How to pursue photojournalism...?

I am a 26-year-old with a BA in Psychology & Religion. I only took one photography class in college, but I have been shooting for years. I recently finished a 5-year marketing job with a band, which included many, many days of live shooting. I still LOVE to shoot (anything and everything, but mostly candid/people) and would love to get into photojournalism. Do I have to go back to school... for four years?? Or can I build a portfolio and shop myself around?

How can I get started...??

Photo journalism is a cut throat business, particularly here in London, what you have to bear in mind is, that everyone who owns a camera phone, is a potential photographer.
Staffer job's at national news papers are normally handed down (father to son) so the chances of you getting a position as a staff photographer are pretty remote, (and don't let anyone tell you differently), but having said that, some local newspapers take on grads, but the pay is extremely poor; although it will give you an insight into news photography.
On the other hand you can go freelance, but you have got to be good, and todays snappers are right up their with all the latest hi tech equipment, top of the range Digi SLR camera, prime and zoom lenses, lap top etc of which you will require as a freelancer, and of which will set you back anything upto 拢8.000.00
Although some agencies will kit you out after a period of time. Marketing companies (photo agencies) will rip you off big time, if you don't keep an eye on where your pics are being published, it's hard to check out every single magazine and news paper published around the world, so you have to hope that they will pay you for what you have submitted, it's called syndication.
Agencies will syndicate your work all around the world, on a 50/50 basis, but as a newcomer they will try and get it for next to nothing.
There are several renown pap agencies in london (paparazzo) of which may take you on, but they are ruthless.
If you decide to go down the pap route, i'll list a couple of agencies in london, and you can give them a ring, or look on line at their web sites, also a college in london that specialises in photo journalism.

London college of printing, Elephant & Castle, london SE1.
Big pictures Agency
Rex features Agency.
PS: Always copyright your work, and get a price first, before you offer any mag or paper an exclusive, (in writing) or a confirmation e-mail, stipulating the agreed terms.
PPS: The other good thing about joining an agency is, the benefit of receiving regular press releases and info, regarding who's in town, where they are staying etc.

my brother does a phtotography course and its rubbish! your enthusiams matched with skills learnt from your degree is a good start. maybe send pics in wherever you can take them, start small, but you neednt go nack to study. talent is talent.

I dont know, but how did you get into marketing job w/ the band? My dream job is to work with bands.. anything. I would love to be a manager, but that sounds really cool too.

Build a portfolio and "shop around", is a good move. If your porfolio isnt strong enough then more study is required.

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