MEDIA PASSES

[sydneyguy30]

cant recall if i posted anything like this before

but i want to know if anyone has an insight on how it can be possible to

sometimes gain media passes to certain events

do u have to be an employeed contractor of a publication always?

or can u apply as a freelance photographer for personal use / experince / placing pictures on stock photo web sites.....

[Steve Parr]

Originally Posted by sydneyguy30

cant recall if i posted anything like this before

but i want to know if anyone has an insight on how it can be possible to

sometimes gain media passes to certain events

do u have to be an employeed contractor of a publication always?

or can u apply as a freelance photographer for personal use / experince / placing pictures on stock photo web sites.....

Generally speaking, "freelance" isn't a word people like to hear when handing out credentials.

I've had good luck with approaching promoters, venues, and bands (I do concert photography). I'm having a hard time remembering the last time I was turned down...

[sydneyguy30]

i see

are u in australia

can u give advice on this more....

for me, i mean more like

music awards, pay televison tv awards, major converts ....

do u have to be employyed?

or can u be "freelance" and then say u want to use them for upload on your personal business web site ...

[Steve Parr]

Originally Posted by sydneyguy30

i see

are u in australia

No. That's why it says "San Diego, CA"

music awards, pay televison tv awards, major converts ....

do u have to be employyed?

For anything relating to television or something like music awards, you'll need to be "employed", yeah...

or can u be "freelance" and then say u want to use them for upload on your personal business web site ...

Nothing I can think of would result in them saying "NO any faster...

[sydneyguy30]

oh i see

.

well, i applied for a mardi gras media pass for 2006 and i got it

and i applied for a media pass for fox-tel nickoloden tv kids choice awards and i got it

but then i applied for aussie music awards and i dodnt get it

.

a few places have told me, if i have my own website business that publishs

celebrity pics then i got do it (bus aside from that, they would not let me)

.........

so, what type of gigs do u get in to

and who actually employees u

(u are still afreelancer right , as you do all different jobs)

[Steve Parr]

Originally Posted by sydneyguy30

oh i see

.

well, i applied for a mardi gras media pass for 2006 and i got it

and i applied for a media pass for fox-tel nickoloden tv kids choice awards and i got it

but then i applied for aussie music awards and i dodnt get it

.

a few places have told me, if i have my own website business that publishs

celebrity pics then i got do it (bus aside from that, they would not let me)

.........

so, what type of gigs do u get in to

and who actually employees u

(u are still afreelancer right , as you do all different jobs)

I do, primarily, concert photography.

I shot a concert last weekend (four shows and two rehearsals). I knw the promoter, so I e-mailed him. Basically, I was shooting for him. I'm shooting the San Diego Music Awards on Monday night. My company is one of the Presenting Sponsors, so our PR Department got me the credential for that.

Basically, I shoot for whoever will hire me. If an artist doesn't hire me, but the venue does, I shoot for the venue, and vice-versa...

[blackshadow]

I am Australian and I get passes for a lot of gigs, music festivals and awards.

I am a freelancer the people I do work for range from music or guitar publications or music websites, the artists themselves, promoters, publicists, festivals, record companies.

I do sell photos from my own website - there are some shows that contractual arrangements prevent me from posting or selling photos except to the media organisation who arranged my credentials and there are other shows where there aren't those restrictions - if in doubt ask!

To start out I suggest you start shooting small shows where you can take a camera in and develop a portfolio then start approaching publications to gain media credentials. It won't be handed to you on a platter you have to work hard and prove yourself and gain a decent reputation.

When dealing with media organisations/publicists/promoters be polite, assertive and persistent and don't be put off by knock backs (and don't get pissed off if you miss out).

[sydneyguy30]

interesting

seems to me, its all about networking,

just like being an actor

[Steve Parr]

Originally Posted by sydneyguy30

seems to me, its all about networking

Oh, man, if that isn't a true statement, I don't know what is...

[sydneyguy30]

how u mean?

i say that with pure respect to the many people out there who are good at taking great pictures!!!!

but, it reaklly does seem that u need to understand how to network / communicate .....

otherwise, u just wont make good $ in the long run

Originally Posted by Steve Parr

Oh, man, if that isn't a true statement, I don't know what is...

[Steve Parr]

Originally Posted by sydneyguy30

how u mean?

i say that with pure respect to the many people out there who are good at taking great pictures!!!!

but, it reaklly does seem that u need to understand how to network / communicate .....

otherwise, u just wont make good $ in the long run

Well, that's exactly correct. You have to find out who the right people are, and then approach them.

And, for the record, you can be a master of networking and communication, and still not make good money. I know a lot of people in the music industry, and I'm still a long way from making my mortgage payments with my camera...

[marcusg6@bigpond.net.au]

How do you think I will go asking Chugg entertainment for a media pass to Elton John?

[blackshadow]

Originally Posted by marcusg6@bigpond.net.au

How do you think I will go asking Chugg entertainment for a media pass to Elton John?

Depends what your reputation is like and who you are shooting for. I seem to recall you posted some pix of Olivia Newton John a while ago - her publicist is a friend of mine and I asked if she had seen your shots. She wasn't very impressed as you weren't on the accredited press list. (You may have had permission but she didn't know about it).

[adam*]

Well I took free photos for studentnightout.co.uk last year and because of that I now have the contact for free, all-access area passes to photograph bands in our union this year (some of whom will be pretty big). I think i'll have to email each band to ask about any restrictions they may have before each gig though. The same contact may get me access to Carling Academy in the future which means even bigger bands (including some of the biggest in the UK). I'm so happy I got it i've just gone and bought myself a 2gb compact flash

[TLovern]

Sometimes the easiest thing to do is ask. I once, on a whim, e-mailed a music festival about what was required to be credentialed for the event. Two or three e-mails back and forth later, I had media passes.

I was honest and up front. I didn't claim to be anything I wasn't. I made certain that I sent copies of the pictures I took to the bands. (I was shooting the event for fun, not for money - plus the bands now have my name and copies of what I can do....)

Tim