what do you need to do to get a "press pass" to ge

events? do you have to buy them or what is the process of obtaining one?

Thank you,
jeff

You do not buy press ID's. They are issued by newspapers, magazines, etc. to their professional, working photographers.

I've wondered this myself. Any idea how one goes about getting one if you don't work as a pro or for a publication? Or even do your own thing and want to start producing work for your own publication?

Reason I ask ... we have a couple local cable TV shows, real low class as one guy video tapes and has a full screen of someones face (poor quality) but works for himself. He's always getting into every venue he shows up to and always has Press credentials around his neck. I asked once and he just winked.

Guess it's who you know???? Or can you apply somewhere.

Inquiring minds want to know

EDIT:

so I went to Google and entered "press credentials"

Near the top was IFPO ... anyone a member? Legit? Seems like you become a member and you can get press credentials. Are they any good?? Also noticed if you enroll in NYIP you also get press credentials.

How does one get them from local newspapers?

Contact the event you want to shoot in an ask for photo credentials to shoot it. It's often about who you contact, how you talk to them and how you handle the overall politics. The event organizer (or record company in many cases) is the authority here and can let anyone shoot regardless of "passes" - you will have to ask permission also with press pass so you are in same line as a freelancer.

Press passes/ID's are merely badges and signify that you work for someone. Like Pekka says, you still have to get permission/apply for media credentials for specific events. And, whether you have press ID's or not does not guarantee you credentials. The people holding the event have 100% control over who they issue them to and they can discriminate however they see fit. And there is no recourse on your part if you are denied.

Like the motorsports races I cover. Yes, I have a press pass, but that means nothing really and will not get me into the event. However, as a recognized/proven member of the media, we are all but guaranteed media credentials to these races. They issue them gladly to recognized people of the press.

If you're a freelancer with no affiliation it becomes quite difficult as you then get sent to the back of the line and maybe (very thin maybe) get credentials after everyone else is issued theirs.

When I first started out it was tough and we got turned down a lot. Now, I can hardly remember the days of being denied credentials.

Press Credentials even once obtained, are not a free pass to any event you wish to shoot. Most even organizers (I am talking Texas, USA) are getting very stingy with passes. National events, like NHRA, AMA, NASCAR, INDY, performers, etc. require advance registration to obtain passes. Most limit media/photo passes to photogs on actual assignment for the company they are contracted or working for. Most require the editor to send in a request on company letterhead, with assignment type and who will be attending, sometimes they require copies of previous coverage or copies of the publication to obtain passes.

It is getting tougher and tougher for freelancers to free lance. Now with security at events paramount, it is getting tougher. Under certain conditions, you could end up in jail for mis representing yourself, if you are.

Places that sell credentials on-line are scams to get your money and most are known as scams by event personnel / police.

I shoot for a couple local papers and only one issues ID from the paper. It's a liability issue now. They don't want the liability of a "contractor" representing the paper officially, unless they are full time employees. Even shooting for them officially as a contracted freelancer, ID is an issue. Especially when assigned to cover sensative subjects, i.e kids/crime, etc.

The best way to break into the business is to contact your local weekly paper or daily and ask to set up a meeting with the photo or managaing editor. If they are open to it, tell them you wish to shoot anything for them, to get some experience. Have your best images in an easy to view folder to show them. If they assign you something, shoot it as best as you can, like it was the most important thing you have ever done.

Getting in and helping with crummy assignments will lead to better assignments and perks of covering events you want to cover.

President Bush was making a quick visit to the city where I live. The local police knew that there would be some political protesters, so they had barricades up on each major street about one block away from the event. The protesters were held behind the barricades by the main line of police. However, a few news reporters and photographers were allowed to go past the barricades as long as they had a press pass issued by the police department. There was a second line of police about a half block away from the event, and nobody went past that line.

I didn't have any pass issued by the police, so I had to stay behind the barricades, which made it difficult for me to shoot the protesters, since they were behind the barricades also. The working press photographers were able to shoot toward the barricades.

---Bob Gross---

GenEos your are so right about how it is getting harder to get creds. I applied for and recieved a hard card from the IRL. I sent a cover letter for creds to the Nashville Superspeedway for the IRL race July 17th. Guess what? I don't have a client and by the non-response I am getting I think I am being denied. Oh well, I'll take the kids camping that weekend.
The client I had lined up balked at the day rate and said he would get back with me. Well never heard back from them. No big deal. There's always another race, at another track, another day. LOL

Depends on what you're going to. I work at a computer hardware website so getting a press pass for trade shows is easy. I've also gotten into car shows and other various tech events easily.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

I hear you there Jeff, I was at the Watkins Glen race earlier this week. My dad works for Firestone and creds or at least the "All Acess" passes are usually easy for me to get but the press ones are insane. I applied for a hard card and heard nothing so far. I might be doing Edmonton later this month but I am not 100%. It seems that it is more who you are with, the track, and the people working the track. I can get anywhere (with limits as usual) as long as I have my camera on my neck, my camera bag, and a headset from the pits and of course some kind of credentials, but how I would love to get over the fences and right up against the guardrails.

Wow, thats a 4 year old thread you revived

Some friends of mine have attained press passes to events just by calling up and asking for them. They explained they were just amateurs looking for a nice day of photography and they got them. Just call up the event, you might be surprised how easy it is.

johneo wrote in post #237249
Near the top was IFPO ... anyone a member? Legit? Seems like you become a member and you can get press credentials. Are they any good?? Also noticed if you enroll in NYIP you also get press credentials.

Run, save your money, so that you can send it to me, and I will sell you a valid 'press credential' for half of what they charge, and it will be every bit as official looking and equally valuable (is zero a value?)

i really want to photograph the Super Bowl. how do i go about getting credentials?

narlus wrote in post #5887621
i really want to photograph the Super Bowl. how do i go about getting credentials?

Ha. Get a job at SI.