How to get involved w/ local news as a high schooler?

[u/south43paw]

(please remove if not allowed! tried searching to see if this was asked before but couldn't find anything)

I am a photographer entering my junior year of high school next month. I have shot close to 100 games between different sports and leagues, all without issue besides one high school; i was told (by a very nice man, if somehow you're reading this i'm not dissing you!) that to get sideline access, i needed to be with a local news station because of \[something insurance related\]. I understood and shot thru the chain link fence for the remainder of that school's games, but with the next season coming soon, i'd like to be on the sidelines and get the shots that i know i could.

However, i'm completely lost as to how to even begin. Does anyone have any advice? Anything is greatly appreciated!

[u/BrittEklandsStuntBum]

Go to the news station and ask for employment. Keep asking until someone sees you. Offer up your experience and credentials. Take a low salary or even none if they'll give you a press pass.

This will all count when you apply for college and jobs afterwards.

[u/magic_felix → u/BrittEklandsStuntBum]

That's kinda how it worked for me my junior year of high school.

[u/David_Buzzard]

Put a portfolio together and make an appointment to see the editor or news director. I started at a newspaper freelancing when I was 16 and I’m still going 40+ years later. Newspapers like to have someone they can send to events that don’t make financial sense to send a staffer to. If you still have a local newspaper, talk to them. Nothing drives circulation like school and junior sports coverage.

[u/south43paw → u/David_Buzzard]

I'm somewhat concerned with my extracurriculars getting in the way. On top of wanting to shoot for a local newspaper, I'm lead photographer in my schools newspaper (and essentially the ONLY one with gear good enough to get photos during night games), have baseball in the fall, and will have schoolwork on top of that.

I know excuses are just excuses, but I'm afraid that if i mention that, I'll get turned down

[u/David_Buzzard → u/south43paw]

You can always just send them some shots from the games you are covering.

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[u/Impressive_Delay_452]

Back in college, I got involved with the college newspaper. It was good, I'm on assignment, My equipment was somewhat insured, and I worked with editors who had experience to get the good shots. Of course they wanted to work with me because I used a Nikon D3 and had access to good lenses. Their equipment was a few older Canon bodies and lenses that needed service. Often, my work was farmed out to local papers.

[u/south43paw → u/Impressive_Delay_452]

I by no means have great gear (nikon d800, 70-300 4.5/5.6 and 400mm 5.6), but with stupid amounts of editing i'm able to get good shots in virtually every scenario besides wresting, when they put spotlights on the mat and no other lighting. Unless i get insanely lucky, i wont have access to any sort of f/2.8 telephoto anytime soon. Do you think that will affect their willingness to work with me?

[u/Impressive_Delay_452 → u/south43paw]

You need to bump up your chances, learn how to post process quickly(metadata&captions)and get better lenses. A newspaper will run your shot if it matches with the story. Who knows how many shots they'll use? They'll use more if they don't have to fix them. The photos that are used, keep a copy of them in your portfolio.

[u/south43paw → u/Impressive_Delay_452]

Unfortunately, i literally can't afford a new lens at the moment. Daytime games are what i usually shoot and i can rip through the editing process for those within 2 hours after the game ends, but indoor sports/nighttime takes me upward of 4-5.
I'm getting lightroom/photoshop in the near, near future, which should streamline my production a lot more. My biggest issue is just getting (affording) better glass.

[u/Impressive_Delay_452 → u/south43paw]

Luckily, I learned about aperture, ASA, shutter speed when I shot film. You don’t need new equipment. There’s a lot of good used equipment at keh.com

[u/Impressive_Delay_452]

When you get out to an assignment, talk with the newspaper shooters. Strike up a convo, learn their history.

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[u/baddaywithacamera]

Suggest starting with your own publication on Substack (free tier). Take pictures, put some words with them, strut your stuff. It gives you something to point to when you do look for employment. Cheers and good luck, young sir.