Sports press pass

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Leila4qgy

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Leila
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Hello everyone I am new to this forum.
I have just got a new job as a sports photographer with a national newspaper.
My ultimate aim with my career is to stick to first sports photography but i would ultimately like to take photos at the world games like the world championships, Olympics etc.

I have been surfing the Internet on how I can achieve my goals.

So far I have learnt that I need to get an SJA card before I can get an AIPS card and in order for me to get an SJA card I need to show 3 examples of my work in the past three months published and have names of proposed SJA member and second SJA member. So my questions are:

1. Who do you get to be the proposed and second SJA members on your form as I don't know anyone?

2. Is it still worth trying to get these cards if I already work the newspaper?

Thanks in advance for your help
 
How did you get a job as a sport photographer without all the relevant stuff needed to get a job as.......................you get what i mean.

Wouldn't the newspaper sort passes out for you ?

When you say job, did you mean a freelance gig with a newspaper ?
 
As far as I'm aware, as a staff photographer your newspaper should organise all necessary passes etc.

A mate is a staff photographer for a national, although he's not a sports specialist, but whenever he's been assigned to cover a major tournament his paper has organised all necessary passes and accommodation etc.

What does your picture desk say on this matter?

If you're a non-contracted freelance, than I have no idea what the protocol is; but if you're being commissioned exclusively by one newspaper I'd still think that they would organise accreditation.

If you're shooting on spec, then I guess it will indeed be down to you to sort it all out.

More information may be needed for others (more qualified than I) to help you.
 
aips card is a form of identification... it wont get you acceditation in itself... you couldnt get to a league two football match with it.. you couldnt even get into a conference non league football match wiht it.. Accredition has to be sorted and then the AIPS can be used as ID much the same way as a UK press card can..

If the paper you are now working for is sending you to these events then you dont need to worry.... Anyway... well done on getting a job at a national newspaper shooting sports :)
 
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Thank you at Kipax. I literally just started. My first assignment was the arsenal vs Liverpool match on Monday. I was just wondering coz I would like to do athletics as well. So I just missed the boat for Rio 2016, but there is still the London anniversary games next year anyway so all is not lost.
 
I would think that as a complete newcomer to both the paper and sports photography you would have a mentor assigned - one of the other more experienced sports photographers or a senior photographer/picture editor.

You should be able to build a plan, and a set of goals with them that give you the experience to be able to represent a national paper at a major championships.

Your paper should also be able to sort you out with membership of the NUJ and a UK press Card.
 
Leila4qgy said:
Thank you at Kipax. I literally just started. My first assignment was the arsenal vs Liverpool match on Monday.
Click to expand...

Thats a big assignment for a national newspaper.. when you say working for.. is this ful time?
 
KIPAX said:
Thats a big assignment for a national newspaper.. when you say working for.. is this ful time?
Click to expand...

Sniff sniff... what's that? Is it.. pig? No.. Sheep? No.. ah, I know it's definitely bull...
 
Does drinking whisky count as eating popcorn for the purposes of this thread? (Cannot even find a popcorn smiley, grr!)
 
Some people can not be happy for you can they. No it's part time.

The voice newspaper
 
Leila4qgy said:
Some people can not be happy for you can they. No it's part time.

The voice newspaper
Click to expand...

I had to Google that. I'm sorry but it wouldn't be classed as a 'traditional' daily national newspaper, hence the reaction.

But in answer to your original questions..

1) Get to know people! They don't bite, much. Even less so up north.

2) I have both cards but have never required them in the UK. The AIPS card is widely recognised throughout Europe though (and further afield I'd imagine)
 
No it's a weekly paper. All is forgiven. I'm just happy for the opportunity that they gave me.

Thanks for your advice
 
Leila4qgy said:
Some people can not be happy for you can they. No it's part time.

The voice newspaper
Click to expand...

Unfortunately we've had some issues in the past with sports photographers so we all tend to be a bit wary and cynical. But once you get to know they guys here, they are very helpful and can be nice (sometimes ;))

Welcome to the forum and well done on your new job
 
Leila4qgy said:
Some people can not be happy for you can they. No it's part time.

The voice newspaper
Click to expand...

The issue here Leila is not about people not being happy for you, but about either a lack of clarity about who you are working for and on what terms.

Clarity helps people give you relevant advice which is what most of us are looking to do on this forum.

When you say National Newspaper the expectation is that this is either one of the red tops or broad sheets either a daily or Sunday paper. Very few of these titles are hiring full time photographers - in fact many are making them redundant. They either use freelancers or agencies to supplement their shrinking teams. No matter how you dress it up The Voice is not something you would consider to be a national newspaper - even if you can get it "nationally" if that makes sense. So any advice about senior staff photographers, picture editors, and NUJ that I gave could easily be wide of the mark. It also causes sceptisism about your entire post.

Then we have your statement that you "have got a job". There is no issue with you being part time, or indeed if you are being paid a salary, or a per job commission fee, or indeed shooting on spec - but it does affect the relevant advice on where you are entitled to an NUJ card, how you might apply, and where you might get your references from if you go down the SJA route..

Being more specific, and maybe indeed more honest about who you are shooting for, and what your position is would really help in the future, and more likely have the respect of the people posting advice to answer your questions.

Hope this helps
 
The joys of being a newbie lol ( still learning the ropes, bare with me guys).
 
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