Press pass

Hopefully you'd need to be a press photographer.
 
It is easy. You supply the title of the publication you are working for. You have a letter from the editor with confirmation of your commission for the event. You fill in the form of application for accreditiation and the press officer signs you pass off. Or doesn't. they have a limited number of passes and they will be given to those publications that offer the greatest publicity for the event and the venue. That includes overseas applications.

How do you go about getting a commission for a publication is the better question to ask.
 
And, for MSV, you need your certificate of insurance for your Public Liability insurance

Nick Froome
 
I suppose the other answer is what event are you shooting? Some events you get access to the pits, can get on the pit wall, into the middle of the hairpin etc. There's some good spots at Brands you can get good shots without a press pass, especially if the cameras aren't there and you can use their spots.
 
I'm going to the British super-bike championship gp at brands hatch so were is the best spot to take photos without a press pass ? I have my event day ticket.
 
Plenty of places at Brands Hatch GP to take good photos, not just Druids.

To get a press pass, you need:

- a letter from the editor of a recognised media outlet - newspaper, magazine and selected websites at the discretion of the series or circuit.

- three examples of previously published motorsport photographs from the last 12 months, credited with your name, or a letter confirming they are your work

- evidence of at least £ 5m worth of PLI

If you can provide all three, a circuit or series will consider your application for media pass on the basis of what guaranteed coverage you can give them. Meeting the criteria is not a guarantee of getting a pass.

Superbikes is one of the UK's biggest race series, they don't give out passes to these events easily.

At most events, spectators are not allowed in the pit lane, and cameras are not allowed on the pitwall unless you are media. Only team members are allowed on the pitwall for timing and pit board purposes. Track days are different and the rules are a bit more relaxed.
 
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Is there no one single governing body for motorsport in the UK?

In my country, one's request comes via a publication.
 
There are governing bodies of both motorcycle and car racing in the UK. The MSA is the one for cars, the ACU for bikes.

You can apply to them for a season long pass, but you still need to apply for each event. It just cuts down one hurdle each time, and replaces it with a bigger one at the start of each season.

Alternatively you can apply directly to the circuit or in some cases the race series for accreditation.

Established photographers can apply for season passes for various circuits, but the rules for these are stricter than one-off applications.
 
andrewc said:
Plenty of places at Brands Hatch GP to take good photos, not just Druids.

To get a press pass, you need:

- a letter from the editor of a recognised media outlet - newspaper, magazine and selected websites at the discretion of the series or circuit.

- three examples of previously published motorsport photographs from the last 12 months, credited with your name, or a letter confirming they are your work

- evidence of at least £ 5m worth of PLI

If you can provide all three, a circuit or series will consider your application for media pass on the basis of what guaranteed coverage you can give them. Meeting the criteria is not a guarantee of getting a pass.

Superbikes is one of the UK's biggest race series, they don't give out passes to these events easily..
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Extremely true about BSB!

This is what they say:

To be considered for a pass, please ensure that you provide all of the supporting documents listed below: 1.A letter commissioning you to cover the 2011 British Superbike Championship and guaranteeing publication of such coverage, signed by the editor or publisher of the publication. The letter to state in what capacity you will be present: Journalist/Photographer/Radio Reporter/Photo-Journalist. It should also justify any special access required.

2.Printed Media Accreditation Authorisation Form which should be completed and signed by the person - either the editor or publisher - who has written the above letter.

3.Scanned cuttings, either carrying your by-line, or substantiated by a letter from the publication confirming them to be your work.

◦The publication must have existed for at least three consecutive editions and must be on general sale to the public across Britain.
◦Club magazines/publications will not normally be accredited. In the case of free distribution publications, the guideline is a minimum distribution of 250,000 copies.
◦In the case of a website, screenshots of pages of coverage should be submitted along with the web link.
◦Photographs used on the BSB website gallery do not count as coverage.

IMPORTANT: You must submit at least six (6) separate pieces of BSB coverage from the 2010/11 seasons.
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Quite a few hurdles there... the hardest being the bit that says you must have 6 published pieces of BSB already and most websites won't count.... oh and £5mil of PLI... and after all that, some luck!
 
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