Press photographer : Training

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.