About freelance reportage

[italy74]

My friends

I've always thought to be sensitive to others' problem and willingful to help who has no words or ability to speak. Being inside photography since a few years I'm considering to become a freelance reporter or joining some agencies for a test but, starting from scratch, I admit I have idea at all on what to do, how to do and where to look.
Probably some of you who have been reporters in the past could give me a few hints to start with. Actually, I don't think to become a full-time pj but to be able to provide to someone a good story in the case I have it when traveling abroad. I wouldn't really waste the possibility I have to show to others what happens out there. Life is only one and I'd like to spend it for others, no matter what could happen: at least, my conscience seems to tell me to do that.

 

[Florian1234]

Dino, this is a good basis, I think. And I'm like that, too.

In fact I'm just starting to do a small reportage project here in my hometown. It might be for an exhibition and even for the local newspaper.
It is not that easy for me right now, but I hope to get some good results.

So, in general, I'm also interested in the topic you started here. Maybe someone could put some light on it.

 

[Socke]

It's not easy! The competition is huge and the royalties are low. A picture in a newspaper may bring as much as 120 Euro or as low as 7.

Flo, the latter is what BTAG pays 🙂

Most PJs I know follow the police and the firebrigade, when they get known and are lucky they get assignments from the papers and are payed by the hour and get travel expenses. But not every day!

 

[emraphoto]

a photojournalist and a press photographer are different beasts. to become a freelance "photojournalist" would require some moxy beyond what being a stringer for your local paper would.

 

[emraphoto]

if your conscience is burning and you feel you need to get involved then start looking at NGO's who fit your way of looking at things. many of them are in need of volunteer photographers and some of the bigger ones even hire them. CARE, Unicef that sort.

 

[Florian1234]

a photojournalist and a press photographer are different beasts. to become a freelance "photojournalist" would require some moxy beyond what being a stringer for your local paper would.

That's totally clear. I'm not assigned for it. But have contacts, so maybe it will end up published that way.

 

[OurManInTangier]

a photojournalist and a press photographer are different beasts. to become a freelance "photojournalist" would require some moxy beyond what being a stringer for your local paper would.

This is spot on. Alot of people use the term PJ when really they're talking about being a news photographer (i.e. a press snapper, a common UK term if not a global term. )

Photojournalism is very much tougher simply because the market is so small. In my experience an agency would be the best bet for getting started but you'll need some good images from a project or projects that are imaginative, well conceived, planned, edited and are original in concept and/or content.

I was lucky enough to bump into a PJ from the VII Agency (Jocelyn Bain-Hogg) who sat and talked at length with me about getting started as a PJ. One of the things that stuck with me was that it isn't the quality of the individual images that counts so much as the project itself as a whole and the simple fact you need to get out there and do it!

Freelancing in any sphere is about motivation and hard work, with that and the right backing/ contacts you may well get the work you dream of.

I am trying to go down this route myself and have started working with various charities as a means to getting more cohesive projects with the backing and contacts that are so hard to find when starting out on your own.

Good luck to you, I hope it works out

 

[Phantomas]

I’m in the same boat, although the difference is I don’t want to dive into photojournalism as a career, rather I’d like to drive my hoby towards it. I spend way too much time on photography anyway and street photography documentary style interests me the most.

My recent big “photojournalism” project came recently. Everyone who knows me knows I’m crazy about photography and constantly look for some projects to work for. Somehow, through friends, Amsterdam’s Animal Shelter got in touch with me and asked me to do reportage about their work and animals they take care of. I was only happy to do so. Mind you, I did it for free. Partly because I do not care about making money from photography and getting involved in the administrative side and partly because of the topic of the shoot – animal shelter, charity, NGO, etc.
So I went there for one day early in the morning, they granted me access to all areas, assigned me an intern to help me and show me around and off I went – shot 1000 frames of dogs, cats, caretakers at work, vet performing operations, basically a day in the life of the shelter. I’m very pleased and now working on processing the results. They’ll get them for free and use them for promoting animals for adoption and will use the documentary part for promoting their organization.
Working on this shoot was fantastic. I’m now looking to do similar projects (for free!!). Found a friend of a friend who takes care of disabled people and now talking to her to allow me to make a small documentary either about people’s daily life or about her work.
NGO is also a good idea. I’m soon in a process of changing jobs (exiting one, haven’t found another) and was thinking of taking a month off to travel and work on a photoproject. What kind of project, I have to make one up. Either that or I’m trying to find some NGOs who might need some reportage, in which case I’ll do it for free in exchange for possibly accommodation but most importantly for contacts in the remote parts of the world.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

The competition for the declining venues for photojournalism is huge, especially when you are competing against so many who are willing to do the work for free as a door into the business.

 

[emraphoto]

photojournalism although fiercely competitive is not impossible. don't be put of your course before you get started.
start working on your media phone book now. fill it with pix desk contacts, magazine photo editors, grant competitions and their deadlines and anything else relevant.
as mentioned a cohesive and complete project is of the utmost importance. whether an an agency, magazine or NGO they will all look at your ability to follow and present a complete story.
pick this up and make it your bible:

http://www.apstylebook.com/

do. do. do. yes there are folks doing it for free, interns to compete with and the ever present hordes of shooters to compete with. you must be more committed than everyone else because the early years will separate the wheat from the chaff as they say.

 

[newspaperguy]

Many local newspapers (a diminishing number each day) will use unique news shots, but don't expect pay... if you're lucky, you will get a credit line. In the same vein, most TV stations are now soliciting viewer photos - same payscale.
Either, or both, can add to your portfolio.

 

[thinkfloyd]

...Amsterdam’s Animal Shelter got in touch with me and asked me to do reportage about their work and animals they take care of. I was only happy to do so. Mind you, I did it for free. Partly because I do not care about making money from photography and getting involved in the administrative side and partly because of the topic of the shoot – animal shelter, charity, NGO, etc...

Pretty much how I started. I sought out the local animal shelter (PAWS or Philippine Animal Welfare Society) and offered my services. I started out taking portraits for the pets up for adoption (shooting ISO1600 with a strobe in the middle of the tropical sun... talk about nervous! haha) and taking pics of the shelter itself. It was published in one of the top newspapers here and my portraits, despite being hella grainy, was blown up to about 10 feet to advertise the shelter's fundraisers. This was scattered all throughout the metro. I was tapped again to be the main photographer for their fundraising, "Pose for PAWS" it was called, and proceeded to take portraits of pets and their owners (socialites, actors and actresses, models and beauty queens were among those I shot). This led to private portrait shoots for the rich and famous, family portraits, pet portraits, and it paid well. I am now one of the known "pioneers" of pet photography here in the Philippines and the clout it brought served me well. Having projects for magazines, newspapers and private clientele. All this happened in less than a year!

Unfortunately, circumstances led me to abandon my budding photography career (family and financial problems), and was out of the scene for a long time. Now I am starting from scratch again, hoping that the network I built would still be there for me...

Moral of the story: Just go out and do it.

 

[capitalK]

I live in a small town and pursued it for a while... The editor of the local daily told me straight up that they are not interested in good photographs, but only in reporters who can take a decent pic to accompany the story. A 2-for-1 deal. I offered to be available as a stringer for sports but he politely declined.

I worked in the newsroom of a local online news source, which was fun, but I didn't make enough money to survive and feed my family. Maybe in a bigger market I could do better. I am on the list as a stringer for a national newspaper but have not gotten any assignments (not much happens in my neck of the woods). Maybe if I was more aggressive pitching story ideas I could do more.

For now I have reserved myself to shoot for myself.

I have a close friend who when to school for photojournalism and is now very successful (world press photo award, etc). I did not go to school and am not nearly as successful (no world press photo award, etc) 😀

 

[nksyoon]

Your location is listed as Northern Italy, why not contact the Grazia Neri agency in Milan and ask their advice? Maybe not to join them immediately, but to get career advice.

http://www.grazianeri.com/

Another option would be to visit the annual Photojournalism festival in Perpignan where you can meet many photographers, editors and agencies.

 

[italy74]

Hi guys

thanks for your advices. As some have rightfully hinted, I didn't mean the "classic" "photojournalist" of any city or local newspaper who works for money to survive, rather someone as many others in the world who don't see it as a work or to get money but simply as a rule given by one's conscience. So, yes, I'm already contacting a few NGO, well knowing that actually my experience is just more theoretical than practical.

About Grazia Neri, of course I thought of it but it means having a portfolio of images particularly good to show and this is not my case. Actually I already have another work (and also a home loan) so that it should be an occasional work or something I can manage with ease. The latest thing I want and the first I realize is that my idealistic nature tends to push me to realities bigger than I think and this means only looking for troubles for free. I DO want to follow my conscience but at this point I should do this only if I'd lose my actual job (casually for a three letters BIG (and BLUE) american company!)

I'd like to know if there are some kind of "basic rules" one should apply in this field. I'm not looking for "shortcuts" rather to avoid rough mistakes given by inexperience which can "fire" you. Usually people look for DO this DO that... I look for a DON'T DO... this, DON'T do.. If any of you is in the field has for sure some things he might want to share with us. An old indian proverb says "sell knowledge, purchase intuition". I'm here to ask you to share (sell) a part of your valuable experience and hints so that I can think of it.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[emraphoto]

wow, i have never thought of it that way.

i would say do not misrepresent yourself. ever. be forthcoming and truthful about what you are doing. good work comes from trust and building relationships. don't ever forget the trust part.

oh, and don't wear a white scarf. they're done.