Tuesday, March 12, 2002

From the public NPPA (National Press Photographer Association) email list. A freelance photographer asked for advice on how to get established without being "on assignment" with a newspaper. Here is some great advice from Paul Guillory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A paragraph from the piece follows. Click here to view the full email. It's worth it. ... Remember a "press pass" doesn't entitle you to ANYTHING. You don't automatically get in free. You aren't guaranteed a place to sit or the right to take photos at a private event. Those things are courtesies granted by the sponsor of the event or the person who invites you. -more- ... 9:55:07 PM

Honesty and absolute compliance with requirements have paid off when gaining access to events to take pictures at. I'm often asked at events "What newspaper are you with?" None, but I try and behave as if my very income depended on how I do. I try and do my homework. My obsession is to act in a way and get the best shots I can so that those "in charge" have no reason to regret their decision. Often, around this area, organizations beg for newspapers to cover their events. I'm fortunate to have a "day job" that finances my photography. I have backup equipment, more often than not pay my own way, get there early and stay late. Digital or 35 mm. Web, prints or CD. So, while I may not have the distribution a newspaper does, potentially there is a worldwide audience for my photos with a bit of work. And unlike a news photographer, I'm not on deadline having to get to the next event...so I can offer complete coverage. Of course, this means that I wont have the variety the newspaper does with a shot here and a shot there. I have to pick and choose where to be. I'm on a public NPPA (National Press Photographer Association) email list. A freelance photographer asked how they get a "press pass". A reply from a working photographer is very well written and will be posted along these lines in the next story. 9:48:33 PM

© Copyright 2002 Jim Fridenmaker.