Do you enjoy taking photographs, have an eye for detail and enjoy a fast-paced environment? Do you have a secret desire to share your photographs with the world? You might want to consider working as a freelance photographer.
Instructions
1. Get a good camera with high-quality zoom lenses. Most newspapers use high-end digital SLR cameras, which usually cost around $5,000. Luckily, prices have dropped, and a good freelance photographer-quality camera can be found for between $1,500 and $2,000. Look into pricing on a flash and tripod as well. These aren't always needed, but make a difference in producing quality photos. All together, it's an expensive investment, but a necessary one. Using the right equipment is necessary if you want to be a freelance photographer for a newspaper.
2. Once you have a suitable camera, practice with it. Take a variety of shots and put them on quality photo paper or a CD, putting together a portfolio you can present to newspapers with confidence. Include a variety of shots that tell a story. Newspapers love pictures that tell stories. For instance, for sports events, focus on peak action shots; for news events, focus on curiosity and sensitivity and story-telling photos. For portraits, focus on the world around you. Consider each file name as a caption for the picture.
3. Get advice from other professional photographers. You'll likely meet them if you're taking pictures at sporting events or city meetings, and they can give you ideas on hone your skills and produce better shots. You may also consider taking a photojournalism class offered through a local studio, community college or other organization.
4. Find out if the newspapers in your area use freelance photographers, and if they prefer to give assignments or would rather you offer them individual photographs. This is a great way of finding out exactly what kind of shots the newspaper will run.
5. Get a copy of every newspaper in your area and carefully evaluate the types of pictures they run. Do they tend to use action shots? Do they do feature portraits? Do their photos tell a story? Study the composition and lighting of the shots. Figure out what type of shots the papers typically offer and then create a portfolio that demonstrates that type of shots.
6. Contact your local newspaper to express your interest in working as a freelancer. For contact information, visit DailyEarth, a comprehensive newspaper directory that lists local newspapers by state. Once you have contact information, set up an in-person meeting to show an editor your portfolio.
If the paper doesn't have any openings, ask if you could volunteer on a few freelance projects to demonstrate your skills. Many times, this will provide you with a great way to improve your skills and get your foot in the door for future freelancing opportunities. Look at community parades or other special events as opportunities to take pictures to offer to the local community paper for free. A great resource for finding these opportunities is the AOL City Guide.
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