Freelance Photography

[Kevin.OBrien]

I was just wondering how one becomes a freelance photographer for the local newspaper. Do you have to "apply" for it or Do you just go around and take pictures of events and then take them to the newspaper and sell them? Another thing do you have to have credentials to legally do it?

Thanks in advance

[Mad Aussie]

You don't need credentials to legally freelance but you do, of course, have to declare the income according to your state laws etc. See your accountant about the best way to go about that one.

My freelancing came about by contacting the editors of the magazines, and the race promoters, and showing them my product. I sent in an article with sample photos of a race in my area and it was accepted and published. From there it was easy.
I even had an opposition magazine contact me to write and shoot for them as well.
Once my articles and photos were being seen in national magazines word of mouth led others to me as well.

All this sounds like I'm a pro ... I'm not. I probably wrote about 5-7 articles a year along with about 50 photos I suppose.

I mostly made income from photography by shooting events (officially with the race promoters ok) and selling them to the competitors on a website where they could choose and pay for then download their shots.
I had an email only yesterday from a Race promoter hoping I would shoot his event in June again after doing it last year. Also had a phone call yesterday from a competitor I sold some photos from asking for permission to use my photos on his blog.
Word of mouth can get around.

In the end though I have no experience with newspapers other than a couple of my shots being published for various reasons pertaining to sport/recreation. Small paper and I donated the photos free to help the sport.

I would think though if there was a special event around or something significant that happened and you got some good shots it's worth sending in low res copies to the editor of the newspaper to see if they offer you anything.

I'd also contact them and ask them how you would go about working with them? Don't undersell yourself ... newspaper photos don't have to be masterpeices in every way ... it's more the subject and composition thay need. The photo is always backed by the story in a paper.

[Kevin.OBrien]

Ok thats good info. I just got laid off and I need money bad and I was just wondering about it.

[Mad Aussie]

Sorry to hear that man! Hope you find something soon.