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Archive 2010 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Steve Ickes
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p.1 #1 · Photo Credentials. Why?

A thought occurred to me as I was following a crazy and recent 8 page thread in this forum. The OP concerned Rick Denham passing along some of his thoughts on being a sports shooter. His intentions were obviously to share his insights in hopes that someone might gain some valuable information from it. There were a few "thank you for posting" comments and a few additional tips added by other working professionals. Sure enough though, the whole thing degraded into a Free vs No Free images debate.

I will say that I was pleasantly surprised to see that the thread was able to drag on for 8 pages without any real person attacks or insults. That has to be a record! Anyway, a question came to me while responding but before posting I thought I would start a new thread so that I wouldn't add to the confusion of Rick's original intent.

Time and time again, someone posts a question here asking "how do I get credentials?" The answers from working photographers is always the same: "get a job shooting for a legitimate media service." Then there's always the other responses: "sneak in..", "lie to the AD or SID..", "volunteer to shoot for a local paper..", "offer to give them images in exchange for a pass..". These debates rage on for pages with neither side conceding defeat.

So let's turn the question around and see what we get...seriously...

Why do you want a credential?

Mar 17, 2010 at 11:55 PM

RCGuy
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p.1 #2 · Photo Credentials. Why?

I doubt that there is any one single answer to your question.

Each Joe SLR has unique reason as to why they are seeking a credential. Some want a credential to "feel special". Some want it in order to shoot in a place with good lighting. Some want it just to show off. Some want it because they want to take pics of their favorite team or player. The reasons are endless. Like I said there's no single reason.

However, in the end the only opinion that really matters when granting credentials is the SID's decision.

Mar 18, 2010 at 12:19 AM

Steve Ickes
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p.1 #3 · Photo Credentials. Why?

The purpose of the question is not to get a consensus. Just asking for people to post THEIR individual reasons why. Its a simple question.

Whether or not a SID or AD grants a credential is of no consequence in this case.

Mar 18, 2010 at 12:23 AM

m34tba11
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p.1 #4 · Photo Credentials. Why?

so I can give my images away? (tongue in cheek of course).

I earned my press credential, because I knew I wanted to be more then GWC on the sideline of whatever I was covering that day.

To be honest, depending on your venue it helps you avoid the "creepy guy w/ camera" syndrome. "Hey who is that guy w/ the camera, and why is he pointing it at my 10 year old child?"

That little pass thing flitting in the wind on your vest/neck helps to alleviate some of those paranoid parents it seems. Questions go from "why are you here" to "who are you here for and are you selling?"

For me personally my hit rate went up considerably when I went from "Hi I am so and so an aspiring photographer and I am portfolio building, would it be possible to cover your <sporting event> this <day of week>" to "Hi I'm so and so, I shoot for such and such and I would like to cover your <sporting event> this <day of week>".

Hope that was not too far off topic...

Mar 18, 2010 at 12:24 AM

svRob
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p.1 #5 · Photo Credentials. Why?

I find that the credentials is more than just getting access into an event, sure having Pro Sports in a living portfolio is what we want and others want to see before they hire you. But something I found that is priceless is the amount of inside exposure and getting to know your peers. I am fairly confident behind the lens but I still have a lot to learn but shaking hands with those that inspire you opens up many doors on its own. Networking with peers and making the right connections from the inside for genuine reasons to be better and build professional relationships, more so than immediate profit.

Mar 18, 2010 at 12:57 AM

fotojeroen
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p.1 #6 · Photo Credentials. Why?

I want a credential so that there is a good change to get a decent picture for my client. I'm getting paid by that client to deliver pictures so I want the oppurtinity to get a good spot and a clear line of sight.
But being at a soccergame with credentials and taking pictures will make me miss the entire game.

I'ven been to more than hundred soccer games in the last couple of years.
The last months I've shoot just one. Just because I'm recovering from surgery.
Shooting is still a bit difficult. But I've been going to the stadium to just normal watch a game. Didn't abused my credentials, just called the press officer and asked for a normal ticket (still got the press-ticket tough) and watched the game sitting in the radio-room (I know some people overthere and they invited me when I told I was comming)
But if I had to sit in a normal seat that would be no problem at all. I don't need to sit along the field if I come to watch a game instead of shooting it. I'm there for the game and I do talk with fellow-photographers, but I don't need to sit next of them during the game.

Same goes with racing. When I shoot a race, I want credentials. Just to get good pictures because that's what I'm hired for.
When I want to see a race, I stay at home because on TV I can follow everything.
Following a race on TV is so much easier compared to live on trakck?

Credentials don't make everything possible. I'm still bound to rules. Some of the rules are even crazyer. For example. Before/during and after a soccer game, I'm not allowed to take pictures from inside the stands of supporters. I can walk between them, but I'm not allowed to take pictures. If a fan takes his compact, he can shoot whatever he want. I'm only allowed to shoot fans when I'm standing in or near the field. Sometimes that's a problem if there are demands for up/close&personal pictures from fans.
A fan can make a videop standing in the crowd. I'm not allowed to do that.
I've found a little loop-hole in the regulation (40 pages of what I can do and what not) so this weekend I will do some filming, but broadcasting is prohibbited for me till mondayeveneing and after that I still have restrictions. A fan does not!

Credentials make me do my work easier, but it's not 'heaven'
I'm only interessted in credentials if I want to take pictures. and if I'm taking pictures, I'm taking pictures and I'm not following a game or see a concert or do whatever there is happening. If I wan't that, I don't need credentials.
Common sense

Mar 18, 2010 at 06:55 AM

Rick Denham
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p.1 #7 · Photo Credentials. Why?

because as part of the working media i need one in order to get the "best angles" to supply my clients with the best photo's i possibly can.

steve there is no way you are making this thread go to 9 like mine.

Mar 18, 2010 at 07:45 AM

Frank Lauri
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p.1 #8 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Back a few years when I found out the Yankees AAA franchise was moving in, I contacted the Media Director and explained I was interested in shooting some games to enhance my skills at that level and that was it. They decided to credential me for the season and past three seasons which turned into a pretty good gig for me. They hire me for anywhere from 6-10 events per year...both baseball and non baseball events. When I recently shot a paid gig for them in January and they found out I was going on vacation to Florida to catch a few Yankees spring training games, they asked me if I was interested in shooting a few games for them to get some of the minor leaguers that will be coming up this year. They secured the credentials for me.

I also contacted a local D-3 college SID and asked if they would be interested in setting up a meeting to look at how I can provide my services to the university sports programs. He agreed, I went there with a portfolio of 8x10 shots...met, discussed and now I'm covering their sports programs for action shots and it will morph into some marketing stuff when the needs arise.

I've also been dabbling into the entertainment field doing concerts and such where this web base mag secures the credentials and I shoot for that cause. This one I'm doing right now as an experimental thing to see if it is something I want to pursue. So far I like it but there will be some further development on this in the future.

The paths I've taken were for personal development and wanting to advance to the next level from youth and high school action sports. I saw some possibilities and went for it.

Along the way I have made some very good contacts and friends that I look forward to seeing and shooting the breeze with. I have also had many opportunities that I am grateful for and hope there are many more to come. C'mon....I'm a Yankee fan since like 5 years old (I'm 54 now) and last week I'm shooting the NY Yankees in spring training. Yogi, Gossage, Guidry, Nettles plus the current ones. Who wudda thought that...certainly not I. For me, I will make a nice momento and those credentials will be in a frame hanging in my office because I may not get another opportunity again.

That's my story on credentials....
Frank Lauri

Mar 18, 2010 at 08:40 AM

Steve Ickes
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p.1 #9 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Rick Denham wrote:
steve there is no way you are making this thread go to 9 like mine.

Oh, it's still too soon to tell Rick. All it takes is one comment...

Besides if I decide to delete my posts from your thread yours will shrink to like 4-5 pages. I'm kinda competitive that way.

Mar 18, 2010 at 08:44 AM

Steve Ickes
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p.1 #10 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Okay so far a few responses for working professionals. How about all the others, those who are constantly asking and wondering how to get credentials?

Mar 18, 2010 at 08:46 AM

leewoolery
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p.1 #11 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Steve:

Credentials are for working media, staff or official photographers who need arena, stadium, sideline or courtside access to do a job.

Credentials are not for parents with cameras, curiosity seekers, weekend warriors or non-pros who just want the better angle a media pass will grant you.

Much success,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

Mar 18, 2010 at 08:57 AM

mervifwdc
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p.1 #12 · Photo Credentials. Why?

it's a bit different this side of the pond, you do need credentials for the larger events, but for a huge number of events, I've never had a credential for. A big white lens, purposeful stride and it's amazing where you'll go. I shoot for a local paper, and would cover between 1 and 5 events or matches on a given day, so it suits me not to have to collect a bunch of paperwork to do it. Besides, at this stage (doing it 3 or 4 years now) a lot of the folks running events know me, so the gate to the pitch is opened as I walk up, they know I only want to be there 15 minutes as I usually just need 10 keepers from any given match.

it's different with kids events, some of them do check out who you are and insist on credentials, but that's a bit different.

I'm not a huge sports fan, so I dont think I'd look for credentials for any event I was not working at, but I'm guessing there are folks that try get onto the sideline/endline just to get a better view!

All that said, I have asked for ang received credentials for a couple of "novelty" events where I was portfolio shooting, checking out a new sport - I got credentials for a desert race out of vegas, and a volleyball tournament in Winnipeg, and I will openly admit, I did those events just for experience/portfolio/kicks - call it what you will. but I think there is a difference in someone getting credentials just to give away pics, and someone who works as a sports photog and wanting to check out different sports. Until I've a portfolio of off road stuff, I'm not likely to be asked to shoot any of it.

Merv.

Mar 18, 2010 at 09:39 AM

rhyder
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p.1 #13 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Mar 18, 2010 at 09:49 AM

Steve Ickes
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p.1 #14 · Photo Credentials. Why?

leewoolery wrote:
Steve:

Credentials are for working media, staff or official photographers who need arena, stadium, sideline or courtside access to do a job.

Credentials are not for parents with cameras, curiosity seekers, weekend warriors or non-pros who just want the better angle a media pass will grant you.

Much success,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

Lee:

As a member of the working media I absolutely understand your point and certainly agree 100%. I posed this question because we do see a lot of people asking how they go about obtaining a credential and I was just curious as to what their motivation and/or purpose was. For example, we've already received a response that the photographer didn't want to be a PWAC, he aspired to do more and grow as a professional.

Mar 18, 2010 at 10:01 AM

leewoolery
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p.1 #15 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Steve Ickes wrote:
Lee:

As a member of the working media I absolutely understand your point and certainly agree 100%. I posed this question because we do see a lot of people asking how they go about obtaining a credential and I was just curious as to what their motivation and/or purpose was. For example, we've already received a response that the photographer didn't want to be a PWAC, he aspired to do more and grow as a professional.

Steve:

There are other avenues to take to improve your skills as a sports/action photographer such as youth baseball, soccer or football....where everybody has cameras.

As you improve, you hire on at a local newspaper, work for a nationwide photo chain or get a job at a local photo studio that shoots sports for high schools, events or youth leagues.

If you then become a legitimate member of the media or you start your own company, then you can negotiate contracts for events, high schools, youth leagues, colleges or pro teams and the proper photo credentials and/or sideline access will be granted.

Much success,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

Mar 18, 2010 at 10:47 AM

pappawheely
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p.1 #16 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Here is a post from a blog. This person had credentials. BTW they don't race Trophy Trucks in this series, the racing starts at 8:00am and long pants are required on the track.

I can tell you're new here! Welcome to my blog, I hope you'll find lots of interesting things to read here and that you'll be back often. This message will auto-destruct the next time you show your face around here So I got a funny story about last weekend's trophy trucks race, which took place at the Lake Elsinore racetrack in California...I got kicked off the track for wearing shorts instead of pants!!! You see, they have certain "rules" in the Lucas Oil Off Road series, to be more specific, they pretty much tell you what you have to wear if you wanna be on the track, whether you are a photographer or a crew member! The rule is you can't wear shorts, you HAVE to wear pants...110 degrees outside and they MAKE you wear pants. I NEVER wear pants! I'm uncomfortable when I wear pants, especially jeans, and I sweat very easily - even when it's -20 outside - so you won't see me in pants very often. Anyways, I didn't know that the rules say you can't wear shorts, so I show up at the race on Saturday evening around 5:30, and I run into my first problem: I'm not on the media list even though I was supposed to be, and the girl I was dealing with was a real salope (it's french, look it up...) and wasn't very helpful at all! After running into an old friend of mine that hooked me up and got me in, I was finally on my way to the track! (turns out I was on the list after all, the salope I was dealing with was too lazy to look up my first name - last name wasn't there for some reason). Back to the main story...it's now close to 6:15 and the sun is slowly falling behind the Lake Elsinore mountains, so I wasn't able to get any "sunset" photos of the race trucks and buggies in action. Bummer - at least I'm in and on the track, shooting for the rest of the night. I got to say hi to Carey Hart and hang out in the RockStar VIP section with Hart & Huntington team manager Kenny Watson (photos below). Overall a pretty cool night, I went home happy thinking about what I was gonna shoot on Sunday and who I was going to talk to - I really wanted to ask Brian Deegan a few questions and also talk to Hart a little more. Sunday was gonna be exciting! Well, Sunday was anything but exciting! I decided to go to the Lake Elsinore track earlier to shoot a bunch of cool sunset photos of all the different truck and buggy classes, and to spend more time in the pits, mainly to have a little chat with Deegan about racing trucks and such, and to shoot more pics of the RockStar girls I was also meeting my friend Mark Elliott, who was shooting the race as well. So the first thing I do once I get there is meet Mark on the track, he was shooting practices sessions. That's when my day went south...one of the crew member is yelling at me and telling me to get off the track, by waving his arm and pointing towards the exit! At first I was like "oh crap I'm not supposed to walk through here while the trucks are racing around the track..." but then I quickly realized that he was kicking me off the track because I was wearing shorts instead of pants! So I tried to reason with him and explain that I didn't know about this rule, and also that I was on the track all evening the day before and absolutely no one told me I wasn't supposed to wear shorts. Well he couldn't care less and had me "escorted" off the track in one of the utility vehicles - they didn't even let me leave on foot!!! I was so mad that I went straight home, didn't stop on GO and didn't collect $200...next time I'll make sure I read ALL the rules! Actually, next time I'll just stay home...at least I can wear whatever I want at home! Here are a few teaser photos from the Lucas Oil Off Road race at Lake Elsinore below, look for more from this event on my photography site soon.

Mar 18, 2010 at 10:47 AM

Rick Denham
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p.1 #17 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Lee

Are you missing something here.

STEVE IS PART OF THE ACCREDITED MEDIA CIRCLE

His question was posed to others on this forum, mainly the non-working media type, to see what their reasoning was for want to get credentials was.

For example ... to get a better angle, they want to be next to their heroes/icons, because it's cool.

Mar 18, 2010 at 10:52 AM

fotojeroen
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p.1 #18 · Photo Credentials. Why?

mervifwdc wrote:
it's a bit different this side of the pond, you do need credentials for the larger events, but for a huge number of events, I've never had a credential for.

True.
Overhere you need credentials for soccer in the pro-league (1st and 2nd division) and somteimesv in the major league of the amateurs. Beneath all that, you just hop over the fence.
But even then it's always wise to shake hands. Then they know who you are and maybey it opens a window. At least you can drag a free coffee out of it during half time

But you can sit beside the white lines of a soccer game, so you can work on your portfolio without credentials

Credentials are needed for the big games overhere. And for the events where everybody is allowed with a camera (motorsports) there are lots of good places to make pictures from the public stands.
At our national autoracetrack (small country, we have two racetracks) you can walk around the circuit between the dunes (It's near the beach).
I got a lot of questions from people who want to shoot there and what the best places are. I usualy tell them to walk around en give them examples of a dozen good places on the outside of the fence where they can shoot freelie. When shot by a good photographer, you don't tell the difference between a credential shooter or a non-credential. So there's a nice way to work on your portfolio without credentials.

Other sports, like cycling, are sports I seldom (let) aply for credential. Only for free entrance, I don't pay when I come to take pictures. But events like that are so big in the layout that there is always a good picture and I don't want to spend time on mailing or calling unless I know that there is strict a credentialprocedure.
And that goes for everyone. You can shoot cycling from behind the white/red-ribbon perfectly, so you can work on your portfolio, again, without credentials.

And I can keep going on and on and on and on.

I think for 75% of the types of sport, you can shoot nice and good pictures to extend your portfolio and make a very nice portfolio to find a client.
Because in the end, you get credentials when you have a client.

Mar 18, 2010 at 10:59 AM

leewoolery
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p.1 #19 · Photo Credentials. Why?

Rick Denham wrote:
Lee

Are you missing something here.

STEVE IS PART OF THE ACCREDITED MEDIA CIRCLE

His question was posed to others on this forum, mainly the non-working media type, to see what their reasoning was for want to get credentials was.

For example ... to get a better angle, they want to be next to their heroes/icons, because it's cool.

...not missing anything. I know he's a professional.

My statement was a general response to Steve's question about ways to gain credentials for non-professionals.

Much success,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot

Mar 18, 2010 at 11:25 AM

Rick Denham
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p.1 #20 · Photo Credentials. Why?

OK, it seemed more geared towards Steve than a general resonse, my bad!

Mar 18, 2010 at 11:28 AM

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