Press photographer
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.
Press photography requires a combination of intuition, creativity and technical skills. Typical activities include:
For freelance work, additional activities include:
Although this area of work is open to all graduates and diplomates, the following subjects may increase your chances:
It is possible to become a press photographer without a degree/HND or foundation degree and with no formal qualifications in photography. However, if you are undecided as to your direction, taking a course will give you the chance to develop your own creative style while exploring different aspects of photography. Creative Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Industries has a full listing of all universities and colleges offering photo-imaging courses in the UK, including courses accredited by the Association of Photographers (AOP) and the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) .
For candidates looking to go directly into press photography, a pre-entry qualification is not essential but can be advantageous, as it gives formal training and demonstrates motivation for the work.National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) runs a one-year, pre-entry course in photo-journalism/press photography at Sheffield College , which provides intensive practical and theoretical training, including a range of work placements.
This is currently the only pre-entry course available directly aimed at preparing people for a job in press photography and is widely recognised within the industry. You will study towards the NCTJ Preliminary Certificate in Journalism (press photographers).
Pre-entry experience is desirable and developing the necessary technical skills and portfolio before approaching picture editors is essential. Start by getting photographs published in local newspapers on a freelance basis. Freelance work may be followed by commissioned pieces or paid shifts. Work experience on a local paper is advisable as it can offer the opportunity of work shadowing and developing informal contacts.
When applying for work, you will need to show evidence of:
Competition is fierce with lots of freelance photographers competing in the market place. It is a good idea to send some of your best pictures speculatively to picture editors and photo agencies, tailoring your selection to their style, and follow this up with a phone call. It can also pay to develop a particular specialist area, such as sport.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Training varies between newspapers. With some papers, new recruits start by shadowing other photographers before being given their own assignments in order to build their confidence. Papers may also offer on-the-job or in-house training schemes. The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) endorses a direct entry training scheme whereby trainees employed within the industry are given on-the-job training supplemented by a 12-week block release course in press photography, currently available at Sheffield College. This course prepares trainees for the National Certificate Examination (NCE) (as does the NCTJ pre-entry course), which examines all-round competence in a range of skills and is the professional, senior qualification offered by the NCTJ.
The British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) runs one-day workshops covering a wide range of photography disciplines as well as business skills. The workshops lead to several levels of professional qualification. Photographers who attain BIPP qualifications are highly regarded within the industry.
The Bureau of Freelance Photographers runs a correspondence course, focused on work in the commercial market, while local photographic societies and clubs can also provide information on photography courses and projects available within the community.
As part of your continuing professional development (CPD), you will be expected to keep up to date with the latest software, as virtually all papers today expect their photographers to work exclusively in digital. You may need to be trained in video for work on newspaper and magazine websites. You may also be required to take courses in management and team leadership.
In order to progress your career, it is vital to keep up to date with advances in technology so that you can improve your images and send them quickly. Most photographers have the means to email, retouch and print images on the spot. Photographers are spending more and more time on computers improving images for that perfect photograph. Digital photographic libraries can be easily created on the internet with easy-to-use software, enabling your work to be viewed and sold all over the world.
Apart from improving your skills, you can develop your career as a press photographer in several ways, including:
There is a structured career path within local papers that you may choose to follow: from junior press photographer to senior press photographer, and through to chief photographer or ultimately picture editor.
It may not always be easy to move between different fields of photography. Once you have specialised in one area, you may find that you have been pigeonholed by clients.
There is also an option to move into photojournalism, where the photographer also takes on a certain amount of writing. However, generally speaking, photographers are unlikely to make the move from being a photographer to a journalist.
Most press photographers work for one of the provincial daily or evening papers, one of the weeklies, or an agency, or they may be self-employed.
National newspapers only recruit experienced photographers who have acquired a substantial track record and experience in covering a specific area. In national and large regional papers you may be a member of a large team of photographers, covering major breaking stories of international interest and working under the pressure of deadlines to get the best pictures in the paper. At this level, it will be assumed that you can use a camera proficiently, but it will be important to show that you can handle people, meet deadlines and be in the right place at the right time to get the pictures.
In local papers, the news might seem less dramatic than in the national press, but it will be of equal importance to those involved and to local readers. You will cover everything from golden wedding celebrations to annual flower and produce shows.
Magazines sometimes employ photographers with particular specialist areas, such as food or gardens. The emphasis here is more likely to be on creative skills and producing a suitable layout. Some magazines only employ freelance photographers.
A vast number of press photographers are self-employed, working either entirely on their own or in a small business with other photographers. Clearly, photographic skills are vital, but the ability to run the business is equally essential. If you work as a freelance, it is important to maintain contact with editors in the various papers and magazines, to suggest ideas for stories or even to set up your own story through pictures and sell it to the publication.
The Association of Photographers (AOP) website provides useful draft invoices and licences to protect your work.
The Newspaper Society and the Periodicals Training Council (PTC) may be able to point to further sources.
Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies. Appropriately targeted speculative applications can be effective.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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