How to Become a Newspaper Photographer

Becoming a news photographer requires an eye for news photos.

A newspaper photographer takes photographs for both the print and online editions of a newspaper. From photographing community events to processing photos for print, photographers' responsibilities are varied and the hours are often long. Becoming a newspaper photographer requires basic photography skills and an eye for news activity, which might or might not be obvious to the untrained eye.

Instructions

1. Determine whether you will obtain a formal education or become a self-taught news photographer. According to the National Press Photographers Association, you can get a formal education in photojournalism from numerous colleges or universities that teach you the fundamentals of this type of photography. However, some employers do not require a degree. With the Internet, you have many resources to teach yourself the skills and techniques of this trade.

2. Ensure that you are technically savvy in terms of gear and camera equipment. You stand a better chance of landing a newspaper gig if you have your own gear to supplement what the paper has to offer. As a photojournalist, you are expected to maintain your own cache of equipment. You need to keep up with changing technology in terms of photography software and other computer equipment associated with the profession.

3. Build your portfolio. You need to have something to show for your experience, and a well-rounded portfolio can do the trick. Include photographs from every genre to show your range, from art photos to news pictures, formal portraits and any other photography work you've done. A newspaper photographer will often do all types of photos for the paper, so a good range of talent and experience is important.

4. Offer to work freelance to form a relationship. Newspapers often hire from their pool of freelancers when a photography position comes open, because the freelancers have adapted to the newspaper's policies and styles of shooting. Start by offering your services for a large community event or the town football game and then offer to shoot other events should the paper fail to have the photography resource to cover it.

5. Seek out newsworthy event and show up to snap some photos. Even if the paper had photography representation there, these photographers might not have gotten the shots that you did. Submit a few comp cards with photos from the event to newspapers and see if they might be interested in purchasing one of your event photos. This establishes you as a credible photographer.

6. Apply to intern with the paper. Newspapers often have internships for budding news photographers, sometimes through a school or university or sometimes independent of an educational institution. You may have to intern for little to no pay, but you get experience and contacts.

References

• The Sunday Times: How Do I Become A News Photographer?
• National Press Photographers Association; Careers In Photojournalism; Jim McNay