dirty dave

Saturday I was traveling and caught a horrible accident on my dash cam. I just knew someone would be dead. Luckily just minor injuries. But it did tie up the interstate for hours. I offered the authorities what I had captured. But decided to sell to the local news stations what I had captured. ( before you think I was being a paparazzi I did offer assistance to the accident victims the camera was running on its own) For years I have sold my photos to news papers as well as TV. When I offered this to them I was told they would love to have it but the new policies they just take donated footage and photos. As I was talking with them I fond out that camcorders and cameras are everywhere and the news people just don't pay for it anymore. Guess the days of being an independent professional photographer is gone as far as news goes.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

These folks have also fired most of their own staff photographers. Why pay for a quality photo or video when you can get a blurry cellphone shot or dizzying OOF phone video for free?

Dr.db Loc: Central Point, OR

I'm sure there's still an occasional opportunity to sell that really spectacular shot that nobody else got, but you'd probably need to include a sales pitch as to its unprecedented value... :)

I have run into the same thing when offering photos and video to local news stations - "sure, put 'em on the pile!" But I do occasionally get something aired, and they are usually kind enough to offer a credit at least, so the free plug is nice to have - the other night I got an on-screen credit AND the reporter said my name, even... And it doesn't hurt business at all if some of the local news broadcasters recognize you as "that guy who sends us some really cool pictures."

mymike Loc: Tucson, AZ

Sad to say, the media has really streamlined staff and resources. I am a public information officer and am asked by the media for video streams or photos of events that I cover. My pay....credit for my organization or myself.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

You could put it on YouTube, along with zillions of other disaster videos. Might make a few dinero if you're lucky.

Historical trivia: The guy who shot the video of Rodney King getting subdued and arrested, the fool George Holliday, sold his video ... copyright and all rights ... for chump change. He didn't know anything then, made idiotic comments later, unsuccessfully sued to rescind the sale of the video, and ironically later lost the camera itself in a divorce settlement.

Ed Loc: Massachusetts

In this new world we live in EVERYBODY has a camera on them and they give there valuable images away for the bragging rights, then they reconsider and regret do so. I also was a stringer for tv & print. Not so much of a need anymore, UNLESS its a BIG story and I contact them ASAP and negotiate.

Its a whole new world, like it or not.

Enjoy your images and call fast if interested in monetizing them. If its a big news story, they will still purchase.

Keep shooting and running your cameras..

Ed Loc: Massachusetts

Say no,

Ed Loc: Massachusetts

Say no, not available, they'll start purchasing when they realize what THEY are missing out on... Just my experience relating to similar circumstances.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Yes, it is a different world. Have you not seen the local and national news stations ask their viewers to send them videos/photos of news in their area? They never mention paying for those images

Once upon a time there were very few who could afford professional cameras. And if they did have them, they weren't carried everywhere with them. Now everyone can take good to excellent photos with the gear available. And those camera phones, that so many here belittle, are as good as or better than some expensive cameras from just a few years ago.

More people are enjoying photography now than ever before. Which is a good thing. But the down side is, because more people are producing more quality work than ever before, it is often not valued as highly as in the past.