Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming!

Hacker

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Colin
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As many of you know I started selling my prints a few weeks ago and the business has been okay, not enough to retire on but enough to purchase more kit.

Following Rock The Priory on Sunday I sent half a dozen images to the Hertfordshire Mercury in the faint hope that they might be used and that my website would get a bit of free publicity, I honestly didn't think they would use them as they had their own photographer there. I was covering a showjumping event today and when I got back I had this email in my inbox:

Hi, Colin, I'm the editor of the Mercury and just wanted to say thanks for the brilliant pix you've emailed to us. I'm impressed by your website and wondered if you might be up for doing more with us. Please call me on 01992 XXXXXX. Cheers, Paul

:woot: :banana: :D

Obviously I am over the moon but the cynic in me kicked in after about ten minutes and I've got a couple of questions that hopefully some of you will be able to answer, specifically Gary Bagshawe **CALLING GARY BAGSHAWE**.

  1. What do you think he means by "doing more with us"?
  2. What sort of rates should I be looking at, will they have a standard fee that is paid or do I charge per job?

Any help would be appreciated because I'm really stuck on this one. I'm off for another drink. :beer: :D
 
i think they want you to cover other events for them ;)

as for the money, i'd imagine they'll offer you the same money terms as they have in place with the other snappers.

Talk to this guy and then make a call on what they offer :)
 
Well done mate :clap:

It's like fishing isn't it...you can keep trying for ages then all of a sudden one bites.
It's a great feeling when it happens.

I walked into a newsagents today and notice about 5 of my shots on a poster advertising this years version of an event I covered last year and flogged the shots to them.

I wuz well chuffed!
 
well done Coling, give them a call! Nothing lose at all, so take the bull by the horns!
 
That is excellent news for you Colin ... well done m8 ... :thumbs:

Guess it is like any other sort of job really ... listen to what he has to say and if you like it go with it ... if you don't try and negotiate ... either way what you got to lose ... :thinking:

He is likely to offer the going rate and at worst it may be disappointing but just think of the experience and exposure you will get ... soon enough your talents will ensure you get what you deserve Colin ... :D

Good luck and KUP ... :p
 
Can't offer any advice Colin, just want to say well done:thumbs: ...sounds like doors are opening for you:)
 
Well done mate, good job :)
 
Congratulations , hope it all goes well for you.
 
Even with staff photographers, newspapers still like to have frealancers they can call on as a backup, or to cover weekends, holidays etc, especially if hey have talents or contacts in specific areas. Remember, by sending in a pic, you could be sending in a news story!
Budgets won't be big, so be thinking along the lines of between £20-£50 per pic published (probably nearer the £20 unfortunately). The paper might have a set fee scale and if they have i wouldn't expect they'd shift on it.
Don't forget, any pics you send in on spec, you will be able to send out elsewhere and multiply your profits.

I would say the siongle most important thingt o remember when you phone him is don'tlet himwalk over you because you're new. Have some ideas, know the market and let him think you've been doing this a while, even if not for the press.

Hope that helps Colin
 
Hacker said:
As many of you know I started selling my prints a few weeks ago and the business has been okay, not enough to retire on but enough to purchase more kit.

Following Rock The Priory on Sunday I sent half a dozen images to the Hertfordshire Mercury in the faint hope that they might be used and that my website would get a bit of free publicity, I honestly didn't think they would use them as they had their own photographer there. I was covering a showjumping event today and when I got back I had this email in my inbox:

Hi, Colin, I'm the editor of the Mercury and just wanted to say thanks for the brilliant pix you've emailed to us. I'm impressed by your website and wondered if you might be up for doing more with us. Please call me on 01992 XXXXXX. Cheers, Paul

:woot: :banana: :D

Obviously I am over the moon but the cynic in me kicked in after about ten minutes and I've got a couple of questions that hopefully some of you will be able to answer, specifically Gary Bagshawe **CALLING GARY BAGSHAWE**.

  1. What do you think he means by "doing more with us"?
  2. What sort of rates should I be looking at, will they have a standard fee that is paid or do I charge per job?

Any help would be appreciated because I'm really stuck on this one. I'm off for another drink. :beer: :D
Click to expand...

Wicked news mate, welldone, Chuffed for you. I felt the same when I was offered the BBC gig. I was like errr, shouting from the roof tops though I had no one to shout to, but never the less it feels great. good for you mate. :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
 
Congrats Colin. No wonder you're excited. Well done.:clap:
 
I guess the only thing to clarify is copyright of the images if you are out on a job for them. :)
 
Only a matter of time till you start refusing because you are too busy :)

Well done :)
 
Congratulations, well done.
You would really need to talk to the chap about rates, Most of the time as a freelancer they will call you to cover jobs that they can't staff and pay you a fixed rate, not by the pictures published. Somewhere on the interweb thingy there is a site which tells you the going rate for freelance photographers National union of journalists rates or something along those lines. However talk to the chap and see what he has in mind. Good luck.
 
Well deserved coll I think, only a matter of time!

Just make sure you enjoy it and it doesn't become too much of a job!
 
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