WORKSHOP
DARIO VERÉB | SEHEN UND GESEHEN WERDEN
(DE) Dario Veréb ist Bildchef der «NZZ am Sonntag» und beauftragt regelmässig freischaffende Fotografinnen und Fotografen für den Sonntagstitel. Auf der Suche nach neuen Zusammenarbeiten klickt und scrollt er sich stundenlang durch Portfolio-Websites und Social-Media-Kanäle. Wie entscheidet er, wer den Auftrag kriegt? Welche Portfolios bleiben in Erinnerung und welche nicht? Erfahre von ihm, wie du dich am besten vermarktest und erhalte Einblick in die aktuelle Marktlage.
Melde dich auf www.ipfo.ch/ipfo-campus an.
(EN) Dario Veréb is the picture editor of „NZZ am Sonntag“ and regularly commissions freelance photographers for the Sunday edition. In his search for new collaborators, he spends hours clicking and scrolling through portfolio websites and social media channels. How does he decide who gets the commission? Which portfolios stick in his mind and which don’t? Find out from him how best to market yourself and gain an insight into the current market situation.
#ipfo #ipfocampus #campus #photography #workshop
Are you working on a powerful photojournalistic story that deserves a wider audience? I’m always looking for fresh, thought-provoking visual narratives to feature in NZZ, «NZZ am Sonntag» and beyond.
Use the form on my website to pitch your idea directly to me. The more clearly you communicate your vision, the better I can support and share it with the right editors and departments and offer valuable feedback to you.
www.kulturfabrikant.ch/formular
Let’s bring important stories to light together!
#photojournalism #pitchyourstory #visualstorytelling #documentaryphotography #reportagephotography #photostory #editorialphotography #journalism #photoeditor #photostories #photojournalist #photojournalists
Do editors even know you exist?
If you’re a photographer working in editorial or documentary photography, chances are you’ve put serious work into your craft. Your portfolio is strong. Your images are good. But the commissions aren’t coming, because the self-promotion part of the job feels impossible.
On June 1st in Olten, Switzerland I’m running a full-day photography workshop for exactly that situation.
As the Chief Photo Editor at NZZ am Sonntag I commission freelance photographers every week. I know what makes a photography portfolio work, what gets ignored, and what separates photographers who get hired from those who don’t.
The workshop covers portfolio reviews, photography website analysis, Instagram strategy for photographers, and how to approach photo editors and art directors without getting ignored.
Max. 12 spots.
CHF 420.
IPFO Campus, Olten, Switzerland. June 1, 2026.
Registration via link in bio.
#editorialphotography #documentaryphotography #photographyworkshop #freelancephotographer #photographyportfolio
Stop accepting low fees in silence. Here is exactly how to negotiate with a photo editor without burning the bridge. 💸
Freelance photographers and illustrators need to push back on badly paid jobs. The feedback you give to an editor when you reject a low fee is incredibly valuable for the entire industry.
As a photo editor, here is how I want you to handle a lowball offer:
1️⃣ Don’t lead with a „No.“ Respond by expressing your interest in the project and confirming your availability. Keep the tone positive and professional.
2️⃣ Ask for the details. Request a general briefing, information on the assignment scope, and ask about expenses. This shows you are taking the project seriously.
3️⃣ Now, negotiate. Once I have provided the details, you have a solid starting ground for a discussion. Use the specifics of the assignment to build a thoughtful, reasoned counter-offer.
Tell me why you need a higher fee. Is it the complexity of the shoot? The turnaround time? The licensing?
Even if my hands are completely tied and I cannot meet your rate for that specific job, I will remember your professionalism and your reasoning. It might even prompt me to reject a cheap assignment internally so I can secure more budget for you on the next one.
Are you struggling to advocate for yourself and land the clients who actually pay your worth?
Join me at the IPFO on June 1st for my workshop: „Seeing and Being Seen.“ It is designed specifically for photographers who are incredible at their craft but terrible at self-promotion. We will completely optimize your website and social media to attract the high-paying clients you deserve. Link in bio to register! 🎟️
How do you handle low fee offers? Let me know in the comments below. 👇
#PhotographyBusiness #FreelancePhotographer #PhotoEditor #CreativeNegotiation #PhotographyWorkshop
Are you terrified of AI replacing you? Good news: most companies have no idea how to use it yet. 🤖 Let’s talk about how you can use this borrowed time to protect your career.
We have all seen brands stumble as they try to replace creatives with prompt engineers. They are falling flat because AI imagery is currently closer to a synthetic illustration than an actual photograph. This clumsy adoption phase is a massive opportunity for working photographers to double down on what makes them completely irreplaceable.
Stock and basic e-commerce work are fading. But if you shoot photojournalism, documentary, or events, you have a massive advantage. You rely on the unpredictable outside world. An algorithm cannot replicate genuine human connection, spontaneity, and the raw imperfection of real life.
To survive this shift, you have to lean into the very things an AI cannot generate. You need to focus on people, diversity, and authentic storytelling.
But here is the catch: having a purely human, deeply moving portfolio is useless if the right photo desk never sees it. 🛑
If you are incredible at your craft but terrible at self-promotion, I am hosting a workshop to fix exactly that. Join me at IPFO on June 1 for „Seeing and Being seen.“ We will completely optimize your website and social media strategy to help you finally reach the editors and clients you actually want to work with.
What steps are you taking to future-proof your photography business? Drop your thoughts below, and check the link in my bio to grab your spot for June 1! 👇
#AIInPhotography #PhotographyBusinessSurvival #PhotoEditor #EditorialPhotography #VisualJournalism
Does journalism truly belong on social media? When @dariovereb asked this in the latest episode of our Reelcast series, @wengerkarin was quite surprised. It was a question she had never actually posed to herself. Which begs the question is it a silly thing to ask, or is it something we need to be asking ourselves a lot more?
We used to get our news delivered straight to our living rooms every evening. Today, our reality has shifted online. While social media is exactly where the audience is, relying on algorithms to dictate which complex stories from places like the Middle East get pushed or hidden is a serious challenge. The power these big platforms hold over photojournalism and reporting is not always healthy for the public. Still, the primary responsibility of authentic storytelling is to reach people wherever they are.
What do you think about algorithms controlling the news you see? Should we find new ways to share important stories? Comment your questions or opinions on journalism below!
Please like this Reel and follow us to not miss the next episode. Thank you to @danielkuenzli for recording and editing this Reelcast.
#Journalism #Photojournalism #MediaIndustry #Storytelling #Reporting
Are you forcing your audience to consume your entire project at once? 🍽️
As visual storytellers, we are trained to build a complete narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end. We introduce characters and try to paint the full picture for our viewers. But what if your audience does not want to go down that route immediately?
The way people consume media has fundamentally changed. Often, there is an initial spark of interest before someone decides to dive deeper by reading or watching everything available on a specific topic.
Think about publications like The Economist. They offer a standalone article but also mention other pieces within the same magazine that touch on different aspects of the core story. You can read just one piece and feel completely informed, or you can choose to read another article to go deeper.
When you pitch or file your next assignment, you need to deliver both the snack and the full menu. Do not treat your opening image or your short edit merely as a teaser for the larger body of work. Both elements need to function and succeed completely separately.
Have you ever structured a project this way? Could you see yourself adapting this approach for your next big story? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
#VisualStorytellingStructure #EditorialLayout #PhotoEditor #Photojournalism #DocumentaryPhotography
You need to stop networking right now. 🛑 At least, you need to stop doing it the wrong way.
I am sensing a massive trend in our industry where everyone is desperate to build the biggest possible contact list. The pressure to have a high quantity of contacts has completely ruined the quality of our interactions.
When you sit down to chat with an editor or a fellow photographer, is your very first thought about whether this is an opportunity to collaborate? Using career potential as the main reason to agree to a friendship or discard one is a deeply troublesome approach.
It is incredibly easy to get caught up in the career possibilities someone might offer you. However, all of that professional potential is completely irrelevant if you cannot manage to be in a room with that person for longer than five minutes just to chit-chat. You either share a similar vibe, or you are not emotionally connecting at all, which leads to completely different outcomes when it comes time to actually work together.
Build a network that has the quality to back up its quantity.
As we face a future filled with automated AI content, the emotional intelligence built through genuine human connection is exactly what will set us apart. Do not lose your human connections just to play the networking system. 🤝
How do you approach building authentic relationships in the media industry? Let me know below. 👇
#PhotographyNetworking #CreativeRelationships #PhotoEditor #FreelancePhotographer #MediaIndustry
When does the journalist become the story?
In this episode of our ongoing Reelcast series, @dariovereb and @wengerkarin tackle the growing trend of personal branding in the media industry. As reporters increasingly rely on newsletters and independent platforms to fund their work, a new ethical challenge emerges. How do you promote yourself without making the story about you?
Karin shares her perspective on this delicate balance.
Whether doing in depth reporting in the Middle East or handling complex photojournalism assignments, the ultimate responsibility must always remain with the subjects. The focus should always be on the people living the reality, not the reporter standing in a press vest. Authentic storytelling requires nuance and keeping the spotlight exactly where it belongs.
Where do you think the line should be drawn between building a personal brand and maintaining ethical journalism? We would love to hear from you. Comment your questions or opinions on journalism down below!
Make sure to like this Reel and follow us so you never miss the next episode. Thank you to @danielkuenzli for recording and editing this Reelcast.
#Journalism #Photojournalism #MiddleEast #Storytelling #MediaEthics
We need to stop complaining to each other. The echo chamber is killing our creativity. 🍷
If you are a working photojournalist or editorial photographer, you know the conversation. You sit down with a colleague and within five minutes, you are talking about low engagement, shrinking budgets, and how few people seem to care about the stories we tell.
The primary language between media professionals right now is frustration. It is a shared sadness over the status quo and a constant comparison to how things „used to be.“
But let’s be honest with ourselves: this is not healthy. And more importantly, it is not productive. 🛑
We have been talking about this „dying industry“ for decades. Venting to another journalist about journalism is not going to change anything. We are just reinforcing each other’s burnout.
So, I am issuing a challenge.
The next time you feel that deep frustration about your business or your photography, do not talk to a colleague about it. Take that energy to someone entirely outside of our industry. Their perspective might just be the exact thing you need to break out of the cycle.
I am starting today. For one whole week, I will not vent about journalism to another journalist. Cheers to that. 🥂
Who is joining me in this challenge? Let me know in the comments!
#PhotoJournalism #MediaIndustry #PhotoEditor #FreelancePhotographer #VisualStorytelling
Are you still letting your photos „speak for themselves“? Here is why that is a massive mistake in today’s media landscape. 🛑
We live in an era where images are questioned more than ever before. As a photo editor, I can tell you that the most important aspect of being a working photographer right now is taking absolute care of the information you provide alongside your imagery.
I do not believe in pure objectivity in photography. Every frame you take is subjective. But that means you are fully responsible for how your perspective is perceived by the news desk and the public.
So how do you control that narrative? Context. 📝
It comes down to the unsexy but essential details:
Writing meticulous, accurate captions directly into your IPTC data.
Including a short, thoughtful abstract when pitching a personal project.
Explaining your conceptual approach in the body of your email when delivering files to a client.
Adding written context does not make your photograph any less captivating or strong. It actually does the exact opposite. It shows editors your true vision. It proves you are a professional with a clear thought process going on behind the lens.
The more context you provide, the more people will believe in your individuality and your work. In the long run, that level of care is exactly what makes you a photographer worth remembering in a crowded visual world. 🌍
How much context do you usually include when filing your images to a client? Walk me through your workflow in the comments!
#PhotoEditor #EditorialPhotography #VisualJournalism #ImageContext #PhotoMetadata
Can you guess all the cameras?
Honestly, the toughest part about filming this wasn’t the timing, but the constant outfit changes. 😅
It felt like bringing all of my personalities to life for a few seconds. ✌🏻
⚠️ Disclaimer: This video may reinforce your gear acquisition syndrome, also known as GAS. For help, please consult your local camera store. The producer of this video takes no responsibility for you spending money you do not have on gear you do not need. Side effects of watching this reel may include aggressively scrolling eBay at 3 AM and convincing yourself that “just one more” is a sound financial investment. Proceed with caution and guard your wallet. 💸📸
Now the important question: Which camera did you spot first?
Abd which one would you keep if you could only shoot one for the rest of your life???
Bonus points if you can name the weirdest camera in the lineup!
Which one made you think, “wait… what is that?” 😁
I have a suspicion one of these cameras is seriously overrated. Feel free to argue with me in the comments. 👀
Film shooters, digital shooters, collectors, enablers, this is your moment: Let the camera nerd summit begin!
#filmphotography #analogphotography #cameragear #leicam6 #gearacquisitionsyndrome
