Those who freelance for newspapers...questions..

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/25/2006 07:21:41 PM · #1

I have been hired to do freelance work for a local magazine as well as the island's newspaper. They both know that I am a stay-at-home mom and that availability can be an issue.

My question is how does it work for your newspaper? Do they send out a list of things that need shot to all the freelancers and you pick and choose? That seems to be the case with the newspaper.

I did freelance for a couple magazines back in Pensacola...but have never worked with a newspaper. I am not sure what to expect!

I am nervous, as always!

arnit

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

05/25/2006 07:30:18 PM · #2

I've worked alot for a newspaper. Usually they call me and ask me if I can work from 9-17 or 16-0 tomorrow or the other day. Then I come in and get a list with what I'm supposed to shoot today. The photographers usually don't choose. There is just one boss that hands out takes to the photographers.

Sometimes they just call you with short notice and ask you to shoot a sportsmatch or just anything.

I think the most simple think to do is to ask them :) That would solve the problem because the workflow for different newspapers isn't the same.

Hope that helped you :)

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

05/25/2006 07:34:04 PM · #3

Yes it did :)

I am going in to meet with them next week and sign some sort of paperwork. I hope I get a press pass...LOL!!!

I am just excited to be doing something. It's always nice to feel like you are contributing something to society.

(yes, I know...raising children is contributing something...yada, yada, yada...lol)

coolhar

05/25/2006 07:38:53 PM · #4

Originally posted by JRalston:

I've never done that kind of work so not much help here. But you have no reason to be nervous. Your skill as a photography, and your equipment, make you qualified, or over-qualified. It's just something new you need to get used to.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/25/2006 07:46:52 PM · #5

Originally posted by coolhar:

Thanks :)

I have a huge fear of failing. I get so sick to my stomach nervous that I want to quit! (I don't ever quite though) I just wish I could NOT be so nervous.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

05/25/2006 08:10:11 PM · #6

Just trust your gut, and don't get frazzled by it :)

Your experience will likely depend on what kind of newspaper photography they expect you to do. When I was working for a newspaper on a regular basis in the 80s, I could get a call a day or two before an event where I was to go shoot a group photo, or someone handing one of those giant novelty checks to someone, etc. Sports shots would also fall into this category.

Or I could get a call that an accident had just happened, and I should head there as quickly as possible to get shots at the scene. One time I got a call about a suspected drowning incident at a nearby lake, and they wanted shots of the rescue effort from the air. That was probably the coolest phone call I've ever received, because they told me to head to the airport and "a plane would be waiting for me."

Another possibility is feature shots, where they just want some sort of human interest shot. A kid playing somewhere... someone going about their daily work... blah blah blah. Those shots were often the toughest to get because I just had to drive around and find something that fit the bill.

In any case, congrats on the assignment -- you'll do great!

PS -- Arnit is right... don't expect that you'll get to choose. Otherwise photographers would get into big arguments about who gets to do what, and that would be a mess. Generally there's someone assigned to dispatch photographers to specific assignments.

Message edited by author 2006-05-25 20:12:31.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

05/25/2006 08:16:30 PM · #7

Thank you Alan :)

As long as I am not asked to shoot anything involving kids being hurt......I'll try anything :)

That is so cool that you got to shoot from a plane. What a blast. Was it hard composing shots from that high up? I imagine it would be totally different from shooting from the ground.

Cutter

Nikon D700

05/25/2006 08:16:36 PM · #8

keep us posted, JRalston....

edit: The reason being, I am getting ready to make the large contact rounds in my area and see if my services can be used, and it is great to here stories of experience...

Message edited by author 2006-05-25 20:17:35.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/25/2006 08:22:12 PM · #9

There are a couple things that help to get good shots from a plane:

If you have your choice of plane (doesn't everyone?!)... get one with the wings that are fixed above the door instead of the ones below. It's really hard to work around the wings otherwise.

I've had my best luck with the window open. Obviously summertime is a much better time for this kind of thing. It gets tricky shooting out the window since the glass can be distorted at the bottom where it attaches to the door, and can distort the image. And you're generally shooting downward, near where the window gets funky like that.

Use a fast shutter speed... the rumbling of the plane, coupled with a long lens, can cause more motion blur than you might realize!

And don't be afraid to ask the pilot to do things, like lower the altitude or bank the plane to give you a better angle. I've always felt weird about asking a pilot to do a maneuver for me, but on the occasions I've done arial photography, they've always been happy to oblige!

Originally posted by JRalston:

That is so cool that you got to shoot from a plane. What a blast. Was it hard composing shots from that high up? I imagine it would be totally different from shooting from the ground.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/25/2006 08:28:51 PM · #10

Well, I hope I get an opportunity like that someday! It would be something else to see Guam from the air like that. I'd be able to see the entire island, most likely.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

05/25/2006 09:59:57 PM · #11

don't forget about the "Trials and Tribulations of Skippy, Cub Photographer", found here (scroll down)

;-)

good luck, have fun!