[local] newspaper photographers

Hi, just wanted to ask some of you that work for your local newspaper a few questions.... the reason for my questions is that a local paper is advertising for an 'enthusiastic photographer' for temporary weekend work and i'm half considering giving it a shot.

However, this is where i need some help.... I'm still pretty new to photography and have very little work to show a prospective employer! The little work i have is mainly equestrian sports photography and a few local area landscape shots and the odd candid/portrait shot.... oh and a few nice shots from a friends wedding, so not much to show them. also i have never done any photography at a professional level, and also have no photographic qualifications to flaunt.....

So, what will they be looking for in their candidates?? what sort of equipment would i be expected to have - you can see what i have in my sig - the 70-200 2.8 IS will be added very soon, but am i equiped well enough for what they would want?? basicly, any advise you can give me is much appreciated, if you just plain think i'm out of my depth then please say so, i won't be offended - i think it's a long shot that i'd get the job anyway, but i think i might well give it a shot......

feel free to have a look in my gallery in my sig before jumping in and see what you think....

Anyway, thanks in advance!

Steve

With the 70-200 2.8, your equipment looks good.
You have people in your gallery, which is usually what they want/need, so you should be OK there,too. Show them the best 6-10.
I don't know about the UK, but usually they want (1) someone who produces GREAT shots (2) from someone who's always available (3) who will work for peanuts?

IndyJeff on NEWSPAPERS:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=61210

Newspaper Sports Questions!
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=145984

Small Town Newspaper...
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=133274

steve75 wrote in post #3076371
So, what will they be looking for in their candidates?? what sort of equipment would i be expected to have

Try calling them up and ask them, or create a resume and send it in and hope for a call for an interview.

go for it. doesn't hurt to try. and then you will know how to improve for next time. and the 70-200 will def help and give you a longer zoom. but you will also need a flash and the flash cord will def help as well. good luck

Hi Steve, I'm the photo editor for a small chain of newspapers and I say go for it. Most of the so called "pros" who come into my office never get a call. I don't care how much equipment someone owns, just if they know how to use it. A sack of expensive lenses isn't going to land you a job, a good personality and interest in working will. What is on your website is fine to get your foot in the door. Most publications will send you on a trial assignment to test your ability. By the way, get cutlines! Lots of newbies forget this. You must get the full name & home town of the people you shoot or else it can not be printed. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Welcome to the Forum, FerretDancer!

Care to share with us what your rates for photography are?

Thanks for the links 'photosguy' very helpful, some interesting points in those posts to keep in mind....

FerretDancer, thank you for the advise, much appreciated......

So, lets say i sail through the interview and land myself this job, i really haven't a clue what to expect! What would the average day of a photographer for a small local paper entail?? what sort of work load should i expect?? etc etc.....

Again, thanks for the comments and encouragement!

Steve

Steve generally you will get assignment work based on community activities. Perhaps it is the first day for the little league and the fire department is having a fund raiser or the lions are serving a pancake breakfast. You would be expected to produce a few good images from each event with info on who is in the photo and get them in to the editor by a certain time. They will choose which shots to use, at least that is how it works for me. I shoot for a town newsletter, a little different than a newspaper but same basic principals.

also, they generally want to convey information and if there are "important" people at the event they must be in the photo.

Thanks for your input skrim17..... appreciated.

Frank, as far as rates go a general assignment usually pays $35 to $55 an hour plus gas mileage. Not a lot but hey, it's something. And unlike some papers we always put your name in the byline. People often call looking for reprints or digital files and the photog determines what he/she wants to charge for this.
Steve, we are a magazine-style weekly that produces 8 papers. If you do a "cover story" we feature one photo that takes up the entire front page and then 5 to 8 more related photos in the center spread. Very nice way to get noticed! If we assign you a "feature" we only need 2 or 3 shots and if it's a "photo package" we mean there is no related story, just a page of your work. There are no "typical days" here but I try not to assign more than 3 events a day. You may start out shooting a school play, go on a ride-along with the local fire department and then end your day at a dairy farm. It's all about adapting.
Oh one final note. Do not edit your own pictures. There are very specific guidelines each publisher follows for prepress.

That seems much better than what the locals charge around here. They pay per shot used & no mileage. And you can pick up some money for the prints, which is a nice bonus.

Let's make that: Do not edit your own pictures.

Oops, must have been wishful thinking on my part... I meant to say $35-$55 per assignment, not hour. Sorry.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

And that price is in line with most smaller newspapers. I got $30 plus mileage before I threw in the towel.

FerretDancer wrote in post #3083888
Oh one final note. Do not edit your own pictures. There are very specific guidelines each publisher follows for prepress.

Does that include NOT processing my RAW's???

Thanks again.

Steve