"What's the Assignment?"
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
12/27/2025
In the early 1990's I bought a secondhand camera and began to relearn the craft of photography. A cousin of mine though not a blood relative; Chris Johnson had a camera he didn't want any more it was a Canon AE-1. The camera was simple; just a 50mm canon lens and the camera body. The two of us Chris and myself discussed my progress in photography with the camera. "What are you going to try to do with the camera in photography?" I just want to get use to the camera and see the photograph I am able to produce. There were a few weddings of family and friends that I photographed and made a few dollars with the camera. I began to look for the way to make the camera pay for the film and developing. I began to look for the means and ways to be in print (Newspaper or magazine) photography. The first name I thought of for myself as an Assignment Photographer was D.D.F. Photos. I was on my way to stock photo photography with a 35 mm Canon AE-1. My first Assignment Photography shoot came at my cousin's wedding. I was actually in the wedding, and an opportunity came up to shoot a Food Service Industry banquet. The hired photographer was a no show, and I had my camera with me. I asked for permission to leave for ten or fifteen minutes. It was a $500.00 assignment when the group had no photographs except mine to use. I sold the film Mr. Mix, and the photographs went to print (St. Louis Food Purveyors Association). I no longer have the name of the company or the magazine. I shot the photographs out of courtesy. It was awful that the photographer was a no show. I had been bitten by the you've been published bug. I simply needed to find my niche. I started looking for ways to submit stock photographs. I searched for an avenue into newspaper and magazine assignments.
Photograph provided by D.D.F. Photos/Highland Productions LLC 1992
Micheal Reinholdt and Scott Redford talked to me about being able to get access to trackside photograph access. My roommates were sure they could get in a turn of a road course event. After having the photographs, I would still have to reach an editor and submit my photographs. In the 1990's film submissions were a tough process costing money to mail and even buying subscriptions or getting return postage for work not accepted. The digital era had just begun, and the new technology was changing the process. Assignment photography submission process was changing even the process of getting the assignments was changing. I began looking for the way to make my own assignments. I thought I would start a magazine and make assignments. The problem then was still the access to the venue's photography areas. To gain access you need to have Press Credentials. I would need to have a Letter of Assignment from the editor. There were a few "Barriers to Entry." The Letter of Assignment has the name of the organization, Editors Name, the Roll of the assignment, the purpose of the assignment and possibly the network audience or print circulation. The Letter of Assignment is presented to obtain the Press Credentials and proper releases to send the photographs to print. Michael Reinholdt asked me one day "Hey, are you still looking for an Assignment?" "Yes, I am" "Go to Creve Coeur Park this Saturday and there will be a Polo match that you can photograph." I was standing and shooting photographs, and it was crazy. I thought I had made something happen. Joe Buck Jack Buck's son was giving play by play commentary and August Busch IV was among the polo players. My god this is going to be the thing that starts it for me. I was approached by a gentleman and as we talked his son asked if he could use my camera. He was a camera-shy kid. The guy turns out to be Prince Charles and his son Prince William. Prince Charles asked for the copies of the photographs. No money but he explained he was grateful and wanted to see how they turned out. I am sure he already had a copy after talking to him, but he wanted the negatives to his sons photographs he had been talking about the photographs. I had at least one more assignment with Prince Charles in the assignment. I had an Airshow in Chesterfield, Missouri, USA to photograph. I have a photograph of Prince Charles flying a Harrier Jet. The prestige is there but there is no payment. After that there was nothing to do except to become an Assignment photographer or Freelance Photographer.
In 2005-2006 I was an Assignment Photographer it was just very time consuming and expensive. Brad Pitt and Matt Damon were with me when I tried to Freelance Photographer while traveling and actually was given six months' worth of Assignment Photography. Having Press Credentials that are recognized is my problem today. In 2006 I was at Mid-Ohio Raceway with my kids and was given a chance to shoot photographs for Chris Johnson he was not getting great photographs with a digital camera. I asked if I could help him get the photographs. Mrs. Pam Shatraw of SVRA (SportsCar Vintage Racing Association) was who I talked too to gain access to the course. That day Chris sold her the photographs, and I was given the opportunity to shoot photographs if she could use any photographs on the CF Card. I asked what she was going to do with them. She said advertisement flyers for SVRA. 2020 Mrs. Shatraw gave me that chance again at another SVRA event with Press Credentials. Best Weekend in a long time. Trans Am Series and Kas Kastner weekend. I knew Mr. Kastner from 2006 in England with John Brophy. I have shot photographs credentialed since at Mid-Ohio SportCar Course, Road America Road Course, and Virginia International Raceway. In 2018 I was given the opportunity to photograph the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) by Triumph Owners of St. Louis Association. Could go and shoot a few photographs for us. "Absolutely." That's the assignment great photographs. I have shot Indy Car at Road America, but I had no assignment however, I was credentialed. I am looking for an editor that will give Photographic Credits or Assignment Letters for the big events. I am still working to give myself my own Assignment Letters and maybe Assignment Letters to others. It has been a long hard road.
By Darren Dwayne Frazier
Photograph by Highland Productions LLC
