Selling News Photos Freelancing

[spencer28n]

Put simply, What's the best way to sell photos without working for a specific news agency a.k.a. freelancing. In the past, I've found myself in the midst of newsworthy stories, shooting the events as they unfolded, capturing worthy photos with no other photogs on scene. How do I go about selling these photos to newspapers or other news agencies on an irregular basis?

Thanks,
Spencer

Find the editors name and contact info... contact them IMMEDIATELY after/during the event. If they want a photo, they'll buy it on the spot.

Get your name out there and word gets around fast... good or bad. Which one do you want to be known as?

~Eric

[aprillove20]

News papers companies are only after photos that are hot and new to the public that serves a big scoop and add publicity to their company .

[Jim Bryant]

Make contact with all the News and Wire services in NYC. If there are no other photographers there besides you and only you get the picture, start calling your contacts. Old news is no news...remember that. You probably want to store contact numbers of the various news organizations picture desk in your telephone. Do you have a laptop with wireless device, so that you can send photos on location? It not, that would be a big plus. Also I noticed you don't have a longer telephoto, such as a 70-200mm range. That lens would help you zoom in for a closer shot without actually having to do so with the lenses you already have. Good luck!

[spencer28n]

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely try to get some contacts from some of the NY papers. I've met some staff shooters for the NY Times, Post, etc.. so I'll try to find their cards once I get back home.

Thanks again,
Spencer