If You're Rained Out

OK, you're in Finland, on assignment. It's been raining ever since you arrived and the cloudy wet weather won't let you get outdoor shots to finish your story.

Solution: If it's shots of a resort that you need, get hold of the PR person. If you need locale shots of the state or country, contact the state or national Travel Division or Department of Tourism. If you need shots of a city, call on the local Convention & Visitor's Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, or the Bureau of Economic Development. All these organizations maintain files of slides and prints which they lend to the press without charge. When you deliver the photos to your photobuyer or art director, request that the organization be given a credit line. Be sure and return what you borrowed, and just as important, send along a photocopy of the shots in print, with the periodical's name and date of issue.

We know you hate missing shots, but to ease the pain, some publications will pay you a finder's fee. It will be less money than you'd get for your own photos, but hey, it's better than zip.