From: afc@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Greg Flint)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Amateur vs. Pro (was Re: International Photographer)
Date: 30 Jul 92 01:49:27 GMT

In <1992Jul27.220444.8497@clark.edu> gsnow@clark.edu (Gary Snow) writes:

>In article <1992Jul27.190319.29543@athena.cs.uga.edu> mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) writes:
>>In article <1992Jul27.183634.4539@clark.edu> gsnow@clark.edu (Gary Snow) writes:
>>>If you can't get in to a certain event to take pictures, then
>>>how are you ever going to sell what you don't have, or can't get, simply
>>>because of stupid rules that try and separate some photographers from
>>>others. Its the old catch 22 syndrome.
>>
>>Surely _some_ salable pictures can be taken without being granted special
>>access...

>Possibly, but it makes it all that much more harder, when your pictures
>have to compete against another persons who took pictures from a more
>accessable position.

I'll agree that people who have the best location have the easiest time
getting the best pictures (although skill, experience and good equipment
don't hurt :-), so what you really want to do is to gain equal footing.  

  Try to gain access to an event through print media that are hungry
  for good photographers.  For example, small town newspapers may rely
  on one or two part-time photographers and often use "contributed"
  pictures of events in the area.  After you've been published a
  few times, you might get some useful "press passes" from the paper.

  Other places that may be interested in using your work are event
  sponsers and civic organizations.  Contacts made through these
  groups may either "get you in through the back door" or give you
  references [and pictures] to show the media.

  I'm aware that small town papers won't be much help in shooting a 
  NASA launch or the Olympic games, but being published is a good first
  step in getting an interview with a large newspaper or magazine that
  may have access to what you want to shoot.

  Another way to build a portfolio [and most medium and large press
  organizations require you to have one] is to shoot similar pictures
  to those that you'd like to take, but in a situation where you CAN get
  access.  For example:
    
   - You can't gain access to the Capitol or the State Legislature, but you
     might be allowed in City Hall.
   - You can't shoot a major rock group, but you can shoot at a local club.
   - You can't photograph the Olympics, but you can shoot pictures of sports
     at local high schools.
   - You want to shoot Yosemite or on the plains in Africa but you can't 
     afford the trip -- try a federal or state park or zoological garden.
   - You want your work to appear in "Architectural Digest" -- first try
     a local realtor.

  Granted, these suggestions take time, but unless you're lucky enough to
  be in the right place, at the right time, with the right equipment and
  with no competitors (e.g., Zapruder [sp?] in Dallas on 22 Nov 1963), you'll
  probably have to work at gaining the (fame?) that gets you the access that
  you want -- of course, that's probably just what the "pro" has already done.

....Greg Flint (afc@klaatu.cc.purdue.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.photo