| With the explosion of digital photography, it has | | | | could take. Make sure that you're really honest with |
| created a lot of opportunities in photography that | | | | yourself at this stage because if you can't shoot the |
| once were not available to anyone but professional | | | | kind of quality pictures that they're using then you |
| photographers. This explosion of new photographers | | | | need to keep practicing before you start. |
| has helped to broaden the market for both | | | | Once you're ready, look through each magazine and |
| publications and photographers themselves, creating | | | | find the photo editor or information on how to |
| new sources of images and new places to sell them. | | | | submit photos. You want to make sure that you |
| But as a new photographer it may seem challenging | | | | understand the magazine's guielines before you start |
| to get started so let's take a look at the world of | | | | otherwise your pictures will likely not be accepted. |
| magazine photography. | | | | Once you have all the details nailed down, send in |
| The World of Magazines | | | | your photos. When you send in your photos, make |
| Sure, there are plenty of magazines out there that | | | | sure to accompany them with a note or letter with a |
| deal primarily in celebrity gossip or trendy news. Since | | | | link to your portfolio. |
| it's not likely you will be booking Brad Pitt into your | | | | It's Time to Wait |
| studio (or sneaking around outside his house), it's | | | | Anytime you submit a photo to a magazine, plan to |
| important to remember that there are thousands of | | | | wait several weeks for a response. Magazines are a |
| magazines out there that are all dedicated to pretty | | | | print media, and even if accepted your photographs |
| much everything else. There are magazines on cars, | | | | will not show up for a few months. Additionally, it's |
| dogs, computers, fitness, home decor, cooking and | | | | always best to only submit each photo to one |
| so many others. These magazines are always on the | | | | publication at a time, this way you don't run the risk |
| market for relevant and useful images that fit their | | | | of having to decline an offer because another editor |
| niche. | | | | has chosen to use your image. |
| One way to think about it is that these magazines | | | | Most magazines will note their usual wait time for a |
| will always need images of their topics and are happy | | | | response, which can be anywhere between two and |
| to pay for them. Dog magazines will always need | | | | eight weeks. If after that time you still haven't heard |
| good pictures of dogs, and are more than willing to | | | | anything, then send a polite follow up message to |
| pay for them. | | | | the editor about your submission. |
| How to Get Started | | | | What's so suprising about selling pictures to |
| First, you should look for a niche that you find | | | | magazines is that the process is so easy. All you |
| interesting. No matter what you love to take pictures | | | | have to do is find it, shoot it and mail (plus a little |
| of, there is probably a market for it somewhere. | | | | waiting). Selling your photographs to a magazine may |
| Once you've decided on a market, swing by your | | | | sound like a crazy idea, but once you get started |
| local bookstore and grab a few magazines off the | | | | making submissions, you'll wish you would have |
| rack. Be looking for the kind of photos that they use | | | | started doing it sooner! |
| and think about if those are the kinds of pictures you | | | | |