Shooting as a press photographer at Games/Events

Watching the World Cup Soccer on TV and then the Ozzfest in Mountain View, California recently...I can't help but wonder...is there a way one can contact any newspaper/magazine (who's not covering the event already) to shoot for them (and hence be in the photographer's arena at the event) even for free or a small token money? I don't mind doing it for free even to just get started.

Have a look at this recent discussion

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=183730

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This is tough sledding and be prepared for a number of rejections. You have to position yourself so that you are doing this for them and not just yourself so that you have a better position. It has to be a win-win for both sides.

Most big events are covered by the major publications so that it is going to be an uphill battle. A good search on the event and the types of publications that may be just starting out as well might be a good approach.

I can't stress enough the fact that you have to make sure that they feel there is something in this for them. In talking to an editor a couple of years ago for a racing magazine, he said that he gets hundreds of these types of requests. While he was sympathetic to the photographers plight, he turned down most. If the event was being held in a geographic location that was too expensive for him to send his own crew he would consider a freelance photographer but he also was never comitted to using anything from them. His agreement was to pay so much per image used. At the end of the day it probably cost the freelancer money but it also got his name in print.

Yeah exactly ssim...I don't mind even paying for the trip + other expenses as long as I get to shoot from the right place and get my name in print. But looking at the other post that tommykjensen mentions..(don't know how I missed it)...there is a huge supply of people like me. Should network more in the media, I think.

A few years ago I got a photographers pass to the Kemper Open golf tounament using credentials from little more than a back-alley newspaper. The tournament people just needed a request from the newspaper (didn't matter that they didn't have a sports page).

I must say, working within the roped off area was great. It was quite an experience running with the SI photographers over 18 holes in 96 deg heat. I got a new-found respect for those guys. They all had white behemoth 300mm and 400mm lenses. My lenses at the time were a bit less impressive.