Joining the AP

[Shea.Flynn]

Topic says it all, Ive always been interested in how you can become credentialed as a Associated Press photographer. Is anyone on here a member? What steps might you take to Join? Thanks

[MJPhotos24]

You don't join - they hire you and are under contract. Their contract is well known to be pretty bad for the photographer in that they can make 10 million off your photo and you make your day fee, that's it.

Definitely not something you just go sign up for, it's a news agency that hires people. Even with the restrictive contract the line is a mile long.

[Shea.Flynn]

wow, that's not nearly as exiting as i though it would be, that contract sounds like a big rip off, although it might be worth it for a little luck and a Pulitzer. :D

[wyofizz]

wow, that's not nearly as exiting as i though it would be, that contract sounds like a big rip off, although it might be worth it for a little luck and a Pulitzer. :D

You don't have to be an AP photog to accomplish that:D

[MJPhotos24]

Don't need to work for the AP to win a Pulitzer...and they're not the most common to win in the first place

[Shea.Flynn]

Sick!, thanks guys always good to know

[primoz]

Yup and great way to get killed too ;) I have quite few friends from around here, who are working for Reuters, AP and AFP, and most of them are standard members of their Iraq and Afghanistan teams. It might be a bit different for Americans, but Europeans, especially guys from around here, are normally first one to ship... not to mention payment is everything but great.
So personally, even if someone would ask me to join, I would decline without second of thinking. These jobs are far from glamour someone might imagine they have. Only benefit is, that on bigger events, you have more photographers on event, so few of them can use their creativity a bit better, then rest of us, who work alone or in best case in pairs, and have to go for sure shot. But then again, it depends, if you are the one who is assigned to this kind of position.

[Shea.Flynn]

Very interesting Primoz, I hadn't though of it quite like that before.

[amfoto1]

A friend of mine was an AP staff photographer for 10 years.... Survived being shot at a few times and almost every major disease known... To see a lot of his photos showing up on DVDs of royalty free in recent years, which is nice so he can buy them back to use them.

[MJPhotos24]

I'll take creating an iconic image like Ali knocking out Liston over a Pulitzer.