bigrob wrote:
Great pics as usual Gmen.
On the other subject, our local paper recently had a picture of a Blackheath rugby player. I know I'm not a great photographer myself and am learning, but I was shocked at how blury the pic was and not really newsworthy either.
I know I can take better pictures. How do you approach the local papers with pics & are they likely to pay?
Thanks bigrob!
PhotosGuy certainly suggests the right approach if you are going to contact a local paper with a view to selling them somes pics. It's always a good idea to pick up the phone and speak to the sports' editor - and subsequently e-mailing a link to a (small) gallery of samples will help your cause.
One key thing: Don't forget to add FULL captions to your gallery. Taking the pics is not enough, remember to i.d. the participants as well as adding any other relevant information.
Many local papers will pay freelancers. Most have a budget for this. In fact, because the main sporting events are at weekends, a significant proportion of the pics are taken by freelancers since the staffers like to get their Saturday & Sundays off! This won't be true of every paper but it's certainly the case in my area.
The rates will vary, primarily dependent on circulation. http://www.newspapersoc.org.uk/
will give you a feel for the different circulations of all the regional and local papers.
Then there will be some variations in rates due to actual usage - i.e. a big colour pic on the back page of the paper may fetch more than a small black & white pic used inside.
There are various arrangements you can enter into, for example...
(i) You could charge per image published. Every single time the paper uses one of the pics you've submitted, you add it to your invoice.
(ii) You could charge per 'job'. You submit, say, 6 images from an event and that gives the paper full use of those six images for a flat rate.
Swings and roundabouts really.
Obviously ensure you agree any terms before your first submission. As a freelancer you will be able to retain copyright of your images and also ensure that all requests for reprints are directed to you.
Remember to check the paper's deadlines and ALWAYS meet them.
Don't forget stock photos - e.g. individual player shots - that can be used to illustrate a story when no photographer was actually present. Submit these during a lull in the proceedings - editors love to get them but just not around deadline time!
Be proactive, let them know early in the week what events you are able to cover. This will increase your profile.
Good luck. Just remember that word 'budget' - most locals won't want you to be invoicing them for too much every month. So it's a good idea to have 'arrangements' with 2-3 papers to spread the 'load' and to maximise your own return.
Hope that helps a little!
---- Gavin
