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 Send4Help
     
Location: A biology lab far, far away...
Gender: Male
No time for the old in-out, love.
 |  | Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
< on 7/7/2010 8:10 PM >
|  | | | Do I need an official press pass? How do I get one? Freelancers have to pay for them, are they worth their cost? How do I get one? For those pressed for time, the simple answer is “yes” on all accounts.
Having a freelancer’s press pass can make the difference between being able to photograph the even you want to cover and not being able to cover it. Police and government agency guidelines may also establish procedures for obtaining press credentials facilitating access to certain places closed to the public. Such passes usually do not guarantee access to a place. They merely provide a means of identifying yourself as a journalist who should be admitted if members of the media are to be admitted. Press passes can get you free access to concerts, and back stage at plays and other live performances. Press passes can get you free access to many other events too. As a rule, they will get you inside the yellow tape to photograph accidents and crime scenes, but not always. However, you have a better chance for access with them than without them. At the same time, don’t abuse the privilege. Obey authorities at all times and act like the professional you are passing yourself off as being.
There are a few different ways that a freelancer can get press credentials legally but we are only going to cover four of them here.
You can obtain credentials from most stock photo agencies identifying you as an official photographer for that agency. Most freelance photographer associations offer them to their members, you can get them through the AP (Association Press), and many smaller newspapers will offer “Stringer” credentials to a photographer for free if he or she has proven their usefulness to the paper. Many small newspapers can’t afford to hire full time photographers and will be happy to offer you credentials in exchange for you being there when they need you. If you can get yours that way, it’s a win-win situation. You’ll save $50 or $60 for a yearly renewable press passes and then is paid for the pictures you take for the paper.
The US Press Agency offer press credentials in several flavors, photographer, videographer, radio, and writer. These are the only press passes for freelance journalist recognized by the US Press Agency. Each pass is personalized with your photo, the official USPA embossed seal, and a brief background of you journalistic history. Your USPA press kit can be delivered electronically or by snail mail. They are the same but the ones your download and print out yourself don’t look as official because they are printed on ordinary ink jet paper. The diy kit with the USPA Certificate costs you $67. The official documents shipped via snail mail (UPS, FedEx, or DHL) costs $65. With this package your official membership number and USPA ID Number appears as a barcode on your press badge. There are extras that you can order too if you want them. Once your order is processed, the USPA sends you an application by email to fill out and submit. The information that appears on you badge is taken from this application. Here’s the link to their web site: http://www.uspress...ation.org/news.php
Picture Stock Agency offers a world wide press pass for $50, including shipping and handling. These passes, unlike most, which have to be renewed yearly, are good for three years. They are relatively easy to apply for and get, you simply send them a passport size photo by snail mail, and they will send you a laminated pass identifying you as a member of the International Press. You can also sign up to receive paid assignment from them for an additional $25. Imagine getting paid to photograph concerts, plays, and other events in your area that you would have gladly paid money to attend anyway. Here’s the link to their web site: http://picturestoc...web/press_pass.php
The IFPO (International Freelance Photographers Organization) is last because getting a press pass from them cost the most money but they also offer the most perks as well. Before you can get press credentials from the IFPO you have to become a member of the IFPO. Membership in the IFPO costs $68.00 a year. The Universal Press Credentials offered by the IFPO are High Security Press Credential, accepted, and respected worldwide. These credential are the best any freelance journalist can have. The credentials kit that you receive includes
* Universal press passport
* Universal press badge
* Universal press wallet card
* High security press arm band
* High security coded auto press badge
* High security press authorization letter
* A.I.N.S. (American International News Service) 3” embroidered patch
* High security interactive internet verification
Membership in the IFPO come with many other benefits for the freelance journalist, far too many to delineate here, but they are explained in detail on their web site. Between membership dues and credential fees, it will cost you around $275 but it’s money well spent. Here’s the link: http://www.aipress.com/univ/index.html
Which package is best for you? It all depends on how serious you are about becoming a freelance photojournalist. If you’re simply looking to get access to live concerts and free backstage passes, any of them will work for you. On the other hand, if you want to cover events that will get you space in major newspapers, magazine, and other media, then you need the IFPO membership and credentials.
Hope this helps you all out!
Cheers,
S4H
The Durango '95 purred away a real horrowshow - a nice, warm vibraty feeling all through your guttiwuts. And soon it was trees and dark, my brothers, with real country dark. |
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synthacide
Location: BAY AREA
Gender: Male
My cat's breath smells like cat food.
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 1 on 7/7/2010 9:42 PM >
| | | | Thanks for your in depth tut!
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l333t
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 2 on 7/8/2010 12:27 AM >
| | | | seems to easy but worth the cash,surprised that it is not more controlled etc..
will be added to my kit
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trent
  
I'm Trent! Get Bent!
Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male
Not on UER anymore.
| |  | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 3 on 7/8/2010 11:44 AM >
| | | | I've just been using my UER membership card with no issues.
He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
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macgruder
Location: Northern NJ
Gender: Male
| |  | | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 4 on 7/9/2010 5:19 PM >
| | | | Thanks for the tip, I will be looking into these.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 50mm 1.2, Canon 28mm 1.8, Canon 16-35 f2.8L
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenbley/ |
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e134k
Location: Portland, Oregon
Gender: Male
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 5 on 7/18/2010 1:28 AM >
| | | | sometimes these events expect to receive a sample of the media coverage once the event is completed, by you. failure to do so leads to being banned from other events because they will also blacklist your credentials- so a word of warning when using press passes.
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Cyclamen
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 6 on 7/25/2010 1:02 AM >
| | | | Has anyone tried this before? Anyone can make a website, but these looks especially shoddy. I'm on another photo forum where they've said the only place to get a press pass from (and there's no such thing as a universal press pass) is from a publication.
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hydrotherapy
 
Clever Girl
Location: Circle of Least Confusion
RPS is inside all of us
| | | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 7 on 7/25/2010 1:10 AM >
| | | | Viewpoint from someone from a journalistic/editorial family (based in the DC/metro area) who currently works in publishing in NYC:
Nobody cares about your press pass.
Build some references with phone numbers before thinking anyone will even think twice about your laminated piece of paper on a lanyard. Because literally, anyone can have them. And for most events of any substance, you had a letter passing someone important's desk before you ever even knew you were going to go shoot xxxxx.
Well researched info, though. And may work for some people, in some situations. I've just never seen the need, anywhere that would take a bunk press pass would equally take a smile, a firm handshake, and a really well built story.
Get down, girl, go 'head, get down. |
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Send4Help
Location: A biology lab far, far away...
Gender: Male
No time for the old in-out, love.
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 8 on 7/25/2010 1:25 AM >
| | | | Posted by Cyclamen
Has anyone tried this before? Anyone can make a website, but these looks especially shoddy. I'm on another photo forum where they've said the only place to get a press pass from (and there's no such thing as a universal press pass) is from a publication.
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The aforementioned options were all given to me by a professional photographer who has used at least one of the companies before.
By using the purchased press pass (Maybe I wasn't clear on this) you also need to submit your event photos back to the company to which your press pass is from. They intern sell your photographs to other publications where they are applicable (They include photo credit to you). This is how they make a profit and gain credentials as an actual publisher. Think of it as a smaller version of the Associated Press.
As for a universal press pass, I guess you could say there isn't such a thing, but that is because any press pass can be used anywhere. It all depends on if the venue will grant you access to the event. Although mainstream publications (NY Times, etc) will get you into more places, not everyone can get a pass from them.
The above methods are a way for you to obtain an endorsed press pass that gives the venues in which you want to cover a way verify your credentials and information through a company and not just take your word. If nothing else it will set the person ahead of all the other photographers that want in and don't have the credentials to do so.
Edit: If you aren't the kind of person that would regularly need to get access to an event, then something like this may not be for you. I think what Hydro said about a good handshake and a few sample prints also goes a long way too. Its just a different path, or a different method to obtain the same goal...
[last edit 7/25/2010 1:56 AM by Send4Help - edited 2 times]
The Durango '95 purred away a real horrowshow - a nice, warm vibraty feeling all through your guttiwuts. And soon it was trees and dark, my brothers, with real country dark. |
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Send4Help
Location: A biology lab far, far away...
Gender: Male
No time for the old in-out, love.
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 10 on 7/25/2010 1:51 AM >
| | | |
If you would like to contact Jerry he can tell you more info on IFPO and PSA programs. He was a member of both, and I believe still uses the IFPO credentials. He is a wealth of knowledge: http://www.faceboo...y-Walch/1759610686
The Durango '95 purred away a real horrowshow - a nice, warm vibraty feeling all through your guttiwuts. And soon it was trees and dark, my brothers, with real country dark. |
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Tom
Location: Pittsburgh
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 11 on 7/25/2010 2:16 AM >
| | | | I've had pretty good luck just keeping a bunch of press passes for specific events visible in the top of my camera bag (from concerts, sporting events, etc. that I've managed to get passes for - note what I said - "get passes for", not "photograph". For a lot of events they might never give you a press pass beforehand, but it's not hard to talk to the same security person after the event and get them to hand you a now-expired pass that they're about to throw out.
When someone asks for ID I open up my case to get a business card and just happen to pull the ring of old passes out to get down to the cards - seeing them has often changed someone's impression from "who is this guy" to "oh, he really does do this stuff".
A simpler approach if you just want a press pass is to go to a site like this:
http://pvc.idcardg...s.aspx?item=Badges
and just have one printed. It doesn't mean much of anything, even something like this one:
http://pennstaterm...9/02/img_03911.jpg
only says you belong to some organization, it's up to the event itself to decide what badges they want to honor, or more likely for a formal event just who they want to issue their own press badge to, since one from outside is generally worthless once you're at the event itself.
[edit]
Even better - try this one:
http://www.identit...c-cards-print.html
They even have some already made up to start with:
http://www.identit...om/press-pass.html
[last edit 7/25/2010 2:20 AM by Tom - edited 1 times]
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Muskoka
Location: Toronto
Gender: Male
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 12 on 7/25/2010 2:26 AM >
| | | | The short answer is; A 'press pass' that you have to pay for isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
I've been in the print news media for 20 years. There really is no such thing as a 'press pass'. In some jurisdictions, the local police force may issue photo ID cards to the media, but that's all it is - an ID card. It affords you no special access, and certainly doesn't allow you 'behind the yellow tape' at a crime scene.
Any event that accredits media for access will manage and provide that access themselves to legitimate media sources only. A guy with a camera and a Press Pass won't pass that sniff test, no matter how much they paid for their pass. To access any event of substance (concerts, pro-level sports, etc) the publication the photographer is working for will put the request in for a credential, not the photographer. Always. Any photographer trying to get into a large event on an IFPO Press Pass, for example, will have their request denied. Even with a fancy letter from IFPO.
As Hydrotherapy so succinctly put it; No one cares about your press pass, and the only thing this type of organization cares about is your money.
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Shawn W.
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Gender: Male
Optimistic Pessimist
| | | | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 13 on 7/25/2010 9:07 AM >
| | | | I'm going to join Muskoka and Hydro in saying that these "press credentials" aren't worth it. In fact, according to what I've been able to find over the course of less than two hours, the IFPO is thought of by many professionals as a joke, and that anyone who is a member or tries to get access to an event using IFPO credentials is not to be taken seriously. Among the red flags that I've noticed is that for an organization that claims to be over 25 years old, there are a scant few entries about them online, with most of them either questioning the credibility of the IFPO and its' members or existing simply as part of a list of credentials on the websites of members. There's also no listing for them on Wikipedia.
Considering that this is supposed to be the "best" option out of all of those listed above, save for one*, one would be better off not getting any of them, lest they want to be thought of as a journalistic joke.
*It seems that getting credentials through a publication is the only way to go.
What is a rebel? A man who says no. - Albert Camus |
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-MisfitStyle-
 
| | Re: Obtaining a Press Pass: a "How to"
<Reply # 14 on 7/28/2010 7:11 PM >
| | | | Guys. I've worked as a journalist. With a press pass. From a credible organization. And it still didn't help me any. A "press pass" might fool a dummy or two, but it seems like a waste of money/time to me.
[last edit 7/28/2010 7:12 PM by -MisfitStyle- - edited 1 times]
"I feel like I just got in a battle of wits with some kid in a helmet I found licking a window."
Need help? Please use the Contact a Mod forum — I'm slow to see PMs. |
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