Amateur, Next Step?

[Jerrytrebec33]

OK, so I’m an amateur photographer who takes photographs, heh that was obvious. Anyways I'm trying to figure out how to get my work somewhere... For newspapers does the photograph have to be of a news event that just happened or do they need any other photographs? Probably not right... And with magazines how do you know what there looking for? Do you guys have any suggestions to start getting your work out there, maybe selling some, although I’d be happy to do anything for free for experience. How do I let people know that I want to submit pictures etc? Any advice is greatly appreciated.. Thank you

Jordan

[IndyJeff]

although I’d be happy to do anything for free for experience.

Jordan



You lost me right there, you want to make money off this someday? Then start selling now. If you wait until your established to start charging you will already have a reputation of being a freebie and charging will not be an option.

Mostly if you want to submit to newspapers it will be news shots but, there are other types of shots....feature, human interest, etc, etc.

Lets say it is July, hotter than the dickens and your setting at a stop light. You look down the street at the bank sign and see the temp is reading out 99 degrees. Just then you look beyond that and see kids playing in a spraying fire hydrant. Whip around the block, get the kids framed up in the foreground with the bank sign displaying the temp in the background and shoot it. Approach and identify yourself to the kids, get their names and write a caption. Call the paper and ask if they accept freelance submissions. If they do ask what they pay, negotiate your deal before you send it off.
Either drive it down there or send the fullsize file via email. Along with the file would be text stating that.....by accepting and publishing the attached image, Your Town News agrees to pay $xx for one time use of the attached file, payable within 30 days of publication. Publication shall also contain proper photo credit. Request receipt acknowledgement.

Then along with any other images you have that you think may have some potential value, register them on a cd with the copyright office.

Lets say your in a small town 30 miles from the city. The city photo editor sees the image in his hometown paper. He calls Bob down at Your Town News and asks if he can obtain information on that photo for his big city paper. Well if ol Bob says, sure no problem. I'll upload it to you.
Your mom's sister calls and tells your mom how you have a picture in the big city news...front page no less. Call the big city editor and ask to speak to whomever made the decision to run your image in the paper. When he says it was him, ask if he has ever heard of copyright law? The image is in the process of being registered and you are the copyright holder.

Guess what? You will be getting a check from his paper as well. Only this one will be a bit larger than the one Bob wrote you. Now if you take them to court, think new car big for a check with money left over.

[Jerrytrebec33]

Thank you very much for the advice, but the only reason I said that is because of my age, I think I'm a little young, but its a good idea :)

[PhotosGuy]

Thank you very much for the advice, but the only reason I said that is because of my age, I think I'm a little young,... So, there's an age limit now? ;-) It was so much easier when I started!

[Jerrytrebec33]

lol, not an age limit and age requirement? hehe I don't know people probably wouldn't take me seriously..

[etaf]

Jsaniuk, what country are you in. I used to belong to this organisation and found the information very useful for the UK market
http://63.84.172.37/frames.html
the equivalent publication may exist in your country.

newspaper just want pictures that are news worthy, that does not need to be something dramatic - if a local paper then things like sports teams winning events etc

[Jerrytrebec33]

I'm in Canada

[mtndew]

If your still in highschool or college try and get on with the yearbook or school paper

[cactusclay]

You might go to the library and check out the photographers market, for the magazine submission guidelines and the rest has been said, in fact maybe it's all been said and I'm just too lazy to read it.

[ilcounican]

Just a word of advice from someone who's been screwed over (pardon the terms) for saying "will work for free just for experience": You can tell US that and get away with it. Don't EVER tell a potential client that. They'll make sure they call any friends who also need photos for nothing or close to nothing. That, plus I'd just piggyback on what others have said in this forum. The 'Net and library are chocked full of helpful info to answer your questions and get you going in the right direction.