Sell Your Photos to Press and Media

It pays to be in the right place at the right time, especially if you take the kind of photo that a picture desk editor wants to print. This is partly a question of quality -- see here for more on that -- but also, of course, a matter of photographing the right subject in the right way. There's no magic formula as such but the beauty of carrying a camera phone or a digital camera with you everywhere is that you're in a position to photograph anything that happens just about anywhere. Here are a few tips to help you on your way.

In general terms, your photo must be:
Topical, current, newsworthy and of interest to the wider public. Family and holiday photos are out!
The only photo or one of very few photos taken of a newsworthy event. This is what gives it its value.
In focus. Do practice with your camera or phone so you can get the best shot when the time comes.
Legal. Most countries have strict privacy laws, trespass laws and decency laws that you need to be aware of. If you break the law to get your scoop, we will not be able to license your photo.
Taken at no risk to yourself. Please do not place yourself in any danger just to get a photo. No hanging off bridges or buildings -- you could fall; no jumping into roads -- you could get run over; no confronting criminals -- you could end implicated in the crime and get arrested; and no wading into battles -- you might end up as the punching bag. Use commonsense at all times.
PHOTOS WE WANT

The absolute best, highest-value photos are those that capture a completely unexpected but sensational event, especially if the professional media are either not present or looking the other way. From a global disaster to a happening in your local town or a chance encounter with a celebrity… so long as a picture has interest, it has value.

To make life easier and to give you some ideas, we have split the kinds of photos we are looking for into categories. You'll be asked to choose which category best suits your pic at the point of uploading it.

The categories are:

• Famous people
• The Odd and Unusual
• Important events in your community
• Breaking news
• Local news
• Disaster

10 reason why you should join Scoopt
01. Scoopt works!
We've sold our members' pictures worldwide.
02. It's free
It costs you nothing to join Scoopt and start uploading your pictures.
03. Anyone can get a scoop
You never know when you will see something newsworthy. Just carry a camera.
04. Customer demand
News and magazine editors come to Scoopt looking for YOUR pictures.
05. Big money
Your picture could be worth anything from £100 to many thousands.
06. Best deal
Scoopt pays you 40% of all sales and never deducts any third-party commissions.
07. Speed counts
If you join Scoopt now, you can send pictures to us instantly.
08. Responsible and ethical
We don't deal in intrusirive paparazzi material. You can feel good about using Scoopt.
09. No more media rip-offs
Why give a picture away fro free when you can get paid like a professional?
10. First, best and biggest
Scoopt was the first business to sell your pictures to the worldwide media - and now that we're part of Getty Images, we are the biggest and the best citizen journalism agency in the world.

Click here to join Scoopt now