How to Become a Photojournalist and get into Photojournalism

Photojournalism : An in-demand skillset

In many ways a photojournalist is two people rolled into one. They’re both a journalist and a photographer – and they have to be equally good at both.

The roles of the journalist and photographer have merged over the last few years, with editors increasingly wanting to work with those who have both skillsets.

That’s partly because of budget – why pay two people when one person can do both jobs? And because of the increasing sophistication of basic cameras, we can all take great photos now, even on smartphones.

Acclaimed photojournalist Ben Lowy epitomises the way the role of the photojournalist has evolved. We think of a classic photojournalist as someone who will head into a war zone with several thousands of pounds of expensive photographic kit in their hand luggage.

But Lowy uses his mobile to take many of his compelling images, shooting the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in the USA on his iPhone. One of his images appeared on the front cover of the well-respected Time magazine.

A photojournalist is an impartial observer. Their shots are another form of reporting and the images are not stunted up, or posed. There certainly is no place for Photoshop in photojournalism!

Photojournalists are also writers

As well as the ability to frame a good photo and be in the right place at the right time, you need to develop the skills to be able to write well if you want to succeed as a photojournalist.

Make sure the words do the photos justice and vice versa – both sides should be equally powerful if you want to have a career in photojournalism. Even if you don’t provide the story to go along with your images, your ability to write a strong pitch to an editor is essential for success in photojournalism.

If your goal is to be a photojournalist and you need to work on your writing, consider doing a course. The British College of Journalism will sharpen your journalism skills and help you become a more successful professional photojournalist.

Know when your photojournalism skills are needed

When you’re trying to come up with a saleable idea, try to choose a subject which hasn’t been covered by other photojournalists. For example, if you’re at a well-publicised event or occasion with banks of professional photographers and staff journalists, it’s unlikely that your photojournalism package will readily stand out against the competition.

But if you’re the only one there, you could find yourself with an ‘exclusive’ (a buzz word that all photojournalists and editors love to hear). As long as you know how to handle the story correctly, you have a good chance of selling your story and photography.

So if you want a career in photojournalism, the key is to take a great photo and get writing too.

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