Press photographers take photographs to record news, current events and lifestyle stories. They aim to capture the best images to document an event, tell a story or convey a message and support the printed word. The pictures are then reproduced in newspapers, magazines and online. Press photography is also known as editorial photography.
The role can develop into photojournalism. You'll need to demonstrate flair for using both images and words to investigate and tell a story. Photojournalists often work for magazines rather than newspapers, and can work on a project over a long period of time.
Working as a press photographer, you could specialise in any number of areas, including:
Press photography requires a combination of intuition, creativity and technical skills. You'll need to:
For freelance press photographers, extra activities include:
Salaries reflect the size of circulation of the newspaper and the experience and reputation of the photographer. Quality magazines may offer higher rates. Experienced photographers can earn a flat fee when commissioned to cover a specific event.
Negotiating a reasonable freelance fee is complex and it may be worth joining the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), which offers guidance on rates and contracts - see the NUJ Freelance Fees Guide for more details.
When calculating fees, remember to take into account overheads for equipment, which can be around £100 per day. Freelance press journalists often sell images to picture libraries, or agencies whose daily rates vary from around £75 to £180.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
You need to be where the story is, so expect to work unsocial hours including evenings and weekends. For example, if sport is your specialist area, you'll be required to attend evening and weekend fixtures. Time off in lieu is generally given.
A pre-entry qualification is not essential for a career in press photography but can be advantageous, as it offers formal training and demonstrates your motivation for the work.
The Diploma in Journalism course, run by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), includes the elective option of Photography for Journalists, which the NCTJ recommends is studied alongside the Videojournalism for Online option. This course can take between six months and two years to complete and prepares trainees for the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ), the professional, senior qualification offered by the NCTJ, which is widely recognised within the industry.
Although this area of work is open to all graduates and holders of a diploma, the following subjects may increase your chances:
For a full list of all universities and colleges offering photo-imaging courses in the UK, see ScreenSkills, which includes courses accredited by the:
For more course ideas, search postgraduate courses in photography.
You'll need to show:
Competition is fierce. With many freelance photographers competing in the market place, you can expect to be up against a lot of experienced and talented candidates when applying for an in-house press photographer role. Being proactive and tenacious, networking and having a thick skin are fundamental to breaking into this industry.
Pre-entry experience is essential, and developing the necessary technical skills and portfolio before approaching picture editors is vital. Work experience on a local paper can offer the opportunity of work shadowing and developing informal contacts, so contact them directly.
Try getting photographs published in local newspapers on a freelance basis. Freelance work may be followed by commissioned pieces or paid shifts.
It's a good idea to send some of your best pictures speculatively to picture editors and photo agencies, tailoring your selection to their style, and following this up with a phone call. For more information, see work experience and internships.
Most press photographers work for one of the provincial daily or evening papers, one of the weeklies, or an agency where targeted, speculative applications can be effective.
Most commonly, press photographers are self-employed, working either entirely on their own or in a small business with other photographers. Clearly, photographic skills are crucial, but the ability to run a business is equally important.
As a freelance photographer you can also sell photographs to picture libraries or agencies; for a list see the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA). Invoice and licence templates to protect you work are provided by the AOP.
Look for job vacancies at:
For information on further sources, see the News Media Association. Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.
Training varies between newspapers. With some papers, new recruits start by shadowing experienced photographers before being given their own assignments in order to build their confidence. Papers may offer on-the-job or in-house training schemes.
More training options include:
Local photographic societies and clubs can provide information on photography courses and projects available within the community.
To progress your career, it's vital to keep up to date with advances in technology. Photographers now spend more and more time on computers improving their pictures and most have the means to email, retouch and print images on the spot. Digital photographic libraries can be created on the internet with easy-to-use software, enabling your work to be viewed and sold all over the world.
As well as improving your skills, you can develop your career as a press photographer in several ways, including:
It may not always be easy to move between different fields of photography. Once you've specialised in one area, you may find you're pigeonholed by clients.
There is a structured career path within local papers. You will start as a junior press photographer before moving on to a senior press photographer role. From here you'll progress to chief photographer or ultimately picture editor. You may be required to take courses in management and team leadership in order to progress.
