Press passes? or whatever??

[Montana]

How does one obtain the ability to attend events without paying or going 'through the front door' or whatever to cover an event (sports/music etc.)?

I find that if I turn my ballcap around backwards, throw my 600 f/4 over my shoulder and hang another camera body/lens combo off the other shoulder that I don't have any problems. Heck, security often opens the gate for me if my hands are full. LOL

 

[In2daBlue]

Throwing a hat on backwards and running around with big equipment is not going to get you into highly credentialed events. Small-time events it could work. But, try and get on the field at an NCAA or professional sporting event or a highly popular concert and you will be turned away at the door. Not to say it's not worth trying, but I wouldn't count on it.

Getting a press pass from your local press association is not really that hard, even as a freelancer. All you have to is get 1-3 (depending on the press association) of their member publications to sign you on as a freelancer and they can apply for the credential. Getting signed on as a freelancer with smaller publications can be easier than some think. Just put together a portfolio and present it to editors. Some will turn you down, depending on your portfolio, but others will offer you an assignment to see how things go.

But, a word of caution, even a press pass from a state press association is only a first step. Most big events and entertainment venues have their own credentialing system where a state press association pass is only the first step to obtaining credentials.

ATV guy has another approach. If you specialize what you shoot and limit it to one type of event, it's fairly easy to freelance that kind of coverage out to specialty pubs and niche sources. I have friend who only shoots horse shows. He never gets into sporting events or music concerts but he has front row access to any horse show he wants. I have another friend who quit newspaper photography to shoot rodeos all the time. Often times, specialization is the key to starting a freelance career.

 

[LuckySo-n-So]

How does one obtain the ability to attend events without paying or going 'through the front door' or whatever to cover an event (sports/music etc.)?

I find that if I turn my ballcap around backwards, throw my 600 f/4 over my shoulder and hang another camera body/lens combo off the other shoulder that I don't have any problems. Heck, security often opens the gate for me if my hands are full. LOL

I tried this last night at the LSU v. Auburn game. While I didn't have a bazooka like the 600 f/4, I did have two bodies and a 70-200--and I turned my ballcap backwards (must be instinctive ). I just walked right through the gate and on to the field. I was able to get some ok shots of the pre-game warmups, band, cheerleaders, and the head coach.

When the game started, I took a knee at one endzone. A sheriff asked me where my armband was, so I said I didn't have one and pretended to leave, but went to the other endzone. It then took all of 1 minute for an LSU official to ask me for a credential. I was "escorted" off the field, but not kicked out of the stadium. They weren't mean about it or anything. The just told me to get my butt off the field.

 

[igloopants]

Lol nice. I'll have to get me a ballcap..

I was at a music event on the weekend that seemed to have a sectioned off area right at the front of the stages (wasn't too many people around during the day so I could still get close). I'm pretty sure security would of let me in, I don't think they cared as it wasn't too busy (but I was too nervous to even try lol - it was the first time I'd covered an event with my new (and first) camera)

I want to start covering events for local Australian websites but I still need alot of photo's to make my first portfolio, so at the moment I have nothing by my camera and legs to take me places...

I might practise the confidence to smart-talk my way into closed areas.

Does anyone know what places I can go to in Australia for joining organisations etc. ?

 

[smn_xps]

In austrailia you could try rugby club games or high school rugby games. I suspect that high school and club games would be fairly easy to get into just like they are here. This should give you a chance at getting some portfolio shots and possibly some by-lines in the local papers. after that follow your nose, and the advice offered about signing on as a freelancer. I bet rugy club players would buy some prints if you got some really good stuff. I personally thing rugby is one of the more photogenic sports due to having several players in close action nearly non stop.

I shoot at a lot of my kid's age-group swim meets, it gives me lots of opportunities to get good shots of my son and his teammate's parents soemtimes buy a shot here and there.

around here we have lots of "battle of the bands" events and local feswtival type events with local bands. they are almost all cheap opportunities to shoot concert type stuff.

again i think good shots would sell to the local papers.

good luck,
jerry

 

[igloopants]

How are you meant to approach local papers with a bunch of photo's?

Don't they have paid journalists?

 

[LuckySo-n-So]

How are you meant to approach local papers with a bunch of photo's?

Don't they have paid journalists?

Newspapers can't afford to send a journalist out to EVERY SINGLE EVENT. So they use what are called "stringers."

These are basically freelancers who shoot or cover lesser events for the paper, but do so for little or no pay, just to gain experience.

 

[igloopants]

What would one say to a newspaper in approaching them to ask to be a stringer?

 

[Eco]

1. Create a website/blog relating to the topic, for example I have a "green site", and Eco Tour site and a travel forum.
2. Call the venue owner or marketing departing and offer to spotlight them on your website/blog. Generally promising to write a 300-500 word review along with a few pictures will do the job.
3. Actually publish the review! Once you build up a few reviews it will really open the door for you with bigger places.

 

[Kegger]

As a freelancer myself, who still doesn't have a press pass for anything, talking is my way in.

Of course it's well in advance, with an event coordinator, and my editor on the line.

Just gotta know who to call.

 

[smn_xps]

How are you meant to approach local papers with a bunch of photo's?

Don't they have paid journalists?

yes,


and yes,


Your local paper will almost certainly have a paid photographer or two, they may also be reporters. Either way if you show up at the sports editors desk with a quality photo and a cut line that you offer for free they will probably take it to run if there is space available. After you have given a few good shots that they have used, ask if they can offer some payment if you continue to provide good material. A cut line is the caption that describes the photo and is often placed below the photo in the paper. be sure to include who, what, when, where in your cut line. the editor will probably not take your shots without good cut lines or at least the info so that he can write the cut.

make sure you begin a file of pages with your photos on them. this can be used to establish your history of publishing event photos when you try for bigger events/publishers.

get out there and get some good shots, then go get them published.

do not forget to sell to the people in the photos when you can. for example if you get some great shots at a rugby match, go to the next match of each team (if practical) and take some proofs.

good luck
jerry