Press Pass

[ronosmena]

Greetings!

I have heard alot of IFPO and people making there own Press Passes, are there any ligit ways of getting these?

Can we legally make our own Press Pass ID's?

Thanks guys.

[defordphoto]

If you want to get/stay in the business and build a (good) reputation then get legit passes from legit organizations. If you want to be known as a hack, then yeah, make your own, fake pass and hopefully it won't be a one-way pass to jail. :) Also, the IPO is the K-Mart of photo organizations...

[gmen]

Greetings!

I have heard alot of IFPO and people making there own Press Passes, are there any ligit ways of getting these?

Can we legally make our own Press Pass ID's?

Thanks guys.Do you work for or represent a publication ronosmena?

Photographing organised events depends on gaining proper accreditation via your publication/organisation/agency.

There are Press Passes supplied by a number of organisations which have little or no value... and can potentially lead to severe embarrassment when presented.

In the UK, there is a voluntary Press Card system. These cards are provided via the publication that a (photo)journalist represents through a system of 'gatekeepers' - for example, the 'National Union of Journalists' or the 'Newspaper Society'. The application is signed off by your editor and then vetted by the Police. These cards will still NOT provide access to organised events, but will give the holder professional credibility if they are shooting breaking news for example. I am sure there must be a similar system in the US. If you 'manufacture' an ID like this then you are probably going to run into some serious questions and problems.

Hope that's helpful.

---- Gavin

[SWPhotoImaging]

Sure, haven't you seen the old movies where the guy with the SpeedGraphic camera shows up at the scene of the crime, and tucked in the ribbon around his dapper-looking felt hat (you DO have a felt hat don't you?) is a white card with the word "PRESS" in large block letters. That's pretty much all you need . . . .

Unless you want to actually be allowed inside . . . .

[NGrinerPhoto]

Here in MD all you have to do is go to the state capital (Annapolis) to get a government issued press pass.

[PhotosGuy]

"press pass" will automatically brand you as a wannabe. The proper term now is "Credentials". Sure, haven't you seen the old movies where the guy with the SpeedGraphic camera shows up at the scene of the crime, and tucked in the ribbon around his dapper-looking felt hat (you DO have a felt hat don't you?) My dads old hats! Just what I need. I even have a speedgraphic with an intimidating flash gun to complete the picture! :D

[cdifoto]

"press pass" will automatically brand you as a wannabe. The proper term now is "Credentials". My dads old hats! Just what I need. I even have a speedgraphic with an intimidating flash gun to complete the picture! :D

I think I smell a new avatar...

[PhotosGuy]

I think I smell a new avatar... For me? :D :D Nah! I'm trying to encourage the new guys here & that might look too "profesehionall"!

[gmen]

"profesehionall"!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

---- Gavin

[Vega$50]

If you want to get/stay in the business and build a (good) reputation then get legit passes from legit organizations. If you want to be known as a hack, then yeah, make your own, fake pass and hopefully it won't be a one-way pass to jail. :) Also, the IPO is the K-Mart of photo organizations...

Not to argue with a moderator, but on what law are you basing that faking a press pass is a one-way ticket to jail? As one who works in the law profession, I can say that I have NEVER heard nor seen a law on any books that would make this an illegal activity. I would like to say that I do not condone it, and it may get you 86'ed off of a property. But arrested? ..naw...a blatant 4th Amendment violation for sure. Want a press pass (Credentials)? Ask the venue.

Sorry...would like to set the record a little straighter..

/back to lurking.

[PhotosGuy]

on what law are you basing that faking a press pass is a one-way ticket to jail? As I see it, Jim said, "... and hopefully it won't..."

So you're saying that for instance, if you got caught using at a fake pass to a national football game the NFL wouldn't be offended & prosecute for trespassing, fraud, violation of © & ™, etc?
Isn't it true that you can be sued for ANYTHING? Doesn't matter if they have the grounds to actually win, you still have to pay a lawyer, which IMO is worse than going to jail. ;)

[SWPhotoImaging]

I smell a money making opportunity here.
I bought my ministry credential and "clergy" card this way, so why not media credentials?
If the "Universal Life Church" can issue official credentials, then why not the "Universal News Service"?
I can see it now. hoards of camera-toting photographers, streaming through gates at events everywhere, as they flash their cards and say "I'm with UNS" . . .

How much do you think I can sell them for? I paid $21 for the whole "Minister Package" with credentials, certificate (suitable for framing), marriage certificates (yes, it's really legal to marry people), and a few other ministerial (is that a word?) forms. Press credentials for the "UNS" ought to be worth at least $35 a pop, eh?

[Vega$50]

Haha...I see a whole MLM deal here...

You recruit your new guys and they recruit people and so on and then you hold a conference in say Hawaii once a year for like $1200. Now there is some serious money..You could call it CamWay.

[gmen]

Some more relevant reading matter:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=8022
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=4417

...and while on the subject of selling credentials (the e-bay method):

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=18351

Luvly Jubbly :rolleyes:

---- Gavin

[defordphoto]

Making a fake press pass to represent something you are not would be fraud. I have been running my racing website for years and all my staff have press passes. However, creating "fake" press passes to gain access to say an NFL game or something along those lines would probably get you into a hell of a lot of trouble and yes, possibly arrested as there would be several crimes committed: Fraud and trespassing just to name a couple.

People would be amazed at what power a professional presentation has. Back in the early days of the popularity of the Internet (Early 1990's) I was working on a groundbreaking IndyCar website and it was tough at first to get media credentials. But, once IndyCar saw that we were a professionally operated website, we could get credentials at any track and eventually became hard-carded.

There are too many over-enthusiastic folks out there that buy a camera and then think they can get access to anything. It takes patience, time and most of all: professionalism.