Need a letter from an editor of a publication

[gleff]

Hi All,

I'm trying to get media accreditation on the red carpet of the ARIA's next month and i've run into a bit of a snag. Apparently I need a letter on a company letterhead from a publisher that shows the intent to perhaps print the photo's I take.

I don't expect nor will request for anything to be published, but because my business just started yesterday and i've never sold a photo, I haven't got any publishers that can write me a letter.

What I'm asking, is if anyone knows of any contacts for any publishers eg. magazines, etc, that could do me a huge favour and write a short letter eg. one paragraph on their company letterhead that says I'm a freelance photographer shooting on assignment on the 29th Oct at the red carpet at the ARIA awards.

It's just to get my accreditation for the night.

If anyone is able to assist, it would be so hugely appreciated. It's the only thing holding me back. Otherwise I'd have to stand with the public and won't get a good vantage point.

If you need to discuss further, please feel free to PM me if necessary.

Thanks heaps.

Geoff

[MHD]

CHIMP?

[gleff]

CHIMP?

I can't remember what a CHIMP is but if it helps me get a letter, i'll gladly be one This really means a lot to me to get this red carpet event as accredited media.

[MHD]

Clever Highly Independent Minded Photographer

[MHD]

http://chimp.dslrusers.com/publish/Chim ... 006-LR.pdf

[gstark]

CHIMP?

I can't remember what a CHIMP is but if it helps me get a letter, i'll gladly be one This really means a lot to me to get this red carpet event as accredited media.

Geoff,

Might I respectfully suggest looking at the front page of this site?

[gleff]

CHIMP?

I can't remember what a CHIMP is but if it helps me get a letter, i'll gladly be one This really means a lot to me to get this red carpet event as accredited media.

Geoff,

Might I respectfully suggest looking at the front page of this site?

Yeh.. I knew the magazine CHIMP.. but I thought MHD was referring to the saying that is also called CHIMPING or something along those lines. BTW.. the CHIMP mag is great. Was a great read and got me very interested to try out some software

Edit: This is what I was thinking of.

Chimping is a term used in digital photography (especially when using a digital single-lens reflex camera or DSLR) to describe the habit of checking every photo on the on-camera display (LCD) immediately after capture.

Back to the problem though.. can anyone help me out

Cheers

[BBJ]

Good luck Geof, it can be hard as well but a lot of them look for how much publicity they will get out of it, and circulation. I am lucky as i supply most of the motorsport pics to the local paper here and i too had to do the same for my accred for Moto GP as well as proof of my shots being published at least around 12 published shots. Hope it all works out for you.
John
BBJ

[MHD]

In all seriousness though Geoff... If you approached Gary it might just work... on a nice DSLRusers letterhead... and the images could apear in Chimp....

Yes, definately try for a longer running publication but it may just be an option...

[gleff]

In all seriousness though Geoff... If you approached Gary it might just work... on a nice DSLRusers letterhead... and the images could apear in Chimp....

Yes, definately try for a longer running publication but it may just be an option...

Ahhh.. that's what you meant when you mentioned CHIMP.. sorry.. my mind was elsewhere.. it didn't even occur to me. I thought you were calling me a CHIMP

I'll see if I get any others before trying Gary though.. The reason being I'm not entirely sure how much weight a forum with one issue of a publication would be looked at. No offence to the magazine though.. I just think an actual print media that has been around longer would have more chance. I only have one chance I think of sending in a letter.

Gary, I may still come to you yet though

Geoff

[Antsl]

Hi Geoff,

I have to ask... why do you want to do red carpet photography at the ARIAs? Surely there are enough accredited photographers there already and most of them will be there working legitimately for agencies who will be on selling their images through well established channels to a large client base? For the moment you are more than likely to be seen as just another wannabe and you will find that the accreditation process there is designed to keep photographers like yourself out of the those that are there for the larger agencies. Such media events are difficult enough for seasoned pros without having to contend with enthusiasts.

If you really want to start doing this kind of work why not submit a portfolio to Getty Images or a similar agency and get them to get you accreditation.

Antsl

[gleff]

Hi Geoff,

I have to ask... why do you want to do red carpet photography at the ARIAs? Surely there are enough accredited photographers there already and most of them will be there working legitimately for agencies who will be on selling their images through well established channels to a large client base? For the moment you are more than likely to be seen as just another wannabe and you will find that the accreditation process there is designed to keep photographers like yourself out of the those that are there for the larger agencies. Such media events are difficult enough for seasoned pros without having to contend with enthusiasts.

If you really want to start doing this kind of work why not submit a portfolio to Getty Images or a similar agency and get them to get you accreditation.

Antsl

That's the type of photography I want to do, and this would be good experience. I've also seen some of the shots these professionals take, and to be honest, I think some of my shots are just as good.

[gleff]

Just an update on this.. To my total disbelief, I just got an email from the media company saying my accreditation for the red carpet has been approved for the red carpet and I can pick up the pass on the day.

This is even though I didn't have a letter from a publisher.. woohoo!!!

Can't get this grin off my face hehe.

Geoff

[Yi-P]

Congrats on the accreditation

They must be reading this forum as well...

[radar]

Great outcome Geoff,

goes to prove that if you keep trying, you eventually get there. Get some great images and get them published or put them on something like gettyimages. Then you will never have a problem getting a press pass.

Good luck,

André

[elffinarts]

bloody nice outcome Geoff! I am kicking myself for not organising a flight down to the Arias as I am on holiday and should have set up my accreditation before this week when they closed it. I'll have to talk to the lads of Wolfmother about setting up an editorial shoot when they return to Brissy next instead.

[gleff]

Hi Folks,

I got some bad news on Friday morning. The PR firm that sent me the email saying I got the accreditation made a mistake, so it looks like I missed out after all.

I thought it was rather unprofessional of the series of events.

Here's what happened.

* Wednesday morning I receive an email advising I got accepted for the Red Carpet only.
* Early Friday morning I sent an email to the lady at the PR firm saying thank you.
* Around midday on Friday morning I get an email asking for the dreaded assignment letter which I had told her I don't have from the very beginning.
* I respond advising again that I don't have a letter due to being a freelance photographer etc.
* I get sick of waiting for an email response to see if they are revoking the accreditation so I ring her on her mobile which was in the email that was sent advising of the success. She answers but I get 'hello, hello.. click' all around the time I mentioned my name. I figured at the time that perhaps it's just a bad line so I went to another phone line and rang her again a couple of minutes later.
* I make the second call to her mobile, she answers and as soon as I mention my name, she immediately says 'I need to answer this phone call (which I can hear in the background) and asks if she can ring me back (without asking for my mobile number she hangs up.)
* I send her an email asking if she can ring me on my mobile when she gets a free moment to discuss.
* A few minutes later, my mobile rings, and it's the other PR person who is actually the CEO of the PR firm. She was immediately on the offensive and plowed into me about how rules are rules and it's clearly stated in the terms and conditions that I need to be on assignment and I need a letter. No Ifs, Buts, etc. I could barely get a word in edgewise.

Basically, I was being excrutiatingly civil through all correspondence, both voice and email. I was upfront with the fact I don't have a letter, and my intentions from the very beginning. They made the mistake of sending me an acceptance email, and then have the nerve to make me feel like I'm trying to screw them over. Unfortunately, being the CEO, it doesn't leave me much opportunity to make a complaint, plus I don't want to burn my bridges for next year so I just left it at that. I just thought the professionalism was a bit to be desired. I guess it's all a learning experience though.

I'm still going to the ARIAS, but i'll be one of the general public fighting for a good position. I'll just have to camp out many hours in advance.

Anyway, I'm about to leave for the Richmond Air show, so I'll come back to this thread tonight if people respond.

[padey]

Geoff,

These organisation don't care if you are nice, or polite or if you're trying to launch a business. It's all about exposure.

Your best way to get into this is to do what Antsl suggested for two reasons. 1) exposure 2) They will give you ruthless feedback on your stuff. ie. If your stuff is as good or better then you should have no problem getting a start. If it's not, then art directors will be a ruthless as PR companies.

Just remember, it's nothing personal, its just business.

[gleff]

Geoff,

These organisation don't care if you are nice, or polite or if you're trying to launch a business. It's all about exposure.

Your best way to get into this is to do what Antsl suggested for two reasons. 1) exposure 2) They will give you ruthless feedback on your stuff. ie. If your stuff is as good or better then you should have no problem getting a start. If it's not, then art directors will be a ruthless as PR companies.

Just remember, it's nothing personal, its just business.

Yep.. I'm starting to see this I'll do as suggested.

Thanks