Newspaper photographers

[avaloncm]

Just random thoughts about newspaper photographers and not wanting to hack anyone off

I am getting into sports photography - shooting for a major stadium here so that they will have some images for marketing and shooting for a high school.

I realize that I have a lot to learn, but I notice that my pictures are usually better than the press/newspaper shots for the same events.

Are newspaper photographers generally more focused on the job rather than the art of getting a great shot or am I just seeing bad examples?

How do you get started shooting sporting events for a paper for a little cash? I work full-time, but would like to do that on the side.

[IndyJeff]

I would put together a portfolio of 10-15 images, in print and on cd. Call the local paper and make an appointment with the sports or photo editor.
Depending on the size of the paper, you are going to make a "little" money on the side. My experience has been with small local papers you will get anywhere from $15-$50 for an image used.

You might be better off approaching the athletic director at the high school and ask about shooting for the school and providing (don't say sell) an opportunity for parents to view and purchase images.

[DaveG]

My experience working for daily newspapers has told me that if the paper staffs an event then they are not interested - even slightly - in buying a freelancer's work. It has little to do with the quality of the staffer's or the freelancer's work, but everything to do with being cheap.

Now I'm not talking about a Pulitzer quality shot, but neither are you.

The other thing is that I doubt that the paper's shooter is not as good as you. The image in the paper may not be as good as yours, but that could be as simple as them having a lazy or incompetent editor. I worked at both major newspapers in my town and in spite of bad black and white reproduction in the first paper we used to beat the other paper like a drum, and I could never figure out why. Then when I went over to that second paper I discovered that the page editors selected images from contact sheets. The couldn't see sharpness and could care less. They also picked the first image that seemed OK, and let's say that "further review" would have been a better idea!

[Gatorboy]

I realize that I have a lot to learn, but I notice that my pictures are usually better than the press/newspaper shots for the same events.

Small papers may only have a staff of 1 or 3 photographers for their entire paper. One may be great at general editorial stuff while another is a great sports photographer. That night the not-so-great sports shooter might have an assignment to shoot a sports event.

Also, have you had experience with having to meet a 9p deadline? Sometimes the photographer can only stay for the first half of a football game so that s/he can get back to the office, review and write cutlines all in time to meet the deadline.

No matter what field you talk about -- doctors, lawyers, bricklayers, photographers -- there are always good ones and bad ones.

[avaloncm]

Thanks for the responses - I am not trying to put anyone down at all, the editor part makes a whole lot of sense. I guess I am looking for the reason that some of these people who have shot sports for years don't end up with impressive shots in the next days newspaper. I know that these photographers are much better than me, but just wonder why you don't see it.

About the deadlines, I am seeing lots of people with laptops working feverishly at end of quarter one or half time.

We have a local county paper that publishes weekly - I have been approached at events and had my card requested so they could use shots in the next weekly edition - never heard from them. No big deal -

[MJPhotos24]

Buddy of mine is an amazing photograper, in certain aspects. He wins award after award it seems. However, his images in the paper - his full time gig - are not all that they could be. When I shoot an event with him I see why, he's just not interested in it. He's at a baseball game he just gets a couple sets "decent" shots and leaves, very often joking "thats all I need" with a big grin on his face and camera being slung back over his shoulder as he gets ready to head for an exit. So yea, they can just be more focused on getting the shot and gettin the heck outta there.

As for the paper and making some cash, there's a guy out here that isn't on staff but gets used a TON by the local paper because they only have two guys on staff acting as photogs & editors so hard to cover everything. You may want to call the local paper that asked for your card instead of waiting for them to call you, just know exactly what you want to say, want to ask for in terms of compensation.

[DaveG]

"Yeah you blew that one off. Here's a pay cheque that's 60% less than you expected. But your shots are only 40% of what we expected." Think that might help with an attitude adjustment? They should fire his ass and let him win awards somewhere else.

What a way to go through life.

[MJPhotos24]

"Yeah you blew that one off. Here's a pay cheque that's 60% less than you expected. But your shots are only 40% of what we expected." Think that might help with an attitude adjustment? They should fire his ass and let him win awards somewhere else.

What a way to go through life.

They'd never fire him, even his half-a$$ efforts are far beyond most photographers I've seen or worked with. It's like an athlete, there's always those who put in half effort and are far better than the guy working his butt off - just happens. That's why I said what they could be, and not that they were bad photos. They're excellent photos actually, better than most the guys who shoot pro ball and take it 10x more serious! Many of his "half-a$$" efforts won state awards last month I think it was (or couple months ago).

Also, newspaper standards are much different than say Sports Illustrated or some big magazine. They just need a decent photo with some action and not the most elaborate planned out and studied photo.

[frenchdub]

Hi there

Firstly the previous comments are valid... when I started freelancing I tried to find out if there were any staffers or stringers there, which papers, agencies etc... If one of the local nupes was absent then might be worth submitting stuff on spec...

However you are far better off getting a decent portfolio together and doing some door to door.. unfortunatley this is hard going and for every tryout you get you get ten doors slammed in your face. It took me about two years to get any regular freelance shifts on London papers...

Also don't just concentrate on sport unless you want to work for Allsport or Sports Illustrated etc.... you've far more chance of getting on a paper if you can shoot every type of assignment..(even if you prefer sport)

Onto why some shots you see may not be as good as yours, well guys may be good shooters but hate baseball or basketball.. you don't get to hand pick your assignments as a rule.
Also the paper more often than not has a story to run, so such and such a player is important, such and such an action... you have to use what you have of that moment... This is not always your best shot.
Then the picture has to fit the space alotted... how many times have I had the best picture spiked because they needed an upright and not a horizontal..

This is one of the reasons I got out of papers and went into the Wire service... you get to shoot, edit and transmit your own stuff, and the papers get your best pictures.. they use or they don't... but they get quality... Yes you have to be a journalist too and give them the story of the day..but if they want your picture they'll use it.

Keep trying, if you want it you'll get it... don't give up.

cheers
Gareth

[Village_Idiot]

Also, remember that sports are fast and the moments are usually only seconds long. They could be concentrating on the guy dunking the ball rather than the player punching the ref in the face. I can tell you that a paper would be more interested in the shot he didn't get at that point.

[mechi]

I am currently doing just what you mentioned you wanted to do. Photography has always been a hobby and passion of mine, and so the camera is never far from me. I was always walking around the fields during my kids' games, shooting not only them, but other players as well. Started forwarding about 6 pics of each game to both weekly town papers, which covered high school sports like a religion! Pictures were getting published all the time. Before the end of the fall season, one editor contacted me, offered to pay me $50 per published shot if I could guarantee them pics of the games for every edition. No problem I said, I was there anyway as my kids were on the team. By the end of the next season, they re-negotiated my contract, I now cover up to three teams per season, write the articles, shoot the pics, have a press pass allowing me access to the events for free and field advantage. All this because I started forwarding the town papers pics to publish at no charge. If they like what they see, and you're persistent, I would bet they come to you. Just remember to shoot all the players. Best of luck!
Mechi
"I love my job!"

[pagnamenta]

I met a newspaper photographer for a huge newspaper at a local soccer game. He was shooting image for an editorial and only needed to focus on one girl. He shot most of the game but took a small break in the car because it was 20 degrees out.

He was really focused on shooting and fired off a burst of shots every time his girl was in action. He deleted all the bad ones and was pissed that he didn't get anything great. He said all his shots were boring, and he was right. He had been photographing for many years and knew what he wanted. I haven't seen his photo in the paper yet but I'm interested to see if it's good.

[manual]

I recently started shooting for my local paper....in regards to the whole "not as good as yours" statement: I find that 99% of the time, the editor will choose a shot that describes the event, rather than the better or atall artsy photo. They dont like artsy unless it can tell the complete story. This actually pisses me off sometimes enough that Ill only turn in the good shot...but if I do that too often then I lose my spot!

In terms of getting into a paper as a shooter....I started out doing exactly what your describing "stringing" as they call it is where they would call me a few times a week with assignments that they didnt have time to catch. I would get $20 per photo used..but the real payoff was the experience and getting a change to prove myself, and shove a foot in the door. As a young shooter (19 but 17/18 when I started for them) its can be hard to be taken seriously at times...so my theory is dont talk untill you can back it up with the photo in your hand...

On that note...take the same advice give above...put together 20 or so of your best shots, print them, and put them on a disk...call up the paper and ask to talk to the head photo guy, and ask him if they need any stringers and if he has some time to look over a few photos you have prined out or on a CD.


Good luck

Eli