International Freelance Photographers Organization

I just found this website that is claiming 78,000 members. I was wondering if anyone is a member here. Are the credentials legit? www.aipress.com/

Count Rob and myself in on it. It is a one-time fee for the membership so once you send it in, you're counted. There are other levels you can move up to to obtain press credentials, etc. Rob has been a member longer and can offer more info.

It may be different depending on the sport/team and venue. I don't know about major leagues but I've done minor pro and am familiar w/college. My experience is that they issue their own credentials, that you have to go thru the director of media/PR or the SID at a university.

The team that I took pictures for had a list at the Will Call window where scouts and media stopped to pick up their credentials for that night's game. I did that at first then eventually had a more permanent pass for the season. At either level they issued credentials w/their team logo etc. and I have seen them stop people who were not wearing the team's official game night pass.

More and more because of the internet I think, there are lots of offers to get you credentials, but certainly the team staff/organization knows who's there to work and who's there just to score some freebies. They know who's on their feet from pregame warmups thru a couple of hours of the game shooting (like I was), and who's hanging out in the press room scarfing down the food.There are people who just want access to the players and teams know it, usually the ushers and security keep pretty close tabs on it.

And they're often more guarded about usage when it comes to images of their players/logo etc.Even college and minor league teams seem to keep a tighter reign on access than they used to, I think even the pros may have restricted access and guidelines to follow (assigned areas to shoot etc.). They seem to have gotten tighter w/restrictions, however I've found that if they know you and your purpose for being there they can be pretty accomodating.