A journalistic photography brief

Myky D

Myky D

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Hey fans,

I was wondering if any of you - I can't imagine there aren't some of you out there - could post what would be considered a reasonable, normal brief for a journalistic tog. All sides, though I'm crap at and not that interested in sports, so wouldn't necessarily understand a sports brief.

Its mainly out of interest - I'm sure I'm far too pretentious to do anything other than that on my Flickr page - but I'd be interested if anyone wanted to guide me through how it works at the business end.

Cheers,

Myky D
 
I assume you mean work destined for a newspaper?

Simple: cover the event, send in thumbnails to the Picture Desk.
If they pick them up, you get paid, if they don't, then you don't get paid.
Rates are pretty standard across the board: for a decent image you'll be looking at US$250-
Just telephone or email the news desks of the various Fleet Street press and they'll tell you the same thing.
There are very few Staff-toggers out there now and those that do exist are at the very top of the game - most routine work is generated by Freelancers - some of them on retainers to specific publications, but still free to tout images initially refused by their sponsor.

To get an idea of the kind of images they want, read the papers. It really is that simple - and that difficult.
I've bluffed my way past security at some events in the past by merely saying I worked for this or that paper or agency - agencies are better as no-one really keeps tabs on who's who. Having a press card helps but isn't essential - if you look confident, more often than not they'll let you through. I even once got into a Conservative Party Press-call and was less than 10m from William Haig (then party-leader) throughout. I didn't show any form of ID (even though I had my Army ID card with me just in case).
Just for practice.
But: you will need Pro-Nikon or Canon kit to pull that off - other togs will 'out' you in an instant if they think you're a chancer.
Knowing your kit is also essential - I helped a couple of guys set up their custom white-balance settings and was instantly accepted by the rest of them, even though we'd never met before.
 
Arkady said:
Simple: cover the event, send in thumbnails to the Picture Desk.
Click to expand...

Nope.. send the full ready to use picture.. In the exif make sure your copyright. contact and payment details... at the end add "no free usage". they havent time to view thumnbnails then request the full version...

Arkady said:
If they pick them up, you get paid, if they don't, then you don't get paid.
Rates are pretty standard across the board:
Click to expand...

They have all done it before and will ahve a standard rate..some per inch some per pic some per job... I send pics and in the exif as above i put publishers standard rates accepted...

Arkady said:
some of them on retainers to specific publications, but still free to tout images initially refused by their sponsor.
Click to expand...

Yup thats me.. they even dont mind me selling the same pics they used :)

Arkady said:
I've bluffed my way past security at some events in the past by merely saying I worked for this or that paper or agency - agencies are better as no-one really keeps tabs on who's who. Having a press card helps but isn't essential - if you look confident, more often than not they'll let you through. I even once got into a Conservative Party Press-call and was less than 10m from William Haig (then party-leader) throughout. I didn't show any form of ID (even though I had my Army ID card with me just in case).
Click to expand...

Correct.. I have a UK Press card and rarely show it.. I turn up and tell them where I am from.. they see the peli case or gear if its a short visit and i know what lens i need... and let me through...

agree with all the rest as well :)
 
KIPAX said:
Nope.. send the full ready to use picture.. In the exif make sure your copyright. contact and payment details... at the end add "no free usage". they havent time to view thumnbnails then request the full version...
Click to expand...

Quite right.
Sorry, caveat:
Thumbnails for me as I previously had to get release-authority from the Bosses at MoD before I could release images to press. Please disregard that bit...lol
I really have to re-adjust my workflow now...:lol:
 
But: you will need Pro-Nikon or Canon kit to pull that off - other togs will 'out' you in an instant if they think you're a chancer.
Click to expand...
Just out of interest, do you mean 1D.../D3...or could you get by with a 5D2/D700?
 
NigelPaul said:
Just out of interest, do you mean 1D.../D3...or could you get by with a 5D2/D700?
Click to expand...

working professional gear is very easy to tell apart from that owned by a hobbyist ;)
 
D700 or Canon equivalent will be fine...
A lot of Pro's use the 'next-one-down-from-the-top' of the range these days, judging from the guys that came out to Afghan this year...

But yes - beat-to-s*** bodies and lenses are the real giveaway...
 
Well, gosh. Thanks for the replies, all.

The main points I fall down on are the press card, natch, and the "pro" gear. Will the other togs there really give a hoot - I mean - isn't it about the photographer not the kit?

I mean - assuming my game is good enough, why would it matter if I was using a Canon 450 or a Canon X-P3N5iVe Pro?

As for the confidence - I've generally got more front than Brighton so that doesn't concern me too much.

Very interesting though.

Also, er ... and I'm quite embarassed about this ... how does one get into the EXIF data, and can one standardise it so that every photo has the same data (contact details, etc)?
 
I put thumbnails on a web page and they can click to download the full high res image - works well - because they can see all the pics from the job quickly and only download the ones they want.

You can put your contact details - copyright info etc into the EXIF in the camera - at least you can in a pro camera! ;)
 
Myky D said:
Well, gosh. Thanks for the replies, all.

The main points I fall down on are the press card, natch, and the "pro" gear. Will the other togs there really give a hoot - I mean - isn't it about the photographer not the kit?

I mean - assuming my game is good enough, why would it matter if I was using a Canon 450 or a Canon X-P3N5iVe Pro?
Click to expand...

when you have to get the shot and produce results every time, all day every day.... yeaaah, that really doesn't apply.
 
Myky D said:
Well, gosh. Thanks for the replies, all.

The main points I fall down on are the press card, natch, and the "pro" gear. Will the other togs there really give a hoot - I mean - isn't it about the photographer not the kit?
Click to expand...


:lol: :lol: :lol:

Maybe in the polite world of TP, maybe.

In the real world they'll cut off your nuts and smash your lenses - you'll be in compettion with them and it's all about putting bread on the table...
 
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