Press photographer: Job description

Press photographers take photographs to record news, current events and lifestyle stories. Their aim is to capture the best images in order to document an event, tell a story or convey a message. The pictures are then reproduced in newspapers, magazines and, increasingly, niche-market, web-based publications.

Press photographers sometimes specialise in a particular field, such as sport, current events or entertainment. The market is very competitive and many work on a freelance basis, using good business skills to sell their photographs to news agencies or publications. Some freelance photographers are members of picture libraries and supply their image to the archives from which papers and magazines then draw photographs. Bigger national and local newspapers at times also have their own in-house photographers. This work is also known as editorial photography.

Typical work activities

Press photography requires a combination of intuition, creativity and technical skills. Tasks commonly include:

• working closely with other people concerned with the story, such as journalists and picture editors, and agreeing the photographic requirements for a story;
• explaining technical photographic terminology to non-photographers;
• handling relevant administrative arrangements, such as timing, press passes, transport and access to restricted areas, venues and events;
• photographing events or personalities, noting details for photographic captions;
• adding relevant keywords to image files relating to the photographic content for library sites so the image is recognised in search engines;
• ensuring that all pictures are appropriate, processed, catalogued and ready in time to meet deadlines;
• preparing and sending digital photographs for newspaper publication to deadline;
• maintaining up-to-date knowledge about current news stories and any specialist areas;
• sourcing freelance photographers for a job or sourcing existing photographs if pushed to meet a deadline;
• arranging lighting and other requirements for magazine studio shoots;
• checking weather forecast and light values of areas and venues beforehand;
• maintaining photographic and electronic communications equipment.

For freelance work, additional activities include:

• researching and anticipating relevant events;
• negotiating the sale of specific shots;
• handling all business activities and establishing and maintaining contacts.