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Etiquette in approaching photo editors as a newcomer
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I realise this topic has been discussed here before and the general conscensus was that there is no magic or closely guarded secret for getting in contact with a photo editor, but as an enthusiast gradually working towards going pro, I have very little experience of journalism, but a good deal of experience making pictures.
So I was wondering how one would compose an email offering pictures of a certain event etc. to multiple photo editors. Is it adviseable to simply send out a blanket email to all editors, and wait for some to bite, or to send an email with photos already attached? I have tried local papers with some degree of success, credit only :( . It seems that when I email the editor personally I get some sort of response but when emailing as part of a group I do not. I also use a file sending program, yousendit, for sending large files. This program sends the recipient a link from which they can download the files. Would it be more adviseable to send the images attached directly to the email?
I have also not been discussing anything like rates for pics until the editor has emailed me expressing interest. So far I have a few photos published as credit only but it is time to move away from this. What is a reasonable rate per pic for a budget conscious local paper and how low is too low?
When calling the nationals and having to explain that I was unknown and new on the scene I was asked was I NUJ. I don’t really regard myself as a photojournalist, more an aspiring freelancer. Could anyone tell me what are the benefits of being in the NUJ, as I’m sure there are many, and does it cater towards photojournalists as well as journo’s?
A large number of photographers (freelance and staff) tend now not to join the NUJ. You need to earn a certain amount before you can even apply to join the NUJ. But, the NUJ rates of pay for images are slightly better than being a non-member.
Generally, when submitting images to the newpapers, you want the images to be just around 1mb in size. No larger. You definitely don’t need to send 5mb files.
You should send email directly to each editor, rather than sending to multiple. Even editors want to feel special. ;-)
Papers have set rates of pay for images. Ask them for their rate card. Sometimes it’s a set price (anything from €40 up), and sometimes it depends on what page and size of image printed.
You should always be credited for your image, AND paid.
Hopefully that is of some help.
It’s best not just to send off images in the hope of getting them in the paper, unless of course its very news worthy and i mean VERY newsworthy… A simple phone call asking the editor if they maybe be interested something rather thaan shooting something and then trying to off load them is best .
Another way is
Target a paper locally buy it read it and study it! see what type of image they use if ANY! read the WHATS ON page if they have one, pick what you think the best event to cover from that page and go and shoot it..Pretend you are covering it for the paper in your head.. take some shots 4/5 is more than enough no need to spend all day doing it get all the details of people in the pic. Go home edit them load them to your website …
Now this is the important bit email a link from your website and a quick cover email do not email photos to the paper ( I know from experience you wil piss them off no end if you send in4/5 images and they have to wait forever for them to open. The reason being the editor wants to see quickly if they would use them or not you’d be surprised how many photos they get and how easily they are pissed off!!) 1MB is to small they will just ask you for a bigger file so dont bother sending it , if they want a pic they will ask you to send the full file uncropped.
Now I wouldnt expect to get any up take on the images first time round, but what you have done is made them aware that you are around and looking expect to do the above quite a few times , if they like what they see and continue to like what they see over a time you will get a phone call one day saying yes we like images 3 and 5 – they will tell you for how much it won’t be €40 for each pic thats for sure unless its very news worthy and I mean VERY!!!! ..if they are going to use you on a regular basis you will have a set fee more than likly for the first pic of an event this amount usually dropping by a fiver for each other photo of the same event and some travel time all will be agreed in advance
The decline in the paper business almost means for sure you will not ever make a living at it anymore, more and more journalists are shooting with compact cameras and thast they way it has gone, Only expect to get the work that no one else will do weekends nights last minute stuff.. If you don’t – Can’t or are not available for last minute stuff you will never get anywhere And if they phone you and you cant do it dont expect another phone call after all there are other people also looking… If you say you will cover something for them and dont you are DONE with the paper and if you go and dont get some good pics you are also done !!
But dont be put off if after a while you dont hear anything that dosnt mean they are not thinking about you… drop them a mail give them a phone call drop in and ask to see the editor ( if its a local paper) iif its a weekly drop in the day after the paper comes out they wont be so busy.. Just a word about photo credit .. dont bother about it why would you ?? if its there in the paper take a photo of it then you have a tearsheet which is what ohter papers will ask to see as you progress and seek other work . leave the credit for those who need to see their names in the paper to massage their ego..
Hope this helps..
That’s interesting. For a certain local paper I know for a fact that they ask for files to be under 1mb, but the requirement seems to be different for nationals, higher standard I suppose. They also claim they don’t have the budgets to pay photographers, but it seems they just don’t have the budget to pay you if you are not established and they know you will submit it just to see it in print. What are peoples thoughts on the “unfortunately we can’t afford to pay for these shots, is a credit ok?” method? Am I being conned or is it more important to have them print my photo and know that I am somehow on their radar or should I hold tough and insist on some form of payment if they want to use an image? I know local papers are really struggling but at the same time if they can’t pay it’s cheeky to ask for the image for free.
Generic.Handle wrote:
That’s interesting. For a certain local paper I know for a fact that they ask for files to be under 1mb
Even many nationals ask for files around 1mb. Most agencies (UK and Irish) require file size to be approx 1mb. If larger is needed, then they will come back and request that. Obviously there are differences, and it will depend on what is bring printed and where.
Generic.Handle wrote:
What are peoples thoughts on the “unfortunately we can’t afford to pay for these shots, is a credit ok?” method?
What will credit get you? Can you buy gear with a credit line in a paper? Do you just want to see your image in a paper, or do you want to make some money from your photography?
Personally, I’m not at all in favour of this “credit” line. If they don’t want to pay, then they don’t get permission to use the image. Most of the stuff I have printed is on commission anyway, so I wouldn’t be sending images in on spec.
Allowing stuff to be printed for free is also doing damage to the industry as a whole, since the more free stuff they can print, the less they want to pay anyone. Giving your images for free is doing someone out of paid work.
Well I guess we can only give you our own personal experiences on file size.. If you give the images away just for a credit its along road then to get paid for them.. papers want the images for nothing and when you say enough is enough you now want money. they will just move onto the what seems endless line of guys willing to give it up for nothing . but its up to urself we all make our own choices…
Just a quick edit: I know for a fact that a big agency gave away free sporting images to a paper tut tut
I realise that giving images away is damaging the industry. Though I am part of the hated “semi-pro” category I want to be part of the solution rather than the problem, so I won’t be giving away images any longer. However what about a scenario in which I’m shooting for a client and they send in photos to the paper, and one of them makes the front page. This happened recently when I did a small job for small pay, but the photo got front page. If I had sent the photo in myself I may have earned more than what the client paid me, but obviously it was sent for promotional purposes and so was submitted as a free image. It stung though. Would I have any right to invoice the paper or would that just be plain silly?
its called a learning curve be careful when shooting for clubs the same thing happend to me 2 years ago covered a event for a club in which the fai pres was there they then without my permission passed it on to the papers it then appeared in two regional’s and a national with no photo credit :wink: sure there u go these things happen learn you learn as you go . Has never happened again
It would also depend on your agreement with the club you supplied the images to, and if you gave them the right to redistribute.
It happened to me once, and I made my point about it. Since then when the club want promo shots to be used in the papers, they simply direct the papers to contact me directly.
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