How to get your foot in the PJ door???

[Silvernic]

Anyone have any suggestions. I emailed the photo editor of the local newspaper, but no response. How did you all get your start?
Thanks, Nic

[CaptainTom]

I suggest that if you give up after one email, you may never get an assignment.

Unforturnately it will take some leg work, etc.

Call the paper and speak directly with anyone who will listen.
Go to the paper and speak with anyone who will listen. Make a pest of yourself if necessary.

If something you enconter out in the world looks interesting, take some photos and submit them to the paper. Let them know you can do the job. Come up with some story ideas, take photographs that tell the story and submit them.

Contact anyone who has ever taken a photos for the newspaper and contact them and let them know you are available for ANY assignments.

If you pester them enough, they will give you an assignment to get rid of you. Now you have to do a remarkable job so they will see you are for real.

don't give up.

[ShaneKislack]

How would we know?

[adirty1]

start small. the little paper with a town of 10k is always a great place to start. build your book and then go to the bigger papers. some mags will have a list of what they are going to do for the year. I know texas highways and tx parks is like that. Go get the list and shot for it. If they like it they will buy it and then maybe they will start to call you.

getting a book together is key and only way to do that is to work it for free or very low pay...

[PeteQ]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

How would we know?

Because there are several PJ's on this board.....

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

How would we know?

Some of us have "been there, done that"....

[Comanche]

This is an interesting thread - thanx for starting it.

I have no desire to "go pro." But, I love to write and I'm a bit more than passable with my photography skills. In the opinion of those who have "been there, done that", should I try to write a story and include photos with it when I submit it to the local small-town paper?

In other words, should I develop my own story and include my own photos? Take a look at http://virtualdoug.typepad.com/virtu...chest_poo.html Yes, I know it was written "blog style", but I can write straight as well.

I'm retired, and want to stay that way, but I would also like an outlet for my energy.

Whatcha say?

[rphoto]

I went to the local high school and got a pass to shot the football games from the sideline and meet their photographer. Turned out he is also the editor and a few months later he called me up called me wanting to know if I would shoot the fire and accident calls for them as a freelance photographer.

[CalebSimpson]

You really have to start off freelancing if you did not get a PJ degree our do any internships. I freelance for a local paper and a number of other clients. I got my foot in the door at the local paper by applying for a full time position. I was their second choice but it resulted in them using me as a freelancer. I would recomend calling and offering your services as a freelancer, but don't quit your day job freelancers for the papers don't get paid much at all.

[CalebSimpson]

oh and another thing...have an online portfolio to send a link with if you are going to do email contact. I had one client I used to shoot for whom had kept my info on file for months and randomly contacted me one day after their current shooter left. you never know what might happen, but don't stop shooting.

[PeteQ]

Lots of great advice and all I can add is to network, network, network. The guy you meet today may be the guy who call you next week because you were professional and cordial and had a card to give him/her.

Doug, having a story written with some good photos to accompany it sure won't hurt. Small town newspapers are usually looking for good filler work and an example sure goes a long way. Plus they get a little more bang for their buck.


Good luck folks!

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by Comanche

This is an interesting thread - thanx for starting it.

I have no desire to "go pro." But, I love to write and I'm a bit more than passable with my photography skills. In the opinion of those who have "been there, done that", should I try to write a story and include photos with it when I submit it to the local small-town paper?

In other words, should I develop my own story and include my own photos? Take a look at http://virtualdoug.typepad.com/virtu...chest_poo.html Yes, I know it was written "blog style", but I can write straight as well.

I'm retired, and want to stay that way, but I would also like an outlet for my energy.

Whatcha say?

YES
smaller market papers have little or no full time staff to write feature articles and human interest stories. You might make an appointment with the local editor and put out a couple of ideas, show him/her your work, and see if they have something they could assign to you.
I know of several people who started out by writing the occasional article, and ended up with weekly columns, etc. The fact that you can supply photos is very helpful, but I think getting a good writer would be the editors first consideration since there are so many of us who will take photos.

I've done a few stories, but just don't get the satisfaction from writing that I get from photography. Probably because my writing is pretty mundane.

Good Luck, and just go for it. You really have nothing to lose.

[WTx]

I would recomend calling and offering your services as a freelancer, but don't quit your day job freelancers for the papers don't get paid much at all.

oh and another thing...have an online portfolio to send a link with if you are going to do email contact. I had one client I used to shoot for whom had kept my info on file for months and randomly contacted me one day after their current shooter left. you never know what might happen, but don't stop shooting.

I can't agree more. I don't have a PJ degree but simply wanted to start somewhere. A new high school opened around the corner from my house. I called to see if my local weekly needed someone to shoot the sports. Bingo, they did and I now have regular freelance work. I also started calling around to other local papers and I have landed more jobs simply by asking. Also, an online gallery to display what you can do is important too if your sending e-mails to editors or sports editors. I also sold a photo I had posted online that someone found and and wanted to buy. Just be persistant and start e-mailing and calling. Something will eventually turn up!

[Silvernic]

Awesome advice here! Thanks so much everyone!

[lscottpht]

All great advice above! I got my start by using my own money and going to Haiti to cover the uprising. The next time I went back to Haiti to work, I was given an assignment by a photo agency that I had contacted that knew I had worked in Haiti and knew I knew the area and had contacts there. After that, got sent back again with a different agency to shoot the flood. After my coverage of that, I got in with Zuma as a freelancer. From there on out, I started to develop a portfolio and just contacted editors via email and sent them a link to my work. So, I got on with Zuma, Sipa, and WpN as a freelancer. WpN has been great! Through them, I got Time Magazine. They also offered me 3 assignments to cover Katrina and 1 for Rita. Also, since my name is out there on the internet with my work, another magazine saw it and spotlighted me in its media kit, and then gave me an assignment to LA and MS for it's premier issue. This issue is now in the hands of Robert DeNiro, Whoopie Goldberg, and a variety of other celebs and non profits. More recently, I contacted the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, and I got my first freelance assignment with them tomorrow night. So, you need to get out there and market yourself and get your portfolio on the web. Try and put it out there all over the web as much as possible. I have never done any cold calling or gone to these people in person. My initial contact has all been via the internet. I will be happy to help you anymore, if you need more help.