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. This work is also known as editorial photography.

Typical work activities

Press photography requires a combination of intuition, creativity and technical skills. Typical activities 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;
• photographing events or personalities, noting details for photographic captions;
• 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 shots;
• 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.