Official Photographers

[Joel Neild]

How many of you are actually (volunteer of paid) officially associated
with the fire department? I am a career fire fighter but for
photography I am freelance. I tried shooting photos while on the clock
but I had a conflict of interest, so now I only shoot when my major
requests (and with the department's camera).

If there are any freelancers like me out there, do you have trouble
gaining access to the scenes to shoot?

I kind of cheat and wear FD related shirts, sweaters ETC (only ones
that I do not wear as a duty uniform). I have not had any problems
from police or fire personnel while shooting fires. I always offer my
images to the FD for free (which helps I am sure).

Just curious how the other fire photographers out there work. Thanks
Craig & crew for the podcast and interest in this small corner of
photography!

Joel Neild
Worthington Fire Department
Louisville, KY

[Andy Thomas]

Joel,
I am a volunteer photographer for Wichita Fire Department, there is
now 3 of us that volunteer. The Dept also has 1 firefighter on each
shift that is a photographer, but I haven't seen anything from them in
years! My self I am a Production Manager at a manufacturing facility
in Wichita, the other guy is a professional photographer, and the
third guy (the new guy) runs his own small business. I am the only one
that has actually done any firefighting. One of the other
photographers has taken some EMT classes. Wichita Fire Dept. has
issued all of us radios, pagers, and bunker gear, I already had my own
helmet but they were going to try and give me a hand-me-down. So they
do take great care of us! I used to be in your shoes though, a FD
shirt or sweatshirt usually got me close, but not near as close as I
can get now. I too am like you, and I offer my images to the FD and FD
personnel for free, but the professional photographer does not, and
that has caused some issues/drama between us.
- Andy Thomas

[Joel Neild]

I've had better luck since getting to know people around here. Some of
the BCs know me and give me free reign to roam as long as I am not
interfeering with their operations. We have 19 fire departments in
Metro Louisville, so it would be hard to be a member of each
organization. Louisville Fire has their own A/V guy on staff but he
rarely does still photos, and only shows up on multi alarm assignments
to shoot video. I tried to set up a photo group for the Louisville
area (one that would operate under the Chief's Association), but no
one really wantd to commit the time so it fell flat. Now that I am
done with paramedic class, I am going to try to get back into fire
ground photography. I recently upgraded from Film to a Canon 10D.
Thanks!

Joel Neild

[ro...@firepictures.com]

Well Joel:
As you have heard from the show, I'm a currently a volunteer, for
Burbank Fire Dept, been shooting primarily for them for over 35
years,I also have been a volunteer photographer for Los Angeles County
Fire Dept. I also have freelanced and been a staffer for some of the
local newspapers for years. When it comes to fire incidents, all the
personnel from Burbank Fire know me, so If I get challenged by the
local police I usually turn to any firefighter at the scene, who will
let the officer know who I am. [Not to say every police officer knows
me] I also go to several of the 6 Burbank fire stations on a regular
bases, in fact this next week I've been asked to make new images of
each station for Burbank Fire's Webpage . The Burbank Firefighters
consider me as close as a member, in fact the Chief says I've been
around longer that most of the department. I remember shooting the
current group of Chief officers while they we rookies in training 27
years ago. When it comes to wearing PPE's I have standard issue Brush
gear, I 'm reminded that I don't need to get any closer to wear
turnouts.
Many years ago I was an industrial firefighter at The Burbank
Studio's, which is now the home of Warner Bros. Studios. I received
plenty of firefighting & fire related experience while there.
Hope this answers your question, and Thanks for being part of this
forum.

Ross A. Benson

[Skyview]

Department Photographer here with Castle Rock Fire and Rescue, with my
primary role to document and take images, but of course if an extra
set of hands needed to assist at an MVA, medical, or fire call, then
that takes precidence.

I expect it would be difficult while on duty as firefighter to take
images and properly execute your job duties... that said, I would
expect that you could go on scene when its not your shift and not have
any issues, cant imagine any of your chief officers objecting
providing you are safe, act in a professional manner, and share the
images with the dept.

I find I am now welcomed at many other local depts since shooting
officially for CRFD. That said, Im am very professional on scene,
take great care in conducting myself in safe manner with proper PPE,
and ALWAYS share the images (free of charge) to whatever dept I happen
to be on scene with, burning a CD with high and low res imagery for
whichever local dept I was on scene with. I have not travelled out of
area, but pretty much have been assured by other firefighters on dept
that the fact I am associated with a dept Id pretty much be welcomed
to shoot most depts across the US.