How to Become a Press Photographer?
The world of press photography can be very stressful. It might require you to do a large amount of traveling. It also might require you to have a large amount of confidence and self-starting motivation. Many times, you’ll find that those being photographed by the press don’t exactly make the press’s job easy to do. If you are capable of this, press photography can be a very exciting and rewarding career. You will only need a few items and to follow a few steps to make this adventure a possibility. If you want to become a press photographer there are a few things you must do. The least of which is becoming proficient in your field. It goes without saying that you will need to be able to use your camera quickly and easily, and be able to pull it out in the nick of time, as well as use it in uncomfortable situations. Again, familiarize yourself with your equipment. The next item you will need to address is your press credentials. Most events that allow press and press photographers will require those attending to have the proper identification.
Most often, these forms of I.D. will come from the news organization that the press members are representing. If you find yourself needing a press pass, try to find employment with a local news company, journalist, or reporting agency. This will get you the credentials you need. If you don’t want to sacrifice your current career, you can always approach a news company with the proposition of freelance work in hopes of getting a press pass for a specific event. Once you have the equipment and proper credentials, you are ready to begin your press photography career. When you arrive at your predetermined location, gain entry and quickly position yourself where you will produce good images.
Simply being a press photographer is not enough to get you published! You will have to work hard to find the perfect shot every time you find yourself at a press event. After the event, you might find yourself with a large amount of audio, video or photographic material. One of your final steps in becoming a press photographer is sorting through all this material to find the pieces that are suitable for publication. If you are not publishing as a freelance photographer, the final publishing decisions will probably rest with the company that provided you with press credentials. When the proper pieces of media have been selected, sit back and relax.