaher. so I dont see how he will get one anyway.
 
Thats understandable. I'm not doing it to earn money, I am doing it because I want to. I want to gain some experience from working in that kind of environment. I see it more of an oppertunity, if they want me to do someting that I dont want to, I dont have to. If I dont like it, i'll stay in bed the next day.

I cant really loose out on anything. Its just something to cross of my list if I dont enjoy it. I'm sure that although I wont gain financially, in the long run it may benefit me. :)

A press pass, the guy I just spoke to on the phone just said that I they will have to sort me one out. If I get one then fine, if I dont then fair do's. But if i'm shadowing a tog at our local football matches (as he said) then I would need one.
 
I see were you are comming from Flare but the way i see it, grerat experiance working for a week, you going to be doing stuff that they want you to do so might not really be shots that you want to keep for yourself or are that bothered about and it gets you in the news and your work out there to be noticed by other people and could be a good stepping stone :D
Go forth and have fun :D :lol:
 
Ahmen Smuf! Dr pepper... whats the worst that could happen! I'd either be sat at home on my backside doing nothing or gaining a little experience at no cost. I cant really see a downside
 
what is the paper ?? Drop my name ;) :lol:
 
OK. You could always set yourself some projects to go and shoot though. You would still gain experience.

I know from experience (23 years now as a press/editorial/advertising photographer) that you will probably be used as a lacky...and get the bits to cover that the "staff" man doesn' want ot do.
 
If I am used as a Lacky then fair enough, i'm offering my help in return for experience. Which I think is acceptable? If they take the pee then i'll go home and find something else to do. Simple as really
 
I know most northcliffe newspaper photographers dont get paid much, but they do get nice perks i.e. free phones, free cars and petrol cards ect which works out nice in this climate.

You have to wonder how much this is going to continue though. Advertising is falling drastically which is the papers main income and then you've got the BBC trying to bully there way in now too.
 
Currently I work full time in Banking, study photography at college in the evenings and use my photography skills at the moment to benefit me on a purely amature level. I dont expect to walk in there and be my own boss, just see whats its all about.
 
I say go for it.. you will always wonder ??? if you don't
 
Go for it, and good luck.

Forget the press pass for the mo, you can blagg your way into almost anything if you try (and that is the way to get the really important shots)!
 
Go for it!

I cut my teeth doing local press photography paid at the amazing rate of £10 per print - It wasn't a lot but enough to make it worth my while I suppose. For the most part it was good fun and I learned a hell of a lot, a great lead in to working with people or models in the future, particularly in high pressure situations.

If you read the cambrian news, you've seen my photos :-D
 
I'm about to go into press photography/photojournalism but not through a direct route, i'm doing a NCTJ accreddited course in Sheffield.

Hopefully I will be able to pick up a job at the end of it and work my way up from there :)

It's all good experience, any form of photography is a good experience (I know that if I manged to get a week or so experience in another field...like say advertising, wedding etc i'd jump at the opportunity, and at this stage i'd do it for free becuase that's what it is - experience).
 
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