Free-lance?

nealjpage · Feb 23, 2007

Ok, so I'm not sure where this thread belongs :er:, but I figured that I'd put it here. I was at a concert the other day, and was dismayed that I couldn't bring a camera into the auditorium. Then I saw all of the "pro" photographers down near the front and I wondered, "Hey, how do I get to do that?" So, since I didn't have any answers for myself, I figured I'd ask all of you. I assume that many of them were free-lancers, but how do they get the clearance to get down front to shoot pictures of great bands when I have to sit in the back and not take any pics at all?

Sw1tchFX · Feb 23, 2007

The glories of press passes

nealjpage · Feb 23, 2007

Sw1tchFX said:
The glories of press passes

How do I get one of those???:hail:

Jeremy Z · Feb 23, 2007

I think you have to work for a newspaper, magazine, etc.

If not, I'm all over it too.

The problem is that once you get the press pass, you don't own your own images any more.

neea · Feb 23, 2007

If you were to graduate from the New York Institute of Photography you get a free 'press pass'. However, I imagine if you were to go to a big event with that pass... they'd laugh in your face.

I would try phoning the venue and asking if there was any way you could go take pictures. Perhaps they'd issue a pass.

Aquarium Dreams · Feb 23, 2007

Jeremy Z said:
I think you have to work for a newspaper, magazine, etc.

If not, I'm all over it too.

The problem is that once you get the press pass, you don't own your own images any more.

Why not found your own magazine and issue yourself a press pass?

nealjpage · Feb 24, 2007

Aquarium Dreams said:
Why not found your own magazine and issue yourself a press pass?

There ya go! Comes out once a year and has a subscription of one. :lol:

JIP · Feb 24, 2007

To get a press pass you either need to work for someone or know someone. Generally passes are issued event specific depending on the size of the event and venue. I have worked for several papers and have been issued passes for everything from Steelers and Pirates games to high school football. When it came to high school football you did have to identify yourself as being with someone or they would have every parent with a Digital Rebel and a 300 lens standing on the sidelines and shooting pics of their kid and this would not be conducive to a good game. Conversly I have also been issued passes, as I said to Steelers an Pirates games (I'm from Pgh) and they were very event specific you needed to have one for the game you were at issued to you specificaly. I know this is not concerts but I imagine the rules are fairly similar.

dewey · Feb 24, 2007

Jeremy Z said:
The problem is that once you get the press pass, you don't own your own images any more.

That's not true. There are alot of newspaper chains where the photographers hold the copyrights. The power of the union. :lol:

I would say contact your local paper(s) and see if they need stringers... you will need a portfolio to be considered most of the time - kind of a nasty catch 22.

Jeff Canes · Feb 24, 2007

You must request a pass with justification why needed from the event promoter/organizer. The promoter/organizer may refuse at their will. The promoter/organizer own the copyright to the event and its redistribution. The photographer would only have “Fair Use” rights. That is when you sample a copyrighted item for review or critique.

DeepSpring · Feb 24, 2007

nealjpage said:
There ya go! Comes out once a year and has a subscription of one.

I was seriously thinking of this.

If I went to the door of some club and it looked like I had a legit pass and lets say an ID for a little rock zine are they really going to look up and see if its a real publication? Do I have them call my cell which is turned off and make my message machine say "welcome to so and so rock zine we are closed right now please call back 9-5 mon - fri"

nealjpage · Feb 24, 2007

Wow. This is a lot more complicated than I had orginally thought. So are free-lancers usually affiliated with a particular newspaper, i.e., I usually sell my shots to the local paper, so they'll back my request for a pass with the expectation that I'll get them some decent shots?

DeepSpring · Feb 24, 2007

http://socalrockstop.blogspot.com/

My friend and I decided to start our own rock blog. If anyone wants to be a contributing photographer and writer I could make you a press pass and you can go shoot a show and write a small article about it.

You wouldn't be able to get into big venues obviously but I'm sure you could get into smaller ones.

Some one chime in if this sounds like it is somehow breaking the law

neea · Feb 24, 2007

DeepSpring said:
http://socalrockstop.blogspot.com/

My friend and I decided to start our own rock blog. If anyone wants to be a contributing photographer and writer I could make you a press pass and you can go shoot a show and write a small article about it.

You wouldn't be able to get into big venues obviously but I'm sure you could get into smaller ones.

Some one chime in if this sounds like it is somehow breaking the law

This sounds like a great idea. I'll have to bookmark this page for later.
The advantage of this is that maybe it could help build a portfolio. Even though it's at small events it would show larger establishments that you're interested, you're serious, you know what you're doing, and want to move up to bigger events.

I really like this idea!!!!! :hail: