I need some advice from the Freelance photographers out there

CassisP

EDIT: first off Mods, this thread is in the wrong section. If you want to move it please do.. if you don't care... never mind then.. lol
second: the questions have changed. see page 2

specifically the freelancers who sell to publications(newspapers, magazines etc) . or is that what freelancers do anyway:dunno?
ok let me start at the beginning, because I have A LOT of questions.

I am writing a book. my main character lives in New York (city) I have decided to make her a freelance photographer. but realized I know nothing about the job. so I thought, who Better to ask than those awesome, talented, Kind, Smart, Photographers on D-grin (note the Flatery.. ) :wink
(we are going to assume the main character is successful, and that she does have another part time job...)
anyway... here are my questions, just answer what you can. Thanks:clap

1: How does it work, do you go to the publications or do they come to you?

2: do you create "Loyalties" and only sell to certain publications.

3: do the prices of your photos vary?

4: what is the average price?

5: do publications contact you and ask you to photograph certain events or do you play it by ear?

6: do you stick to newspapers in your area or go to newpapers out of town?

7: also for those who live in NY city. where in the city would a freelancer live... I know its typically expensive to live there, so what part of the city is affordable?

that is all I can think of.

for the record I think I am going to have her run a smugmug site... lol :rolleyes

jonh68

I can't speak for big city as I live in small town, but it's yes/no on just about every question.

1 You submit stuff to publications and your reputation gets you jobs.

2 If you have a regular buyer, you are not going to sell something to their competitor if it's a one time thing. However, you always leave your options open..

3 Depends on the publication, size of pics etc.

4 Depends

5 Both

6 Both

afarber

CassisP wrote:

7: also for those who live in NY city. where in the city would a freelancer live... I know its typically expensive to live there, so what part of the city is afordable?

This is the only one I can help with, since I'm not a freelance photographer, but I do live in NYC. Can you be more specific about your character? Age, style, ethnicity, hip or square, etc? Do you want her to live in Manhattan for sure, or are the outer boroughs a possibility?

CassisP

afarber wrote:

This is the only one I can help with, since I'm not a freelance photographer, but I do live in NYC. Can you be more specific about your character? Age, style, ethnicity, hip or square, etc? Do you want her to live in Manhattan for sure, or are the outer boroughs a possibility?

umm she is white. in her 20's probably mid.... she is a bit of an introvert, not a "partier" so to speak. doesnt have a huge social life... that is about as far as I have gotten. no she doesnt have to live in Manhattan. but I do want her to be able to visit Central Park, I think when I wrote that I guessed 45 mins ... that would be the longest I would want it to take. oh yeah and she does not have a car.

Thanks this is great help

afarber

OK. If it were me in a similar situation (and funny enough...it is, though I'm male) I would stay out of Manhattan. The prices are just too high in most respectable neighborhoods.

I would place her in Brooklyn or Queens. Brooklyn is more expensive than Queens in general - at least for nice areas - but it's also very young and hip. I live Long Island City/Astoria. It's just over the river from Manhattan between the 59th St Bridge (LIC) and the Triboro Bridge (Astoria). I can get on the train and be in Central Park in about 9 minutes, but I get a 2 bedroom apartment for less than a 1 bedroom apt on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. LIC has a great up and coming art scene as well!

In Brooklyn, think about Park Slope, Prospect Heights area. It's longer to Central Park (close to your 45 minutes), but Prospect Park is thought by some to be even nicer.

Hope that helps. If you have any more specific questions, bring em on!

adam

CassisP wrote:

umm she is white. in her 20's probably mid.... she is a bit of an introvert, not a "partier" so to speak. doesnt have a huge social life... that is about as far as I have gotten. no she doesnt have to live in Manhattan. but I do want her to be able to visit Central Park, I think when I wrote that I guessed 45 mins ... that would be the longest I would want it to take. oh yeah and she does not have a car.

Thanks this is great help

CassisP

afarber wrote:

OK. If it were me in a similar situation (and funny enough...it is, though I'm male) I would stay out of Manhattan. The prices are just too high in most respectable neighborhoods.

I would place her in Brooklyn or Queens. Brooklyn is more expensive than Queens in general - at least for nice areas - but it's also very young and hip. I live Long Island City/Astoria. It's just over the river from Manhattan between the 59th St Bridge (LIC) and the Triboro Bridge (Astoria). I can get on the train and be in Central Park in about 9 minutes, but I get a 2 bedroom apartment for less than a 1 bedroom apt on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. LIC has a great up and coming art scene as well!

In Brooklyn, think about Park Slope, Prospect Heights area. It's longer to Central Park (close to your 45 minutes), but Prospect Park is thought by some to be even nicer.

Hope that helps. If you have any more specific questions, bring em on!

adam

THANK YOU so much. this is very helpful... (I must now go consult my map..I like to visaulize... ) thanks

evoryware

Does she have a significant other helping her financially?

CassisP

evoryware wrote:

Does she have a significant other helping her financially?

no she is single.. for the first part of the book anyway.. after that.... well lets just say money wont be a problem... (the book is fantasy)

johng

CassisP wrote:

umm she is white. in her 20's probably mid.... she is a bit of an introvert,

This might not be useful but I'll add it anyways:
20 something introvert in NY and a freelance photographer.

I don't see that as a plausible character. Freelance photography isn't easy - in a place like NY it would be extremely competitive. Lots of experienced shooters out there. The only way I could see a 20 something person being able to even feed themselves is if they were a) extremely talented and b) extremely driven and extroverted. They would have to drum up business. And that wouldn't work for an introverted character.

A 20 something introvert sounds more like an assistant than a freelancer. Unfortunately I can't say whether freelance photographers would employ assistants - normally that is the domain of studios. Or maybe a staffer at a publication.

Just my .02

jonh68

I would also imagine she is a college graduate? If she is mid-20's, she would also not have too many years as a freelancer unless she did it through college. At this stage in her career, she is probably not making too much money and would have to have a full time career other than freelancing, which would be on the side.

CassisP

I have to thank you all this is very helpful.. haha I had never really thought of that. ok so either the job or the "vert" is out. since I am a total introvert. I dont want to take to time to try and write an "extrovert" (none of my friends are extroverts. so I really dont know how they would act.. )

soo a new job is in order. I would prefer it to have something to do with photography. but if not I can make it a hobby... lol

also the "Job" will only really be mentioned for the first quarter of the book.. I am not going to go into detail describing it... I just need something convincing . ok sooooo You tell me...

what should a mid-20s, more introverted, likes photography, middle class, has a brother, who is NYPD, her parents are either dead or dont live in state (haven't decided) she does not have any pets, likes to hang out at a local Cafe' down the street, ummmm shoots with a Nikon.. (of course)

really I dont know anything about NYC. any little bit of info is helpful. thanks again..

evoryware

How about a makeup artist or stylist that works with photogs and models?
There are no Nikon users in New York so she has to be lonely. But then this is fantasy so...

Scott_Quier

CassisP wrote:

what should a mid-20s, more introverted, likes photography, middle class, has a brother, who is NYPD, her parents are either dead or dont live in state (haven't decided) she does not have any pets, likes to hang out at a local Cafe' down the street, ummmm shoots with a Nikon.. (of course)

Hmmmm .... And here I was, thining you intended your character to be a professional photog of some sort

I just couldn't resist!

afarber

How about a barista at the local cafe? She can even hang her art photos on the wall as her means of expression.

jonh68

I wouldn't discount the introvert so quickly. You can still be driven and not be an extrovert. You don't have to be the life of the party to get a job. A plot point could be making herself overcome her comfort zone and approach people she normally wouldn't.

I just don't see a 20 something being a full time freelancer. That would be the side job unless she is very talented.

Bonechips

CassisP wrote:

EDIT: first off Mods, this thread is in the wrong section. If you want to move it please do.. if you don't care... never mind then.. lol
second: the questions have changed. see page 2

specifically the freelancers who sell to publications(newspapers, magazines etc) . or is that what freelancers do anyway?
ok let me start at the beginning, because I have A LOT of questions.

I am writing a book. my main character lives in New York (city) I have decided to make her a freelance photographer. but realized I know nothing about the job. so I thought, who Better to ask than those awesome, talented, Kind, Smart, Photographers on D-grin (note the Flatery.. )
(we are going to assume the main character is successful, and that she does have another part time job...)
anyway... here are my questions, just answer what you can. Thanks

1: How does it work, do you go to the publications or do they come to you?

2: do you create "Loyalties" and only sell to certain publications.

3: do the prices of your photos vary?

4: what is the average price?

5: do publications contact you and ask you to photograph certain events or do you play it by ear?

6: do you stick to newspapers in your area or go to newpapers out of town?

7: also for those who live in NY city. where in the city would a freelancer live... I know its typically expensive to live there, so what part of the city is affordable?

that is all I can think of.

for the record I think I am going to have her run a smugmug site... lol

My name is Barry and I am a free lance photojournalist. Have been for over 34 years now. You can email me at bkirsch@murdercitynews.com or call me at 407-435-0601 and I can give you the low down on what I have done.

Barry

SavedByZero

CassisP wrote:

1: How does it work, do you go to the publications or do they come to you?

Well I got started with the Florida Today by getting a spot news shot that a staffer missed when he showed up after the chopper unloaded a victim at the hospital. He got me in the door with my first "real" published pic. So you need to have something they want and their person didn't get.

CassisP wrote:

2: do you create "Loyalties" and only sell to certain publications.

Floriday Today was the only local paper for Brevard Co where I lived, but I did put many a photo on the AP wire service.

CassisP wrote:

3: do the prices of your photos vary?

Well the Photo editor kinda priced my pics all the same it was like $40 or $50 per photo if they ran it back in the early 90s. Didn't matter if it was the center piece on the front page, center piece on the local section or on the inside pages.

CassisP wrote:

4: what is the average price?

See above post but it varies greatly by markets, types of photos and to whom you're selling them too.

CassisP wrote:

5: do publications contact you and ask you to photograph certain events or do you play it by ear?

After a while I was one of two stringers they used to fill in when they had extra assignments or a staffer was on vacation. I also was working the police scanner on the days off my reg job and was always bringing in spot news or wild art for them to use.

CassisP wrote:

6: do you stick to newspapers in your area or go to newpapers out of town?

See question #2, but I've had photos published via AP in every major Florida newpaper plus some freelance work for out of state papers too.

CassisP wrote:

7: also for those who live in NY city. where in the city would a freelancer live... I know its typically expensive to live there, so what part of the city is affordable?

Sorry I live in Orlando, Fl.

ziggy53

The character was a classic art major in college. Struggling afterward to find "anything" in her field for work, she settles as a librarian.

Thinking the library job is just "to pay the bills", she uses every opportunity to continue her studies in her craft, looking at books of famous artists when she can on her job and using photography as inspiration for her own painterly ways in her austere domicile.

She spends every spare moment, walking to work, breaks and lunches, photographing the things around her little part of the Universe. What she photographs and how she interprets that into her art is part of what defines her as a person and leads her into ...

SavedByZero

ziggy53 wrote:

The character was a classic art major in college. Struggling afterward to find "anything" in her field for work, she settles as a librarian.

Thinking the library job is just "to pay the bills", she uses every opportunity to continue her studies in her craft, looking at books of famous artists when she can on her job and using photography as inspiration for her own painterly ways in her austere domicile.

She spends every spare moment, walking to work, breaks and lunches, photographing the things around her little part of the Universe. What she photographs and how she interprets that into her art is part of what defines her as a person and leads her into ...

Coming a across a few dead bodies or nasty car wrecks also helps.



My name is Jeff Cross BTW.

Art Scott

I think there is a movie you should see....."THE PHOTOGRAPHER" ..... I'll leave it at that......I have heard, having never lived in NYC, that a lot of the artistic types of photogs live in old warehouse lofts....large single room spces they divide as they can with really high ceilings so it doesn't inhibit their craft.......I have seen photos of some of these but cannot remember what pubs or the photogs names........Now a true writer want to get the whole truth would pack everything they own and head for NYC to live the life of a freelance photog to get the real down and dirty skinny on the story.......:D

Trish323

She could be a freelancer who works the clubs in NYC..taking candids of the patrons who in turn order the photos off of her pro-smugmug sight.:D Being introverted she hides behind the camera to experience a social life that she does not have.