Behind the scene look at being a photographer at Nat. Geo., 20 years ago.

[Lost Canadian]

A look at Joe McNally working for Nat. Geo. Think you have what it takes? More than the images themselves, what struck me was how committed and involved Joe was through the entire process. I guess that's what made/makes Joe,....well Joe. Also, the depth of collaboration and commitment by a large group of the staff, that goes into a single story, is pretty remarkable.

[video=youtube;VacqxeJ8AN8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VacqxeJ8AN8[/video]

 

[nwoods]

That was very interesting. I would assume the process is radically different today. I would love to know how NG photographers are compensated. Not the amount necessarily, but on what basis, time? exposures, chosen images that get printed? How?

 

[nwoods]

That was very interesting. I would assume the process is radically different today. I would love to know how NG photographers are compensated. Not the amount necessarily, but on what basis, time? exposures, chosen images that get printed? How?

Answered my own question: here is a GREAT blog post from Joe McNally
http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2011/archives/21647

 

[Lost Canadian]

That was a really good read, thanks!

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

That was very interesting. I would assume the process is radically different today. I would love to know how NG photographers are compensated. Not the amount necessarily, but on what basis, time? exposures, chosen images that get printed? How?

I was at an event and got to talking with some folks. One said she worked for Nat Geo. We exchanged cards and I sent her an email asking about a few story ideas I had and wondered if they'd be interested. She replied that they do not hire any freelancers. They select their photographers from the most published photographers and the ones that earn the most credentials throughout the year. Sort of a catch-22 because there are probably some amazing photographers that don't submit that much stuff, but might still be perfect for a specific story.

So it was a polite way to tell me dont submit anything. If we want you, we'll call you. She also said that once they decide to hire you for a story, you have to submit a full time line that it will take, cost layout and a specific timeline. They'll put some money up front, but the majority of the money comes in when you finish the project.

Probably a way to guarantee that you finish the story

 

[Lost Canadian]

Here's some good insight from a Nat. Geo. photog. The final line reads this below, and I think it says it all. The whole article is in the link.

"So take a subject that you own and spend four or five years on it. And if you balk at doing that, well, that's where you weed out the pretenders."

http://www.michaelnicknichols.com/nickstake/index.html

 

[LR Max]

"The photographer should be a witness, not an instigator."

I'm writing this down and taping it to my lens hood.