Press photography

Information in pictures

The press photographer is first and foremost an image journalist.

As close as possible to current events, it has a role to play in providing information and bearing witness. News photography often complements the article it illustrates. It helps the reader understand the context. But it must also speak for itself and show the whole situation in a single image.

The most important thing about press photography is to tell a story, to capture the present without too much artifice. Through their images, reporters inform us and bear witness to current events, and sometimes even to history. Thanks to them, future generations will be able to remember.

Press photography is first and foremost a passionate profession. Indeed, it's a highly competitive environment, where motivation is essential if you are to adapt and make your mark.
Photojournalism is also a constantly evolving world. These days, with the Internet and social networks, information has to be incredibly fast. As a result, images have to be delivered as quickly as possible, and photographers work in near-immediacy.

In the past, professional photographers shot their images on film and then developed them in the darkroom, but that's all changed in the digital age. One report follows another, and images are digitally retouched and sent directly to media editors. Mastery of post-production and software such as Lightroom, Photoshop and Photo Mechanic is therefore essential.

However, certain aspects of the job and the qualities required remain unchanged. The photojournalist has no control over location, layout or lighting. To get the perfect, original image, they need to know their equipment and camera inside out. There's no room for error in capturing the right moment. Nothing can be left to chance, neither the aperture nor the shutter speed. The photographer must be ready for action, ready to shoot.

Most of the time, press photographers work in a hurry, so they have to be very reactive.

But being reactive and able to adapt is far from enough to be a good professional news photographer. In fact, as Laurie Dieffembacq, photographer for the Belgian news agency Belga, explains: " For me, the most important quality is anticipation: you have to see the photo before it takes place. You have to have all the possibilities in mind, so you can be ready at any moment. You also need to be able to tell the whole story in a single photo. Creativity is a great ally!

In this world where almost anyone can take a photo with their phone, the eye and technical quality are very important. To stand out from the crowd, creativity coupled with experience are very important. This is what makes it possible to take the image that will stand out from the crowd.

The press is a job where you don't count the hours. " The downsides of the job are clearly the hours and the fact that you never really know when you're going to work. Most of the time, I know my schedule the day before for the day after, so it's almost a daily organizational headache for family life. With sport, there's mainly work in the evenings and at weekends, so it's never a classic schedule.

On the plus side, of course, every day is different. You see a lot, you learn a lot, you never get bored. For a press photographer, it's a job of passion, it's never easy, but it's really worth it! " adds Laurie.

As the bearer of information, press photography combines creativity, technique and adventure.