TEN REASONS TO COMMISSION ME...
ONE: Widely experienced
I am a journalist with an experience of more than ten years. I have worked full time for several national and international publications. The list of my past employers includes world's largest English news daily - Times Of India, world's largest news daily - Dainik Jagran and India's biggest media house - Sahara News Network. Then I am working for the best of international publications like Little India - Largest Asian publication in the US, BR International from Hong Kong, Roof & Facade from Singapore and many more.
Benefit? You get clean copies on the right side of the deadline with the best possible quotes, statistics and excellent supporting photographs.
Benefit? You get clean copies on the right side of the deadline with the best possible quotes, statistics and excellent supporting photographs.
TWO: Adhere to the style sheet
An extensive experience like that leads me to understand (absolutely) the importance of the individual style sheet of the publication. With the least of my personal touch, I follow the guidelines precisely as per the publisher. I prefer an extensive read of the past issues before working on my first assignment for the media.
THREE: Don't let the deadlines die
I understand that the deadlines are sacrosanct. I keep appraising the client the story status all through. That ways, if at all, the deadline will be impossible to meet, the editor knows it well in time. Often, I keep a backup plan to offer in such circumstances.
FOUR: Wide range to offer
Having a wide range of interests (and no passion other than journalism) makes me a really versatile reporter. From politics to crime (in more parts of the world they feed on each other), sports to culture, lifestyle to interviews, environment to wildlife, I've covered and carry on with all possible topics on Earth. Go through my portfolio and you'll find it literally true.
FIVE: Well connected
For more than five years, I worked as the television show organizer for the 24 hrs LIVE national channels of the biggest media house of India (Sahara Samay). I've dealt with the top of the tops politicians, film stars, sportsmen, activists, experts and think tanks. So, the best pinching and most elaborate quotes are just a call away for me.
SIX: Highly mobile
In my career, before that and more so after moving out of a regular job, I have literally lived out of a suitcase (I prefer back pack). With my each journey, I've learnt a lot about people, places, animals and things. The learnings reflect in my writings and photos and I love the journeys. I can touch any corner of the planet in search of my subjects and have already touched many ever since I started journalism. So you can assign me a story to be filed from the remotest of land or even beyond.
SEVEN: Excellent photographs supporting the story
I didn't started off with photojournalism but was never far from it either. From day one I worked in close relationship with the photographers to make my story stand out of the rest. On way, I learnt a lot about visual composition and framing. As a TV show organizer, I got hand-on experience of the most sophisticated studio equipments. Yet, I preferred to undergo an extensive professional photography course under the mentorship of the best Indian photographer - Raghu Rai and his son Nitin Rai. Now I use a professional Digital SLR (550D) with ever piling camera accessories so as to achieve the best of results.
EIGHT: Professional Photo Journalist
Photography may look easy to a lay man but when I refer to it as a professional jounre, I am serious. I just don't click all through and shower the editor with loads of 'jpegs'. I shoot with utter precision keeping in view the aesthetics, composition and framing flowing parallel to the story's current. Not only my shots but also the properties of the file elaborate my professionalism. They are shot on MANUAL mode with each setting controlled by me and I don't rely on the silly machine's AUTO mode to capture.
NINE: Money NOT PRIME
The renumeration is never and not ever the prime concern for me. By saying so, I don't mean that I work for free but if given an option to choose between a story idea I dearly feel for going in an equally passionate publication and a highly paid for feature not at all touching my heart strings, I'd definitely go for the former and not the latter. Many a times, I have borne the travel cost in full or partially for the stories and publications that I've really felt for.
TEN: IT'S MY PASSION, MY LIFE
Last and the most important of all, my work is my passion. This is where I belong to. Journalism is my SOUL, camera is EYES to me, and report is my BODY, travel is my BREATH. It all combines to make me ME. It's my calling and I love it with all my heart, body and soul.
• To commission, email at jeetalex@gmail.com