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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
What "should" I do during my last days as a photojournalist?
Dan Staudacher, Photographer
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Essexville | MI | USA | Posted: 10:47 PM on 05.06.09 |
->> Greetings Sportsshooters!
About a month ago my employer announced a three day per week print publishing model starting in June, and, that most of the staff would no longer have a job at the end of May, myself included.
So, how SHOULD I spend my remaining days as a newspaper photographer?
I don't want to go out with a whimper... I want to produce quality images and hold my head high when I turn in my gear on May 30, 2009.
Thanks, and good luck out there.
Best,
Dan |
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Tim Snow, Photographer
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Montreal | Qc | Canada | Posted: 11:00 PM on 05.06.09 |
->> Hey Dan,
First, sorry 'bout the news.
Second, shoot a subject that means something to you. it's not the end of your career, it's the end of your career at that particular place. Remember that. Repeat that. Walk out of there with your head held high and be thankful for everything you have learned and experienced, and look forward to hopefully brighter pastures. That said, if you are passionate about sports, follow a local team, no matter the level. Shoot portraits of local business people who run businesses you believe in (and may want to develop contacts with to one day develop a commercial relationship with), shoot the neighborhood dogs and their owners...I don't think this is the time to jump into something really groundbreaking that will change the world...I would do something more lighthearted, positive and something that in these tough times, people will actually enjoy viewing.
Best of luck! |
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Jack Megaw, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Pittsburgh | PA | America | Posted: 11:22 PM on 05.06.09 |
->> Shoot something that matters, something that makes a difference or tells somebody's story. Shoot something that you can look back at and be proud of what you have done - beyond just taking a pretty picture.
Best of luck in the future.
-Jack |
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Andy Rogers, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 11:46 PM on 05.06.09 |
| ->> Just remember, you'll still be a photojournalist after you leave the paper, but you may never work in a newsroom again in your life. Take some time to really appreciate the things that make working at a newspaper so cool. Hang out with your colleagues (not just in the photo department), visit the presses, go to a budget meeting. You'll probably be on a bit of an island soon, so make the most of the great camaraderie you get to enjoy as a staffer at a newspaper. |
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David A. Cantor, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Toledo | OH | USA | Posted: 12:19 AM on 05.07.09 |
->> "My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."
-John "Bluto" Blutarsky |
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Lane Hickenbottom, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | usa | Posted: 12:53 AM on 05.07.09 |
->> Dan,
So sorry to hear about everything going on there in Bay City. I loved my internship there way back when, and I really enjoyed my opportunity to get to know you a little bit. Keep your head high!
If I could be back there, I'd do something that puts me on a sail boat. Hey, why not? |
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D. Ross Cameron, Photographer
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Oakland | CA | USA | Posted: 4:27 AM on 05.07.09 |
->> Ah, Cantor, you took the words right out of my mouth...
"Seven years of college down the drain!"
DRC |
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Aaron Rhoads, Photographer
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McComb | MS | USA | Posted: 9:22 AM on 05.07.09 |
->> Take pictures of ice......
Drink and shoot something you care about. |
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Andrew Dolph, Photographer
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Akron | OH | USA | Posted: 9:40 AM on 05.07.09 |
| ->> @Aaron: You made a grammatical funny. |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 10:12 AM on 05.07.09 |
->> Dan, I would spend a lot less time knocking myself out to do good work for my employer and a lot more work getting out of there with as much portable information as you can carry. If you're going to make a go of the freelance market you might want to cannibalize the rolodex and/or any database of contacts from your time at the paper you can use to mine for potential clients. Make sure you have permission to use the work you've done over the years in your portfolio. It may not be too late to go back and try to negotiate your gear as part of your severance package. It's not like the paper is going to use the gear anymore. Maybe they're planning on selling it, but as anyone can tell you, well used digital gear that is anything but current models has a pretty limited market value.
Good luck.
Sean |
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Ron Scheffler, Photographer
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Hamilton (Toronto area) | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 11:45 AM on 05.07.09 |
| ->> Sean makes a good point. A friend/colleague was able to do this recently as part of her buyout package and it saved her around $10,000 if she would have had to source all the equipment new. Obviously that's $10,000 she didn't have to spend from the buyout... |
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Richard Uhlhorn, Photographer
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Chelan Falls | WA | USA | Posted: 12:57 PM on 05.07.09 |
->> The absolute best job that you possibly can because the reality is that in the end, you only work for yourself.
I do like the equipment idea as a part of your severance. You might also negotiate a freelance gig with the paper to help cover those events that they will need covered eventually. Just charge more for the time than what you were getting paid.
Sorry to hear about your job loss. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Sincerely,
Rich |
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Michael Granse, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 3:32 PM on 05.07.09 |
| ->> Has anyone tried to negotiate image ownership into their severance package? |
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Mike Anzaldi, Photographer
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Oak Park | IL | USA | Posted: 8:00 PM on 05.07.09 |
->> by all means- don't shoot something that means something to you. you'll have plenty of time for that on your own. i would think you'd want to do any assignments that fill any gaps in your portfolio- preferably assignments that include access to something you wouldn't get without newspaper creds.
although, i'm not employed. so, yeah. |
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Ron Holman, Photographer
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Visalia | CA | USA | Posted: 12:41 AM on 05.08.09 |
->> Dan, I read your post this morning and happened to drive a by a local church this afternoon that often has a catchy phrase on the marquee.
Today it was "Don't count the days, make the days count." Good advice for all of us.
Best of luck. |
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Doug Holleman, Photographer
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Temple | TX | USA | Posted: 1:54 AM on 05.08.09 |
| ->> Raid the supply closet. |
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Corey Perrine, Photographer
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Hudson | NH | USA | Posted: 3:39 AM on 05.08.09 |
| ->> Don't flip out. Take the fish with you. Ask who's coming with you. Take your one employee, your one client and go all the way to the top. |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 8:18 AM on 05.08.09 |
| ->> just to clarify my attitude ... don't by any means just tank these last few weeks. Stay true to your work ethic. Produce quality storytelling images. Make good contacts in your community, be a good citizen a good journalist and as much of a good employee as you can bear considering how poor an employer yours has been. I just can't see the point in starting any long-term in-depth journalism work for a paper that won't be paying you in short order. If you have control over your assignments then by all means, do whatever you can to shoot the fun ones, the stories that give you fulfillment. Skip the crap whenever possible. Fewer and fewer of us actually get paid full-time to do this wonderful job, enjoy whatever time you have left and be glad you've had it. They could have laid you off with no notice and put you on the street the next day. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 10:44 AM on 05.08.09 |
->> Dan - sorry to hear about the news. When I got let go, it was immediate. I was given the option of not doing my final shoot, but I opted to take it anyway so I could have one last time on the sideline with the other media guys.
My advice would be to shoot what you want. If you've ever had a project that was turned down for any reason - not enough interest to the readership, or something - do it anyway. Have fun. Don't just go through the motions until your time runs out. You know that old "what would you do if you found out you were dying tomorrow" question? Do what you'd do there. Do what you've always wanted to do. And I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but don't burn any bridges on your way out. |
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Nina Zhito, Photographer
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bay area | CA | | Posted: 12:31 AM on 05.09.09 |
->> i'd shoot the last days at your office.
it is history, isn't it?
then, i'd submit the photos to columbia journalism review for their "american newsroom" feature photo that runs each issue.
good luck, keep shooting. |
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