Press Pass for Photographers and How to Get a Photo Pass

A press pass for photographers is usually a photo pass, a credential that lets you shoot from a spot the public can't reach, like a photo pit or a sideline. You get it from whoever controls that spot, such as the artist's publicist, the team or the event, and almost always on assignment for a publication.

Photographers face extra scrutiny. Harvard's Berkman Klein Center found that photographers were more likely to be denied credentials than non-photographers¹. This guide covers photo passes vs press passes, who approves them, concert and sports rules, release forms, what to send and what rights you have in public without any pass at all.

Facts and prices checked November 13, 2026. See something wrong? Tell us.

Key takeaways

• A photo pass is permission to shoot from a restricted spot, and the body that controls that spot issues it.
• Most issuers want photographers on assignment, and spec or portfolio work often doesn't count².
• At concerts the usual rule is first three songs, no flash³.
• Read every photo release before you sign, because some ask you to give up your copyright⁴.
• In public places you can photograph what's plainly visible, pass or no pass⁵.

Photo pass vs press pass

A press pass lets a journalist into a space to report. A photo pass is narrower. It lets a photographer shoot from a specific position, often for a limited time, under the issuer's rules.

At a concert, a writer's pass might get you into the venue and a press list. A photo pass gets you into the pit for the opening songs³. At a football game, a general media credential might get you into the press box, while sideline work needs a photo vest and an armband⁶.

The difference matters when you apply. Many events have separate forms or rules for photographers. CES, for example, handles videographers, photographers and producers who work for creators as a crew category that needs an assignment letter from the creator, and approves them only after the creator is approved⁷.

For the basics of every kind of pass, see our guide on what a press pass is.

Why photographers get extra scrutiny

Photo positions are scarce. A pit, a baseline or a red carpet has room for only so many people, so issuers are strict about who gets those spots.

Harvard's study of credentialing from 2008 to 2013 found that about one in five applicants had been denied at least once, and that photographers were denied more often than non-photographers¹. Published policies show why.

• Cannes says press photographers can't be freelancers. They must be appointed by a print or web publication or a photo agency⁸.
• SXSW says photographers must be on assignment, and spec, portfolio and personal website photography aren't valid².
• The 49ers say they don't credential freelance photographers or photographers who aren't on a specific assignment⁹.
• The NCAA's criteria say freelance photographers won't be credentialed unless they're working under a specific assignment, with the request coming from a photo editor or similar contact¹⁰.

The common thread is an assignment. If a publication or agency wants your pictures, most doors open. Without one, most stay shut.

Who approves photo passes

Who you ask depends on the kind of event. Here's how it usually works, based on published policies and guides.

For concerts in particular, the publicist or the person who approved your pass is usually your contact, and they can give you an on-site contact once you're confirmed³. Our concert photo pass guide goes deeper on music shows.

Concert rules, first three songs and no flash

The standard concert photo pass rule is short. Credentialed photographers usually shoot the first three songs, with no flash, and the pit closes after that³. Some venues let you keep shooting from outside the pit, and others ban photography anywhere after the third song³.

If nobody tells you the rules, assume that standard and ask. The guide from the concert photography site I Shoot Shows advises asking the publicist or approving contact for an on-site contact, and calling the venue if there were no special instructions³.

Pickup varies by venue size. At medium venues, the photo pass is often held at the box office or will call. Small clubs often handle it at the door, and large venues may have a separate media entrance³.

On site, be quick and respectful. Stay in the pit, don't block fans for longer than you need, and leave when security tells you the time is up.

Photo releases and rights grabs

Many concert and festival photo passes come with a contract called a photo release. It controls how your pictures from the show can be used.

Releases may be sent in advance by a publicist or handed to you on site, and you may need to sign before you get the pass⁴. The terms range from routine to serious.

• Lower risk. Confirming the song limit and no flash, limiting use to one publication, or banning commercial use like ads and merchandise⁴.
• Higher risk. Licensing broad rights to the artist, often worldwide and forever, without pay⁴.
• Most severe. A rights grab, where you transfer your copyright to the artist. I Shoot Shows calls this the category to avoid completely⁴.

Read every clause before you sign, especially anything about licensing or copyright. You own your images by default, and you only lose rights when you transfer them⁴. Check whether your publication will back you, and know that many publicists accept changes from publications they trust⁴. Copyright rules vary by country, so check the rules where you work.

If you're not shooting for a publication

This is where most new photographers get stuck. You have a strong portfolio, but no editor has assigned you, and the policies above say spec work doesn't count²⁹.

The usual path is to start small and get published.

1. Pitch local outlets, student media or niche sites that cover your beat.
2. Shoot events with open access, like public parades, rallies and street festivals.
3. Build bylined galleries with your name on each one.
4. Ask the editor who runs your work to request the next pass for you.

New York City's press card is one government credential that counts photographs. The Standard card accepts 6 or more published articles, photographs, videos or audio pieces from the last 24 months that show in-person coverage on separate days in the five boroughs¹¹. If you work on assignment from a publication but have no staff badge, our freelance journalist guide covers the assignment letter.

When you do apply, a clear record of your published credits helps a press office see the work behind your name.

Sports photo positions

Sports photo access is tightly managed, and positions on the field come with gear rules.

At Ravens games, photographers and videographers must wear the right vest and a field access armband to be on the field⁶. At Eagles games, photographers assigned to in-game action get a sideline credential and pick up a tan NFL photography vest at the media entrance, and the vest must go back before they leave the field¹².

Deadlines are short but firm. The 49ers want single-game requests by 5 PM PT five days before the game, and credentials are picked up at Media Will Call, which opens about four hours before kickoff⁹. The Ravens want requests at least 10 days ahead⁶.

College championships have their own limits. The NCAA's criteria allowed up to three individuals plus three photographers, certified by each school's athletics director, to represent all of that school's campus media¹⁰. For more on leagues and teams, see our guide to sports media credentials. Rules checked in November 2026, so confirm on the issuer's page before you apply.

Your rights in public, with or without a pass

You don't need a pass to take pictures in public. The ACLU says taking photographs and video of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right, and that includes federal buildings, transit facilities and police doing their jobs⁵.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says journalists have the same rights as other members of the public to observe, photograph and record in public places¹³. A pass doesn't add to that. RCFP notes that showing credentials can help police see you're press, and that you can lower the risk of arrest by identifying yourself, not interfering and recording from a safe distance¹³.

The ACLU of Iowa adds some specifics. Police can't search or seize your phone without a warrant, and they may not delete your photos or demand that you delete them¹⁴. On private property, though, you need the owner's consent to photograph¹⁴. Your recording also shouldn't physically interfere with officers¹⁴.

These summaries come from advocacy groups and aren't legal advice. Laws vary by state and country, especially on recording audio, so check the rules where you work.

What to send, and what to carry

When you request a photo pass, send what the issuer asks for and nothing that wastes the reader's time.

• The request from your editor, when the issuer wants it from the outlet, as the NCAA and 49ers do¹⁰⁹.
• An assignment letter on letterhead, signed by the editor. SXSW asks for one for each attendee².
• Links to published galleries with your credit, on the same beat.
• Your coverage plan, such as where and when the pictures will run.

On the day, carry a government photo ID. CES won't hand over a badge without one, and the NCAA requires one at credential pickup⁷¹⁰. Wear the issuer's credential where people can see it.

Many photographers also carry a simple card with their name, photo and contact details to hand to subjects and staff. Our free template has a blank wallet card and 3 by 4 inch badge layout. It's unbranded, shows no verification and isn't an ID. See the free press pass template guide.

Show your published photo work when you ask for a pass

Photo passes go to photographers who can show that their work gets published. That's the part we help with.

Media List Press Pass is a verification of your published work, based on what you send us, plus print-ready design files. We look for at least 5 articles with your name as the author from the last 24 months, proof the bylines are yours, a site registered 5 or more years ago or 2 or more years of your work on platforms like Substack, Medium or beehiiv, and a site that mainly publishes news, reviews, analysis or commentary.

You get a letter of verification you can attach when you ask a publicist or press office for a pass, a public verification page on medialist.com and a QR code on every file that opens it. You also get a wallet card in 4 styles, a 3 by 4 inch lanyard badge, a certificate and a vehicle placard.

It's not a photo pass, credential or official ID, and it grants no access to any pit, sideline or venue. Organizers, venues and publicists decide, and you're responsible for following their rules and the law. Most checks finish in minutes, the term starts the day you're verified, and you get a full refund if you don't qualify. The template is free if a blank card is all you need. See the Media List Press Pass page.

Questions, answered

What is a photo pass?

A photo pass is permission to shoot from a restricted spot, like a concert photo pit or a sports sideline. It's issued by whoever controls that spot, such as the artist's team, a sports team or an event. It usually comes with time and gear rules.

How do I get a photo pass for a concert?

Usually through a publication that assigns you, which asks the artist's publicist or approving contact. Expect the standard rule of first three songs, no flash³. You may also need to sign a photo release⁴.

Can freelance photographers get press passes?

Often only on assignment. The NCAA won't credential freelance photographers without a specific assignment¹⁰, and Cannes requires photographers to be appointed by a publication or agency⁸.

Do I need a press pass to photograph in public?

No. The ACLU says photographing things plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right⁵. A pass only matters for restricted areas. Laws vary by state and country, so check the rules where you work.

Should I sign a concert photo release?

Read it first. Some only confirm the shooting rules, while others ask you to transfer your copyright, which I Shoot Shows says to avoid completely⁴. Check whether your publication will back you before you sign.

What do sports photographers need on the field?

A credential from the team plus the right vest and armband. The Ravens require both for field access during games⁶, and Eagles sideline photographers pick up a tan NFL photography vest¹².

Can police make me delete my photos?

The ACLU of Iowa says police may not delete your photos or demand that you delete them, and need a warrant to search your phone¹⁴. This isn't legal advice, and rules vary by place, so check the law where you work.

Related guides

• What Is a Press Pass, Who Issues One and How It Works
• Free Press Pass Template to Download and Edit in Word
• Freelance Journalist Press Pass Options Without a Staff Job
• Concert Press Pass, How to Get a Music Photo Pass
• Sports Media Credentials and How Reporters Get Them

Sources

1. Berkman Klein Center at Harvard, Who Gets a Press Pass (June 4, 2014), checked 2026-11-13
2. SXSW, 2027 Press Application form, checked 2026-11-13
3. I Shoot Shows, Concert Photography 101, Arriving and Picking Up Your Pass, checked 2026-11-13
4. I Shoot Shows, Concert Photographer's Guide to Photo Releases and Contracts, checked 2026-11-13
5. ACLU, Photographers' Rights, checked 2026-11-13
6. Baltimore Ravens, Credential FAQ, checked 2026-11-13
7. CES, Registration Information and media requirements, checked 2026-11-13
8. Festival de Cannes, Press accreditation, checked 2026-11-13
9. San Francisco 49ers, 2026 Media Credential Information, checked 2026-11-13
10. NCAA, 2022 to 23 Championships Media Credentials Criteria (August 4, 2022), checked 2026-11-13
11. NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Press Card Application, checked 2026-11-13
12. Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field Media Protocols and Policies, checked 2026-11-13
13. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Police, Protesters, and the Press (updated December 2025), checked 2026-11-13
14. ACLU of Iowa, Your Photo Rights in Iowa, checked 2026-11-13