Taking Editorial Photos - 10 Things You Must Know

Editorial images depict real-life. They focus on current issues and events, portraying people and occurrences in a truthful way. Since the people included in these images don’t sign release forms, these images can’t be used in a promotional way (the same goes for places). They’re usually a part of journalistic stories, news broadcasts, documentaries and textbooks.

Editorial photos also shouldn’t be heavily edited. A bit of edit on the exposure or color is generally acceptable, but since they’re intended to represent the truth you must avoid any editing that would make them misleading or inaccurate.

If you’re looking to get into editorial photography, we’ve prepared 10 things and tips you should follow.

Follow the Local News

Read the local newspapers to stay up-to-date on current events. Follow the protests, and actions happening in your city, head out and take the photos. The speed is essential, so you must get these images online as soon as possible. But, you shouldn’t worry if you’re a bit late. Some of the images can also be used in editorials or news segments even later.

Follow More Outlets and Other Photographers

Following more than one news outlet will give you a better idea of the events around your town. Not all news are covered in every outlet, so it’s good if you want to stay on top of what’s happening. Also, you should follow other photographers which are doing editorial images - this will help you understand what type of images outlets use, and it’s a great way to evolve your own style.

Be There Early

If the event starts at six, show up at five. People usually start gathering earlier, and this will give you enough time to talk to them and scout the location. Since the crowd hasn’t gathered yet, you’ll have enough time to find a good position, and get some great candids while you wait without having a big crowd around your main subject.

‍

Talk to the People

If you see an interesting sign, or a cool action, don’t be afraid to approach that person and ask them for a few close ups. When it comes to protests and rallies, people are there to get their voices heard - so they probably won’t mind posing for a few images. For a better chance of getting that photo, tell them that you’re taking photos editorially and that they might be used in the news later.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Picky

When you’re taking editorial photos there are always a lot of subjects to choose from, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be picky with your photos. First of all, when you’re searching for events, you should add the most interesting ones to your calendar. This way, in case another business opportunity comes up, you can weigh to see which of these would be better for you.

Consider if the event is related to a passing trend, or if it’s something that will be covered in the news for a while such as environmental issues, or women’s rights issues. If it’s an event about which people will keep talking for a while, maybe it’s better you visit it, since these photos will keep selling for a longer time period.

While it can be tempting to walk around the event and shoot as you go, it’s always better to think about the images you’re taking. Try to train yourself to take the photo only if you think it will be a good one, or if it's better than the ones you already took. Not only this will help you take the best photos, but it will also make it easier for you to sort through them and select which ones to upload to the agency.

Keep Your Opinions to Yourself

Just like a journalist, you must stay objective while covering events. One of the most common mistakes photographers make when taking photos of an event, especially a protest or a demonstration, is the fact that they can’t put their emotions and biases aside.

It’s something that comes in time - the more events you visit, it will be easier for you to keep your objectivity. Just remember, you’re not there to rally - you’re there to take some photos and show the world how that event looked.

Use the Burst Mode

While it’s important to find a perfect moment to photograph, you should still use a burst mode. If you’re only taking one image at a time, you’ll risk missing a reaction or an emotion. Still be careful when you’re taking the photos - you don’t want to jam up your card or make it hard to select which photos to upload later. Wait for the perfect moment, then burst it up.‍

‍

Look for a Unique Perspective

Undoubtedly, there will be many other photographers at the event, and you’re all “fighting” for that perfect shot. What you need to do is stand out from the crowd, and the way to do this is by going in the other direction. When all the cameras are facing forwards - face backwards. Also, try shooting from different levels. Don’t just keep your camera on the eye-level. Try shooting from above, up close, far away, and so on. 

Capture Iconic Moments

There are two types of iconic moments at events - signs and emotions. Signs usually sell well long after the event is over, and people are getting more and more creative with them, so make sure you find the most interesting ones and take photos.

Capturing emotion isn’t an easy task. Be on the lookout for excitement, anger, sadness, whatever you can see in the crowd. 

Be Brave

In the end, the most important task of a photographer at an event is to be brave. Now it’s not the time to get away from the action. Seize the moment without disrespecting the people around you. Since you’re probably in a public space, or at a registered event, you have every right to take the photos. Sure, there might be some people who don’t want their picture taken - be considerate about it, but at the same time don’t be afraid to take shots that portray the situation in an objective way.