|
|
| *SoulEyes Photography>>>Photography Magazine |
How do I get my photography published in magazines? |
ORRRRRRRR, how do I get work as a photographer on magazines? Or how do I get an assignment to do a photo layout or shoot and get paid for it? Or , how do I sell my photos? Any ideas? You can sell your photos in a number of ways. One of the easiest ways to start is to sell your images to stock photography houses that will pay you either royalties (each time your image is sold to one of their clients,) or flat rate (they buy it from you outright.) Many stock agencies are now completely web based. If you want to get assignments with print publications, then your next step depends of the type of photographs that you make. The fist step is to make the images you will assemble into your portfolio. This is not as easy as it sounds! :-) Do some TFP/TFCD work with models in editorial settings (use a good model release.) Make images that illustrate the skills necessary for the type of work you want. i.e: If you want to do fashion or mag bios, shoot local celeb's. Show that you can get good images directing a variety of people (in multiple mood and styles!) If you want to do sports or event photography, make images that illustrate your mastery of high-speed/handheld/ available light, etc. If you want to do fine art, illustrate your studio lighting skills. If you are interested in travel photography, make great landscapes and images with a message...etc. etc. Once you have the images, you can begin to assemble your portfolio. John Kaplan's "Photo Portfolio Success," Writer's Digest Books, 2003 is a good start for the how-to's in this arena. Once you have a portfolio to show, Photographer's Market (mentioned above) is a good start. Try working with local magazines to get a feel for the workflow on assignments (job folder, model releases, scheduling, etc, etc, etc.) There are a allot of questions to sort out before you start working for hire. Will you light on location or do studio work? If you will light on location, are your strobes battery powered? If you're shooting digital, are you shooting high enough res to provide images to your clients? (Newspaper work ,for instance will probably accept 6+ mega-pixel images, while magazine full pages will require 10+ MP...double page spreads will require 12+ mp, etc. Billboard though, can usually be made with 4+ mega pixel images. Of course, the add agency will rarely hire for just a billboard (without corresponding print campaign ability...so your back around the 10+ MP range again.) This is not to say that you have to go out and blow 10K on equipment before you get a job. Just be realistic about what you can do with what you have. You can shoot a wedding with a decent SLR and camera top flash if you're creative, good with people, familiarize yourself with the venue, etc. You can shoot "fine art" with a simple camera, candles and a tripod if you like (My first photography show was 22 pieces 8x10 shot at 2.1 mega pixels using standard halogen construction lights!) You cannot, however, shoot magazine-story sports super-star's spreads on location in their mansion in Scottsdale, AZ without equipment (and probably an assistant), along with all the trimmings and trappings of that kind of shoot. A few of these questions should be sorted out BEFORE you ask someone for an assignment. You can fake-it-'till-you-make-it a LITTLE (depending on your level of proficiency), but nothing is worse than finally getting in to see someone, talking your way into a job that you can't shoot for some reason (equipment, location, scheduling, etc.) and then having to back out. They will never forget it. Really. (If you have the means, equipment/studios can be rented in most areas...) Go to industry meet and greets. Send marketing materials to all of your area's prospective clients. Get GOOD business cards (mine are double sided and thicker than a playing card two-sided, rounded corners, full color, glossy. They regularly get compliments (and jobs!) and are reasonably priced. You might also explore the use of an agent. They take a commission, but are often worth their weight in gold. Once you have some print credits and tear sheets in your portfolio, you can start fishing for larger clients. I hope some of these suggestions help. Good luck! purchase book: Photographer's Market 2007 |
| Tags |
| Photography Tips Photography Studio Photography School Photography Magazine Photography Jobs Photography Equipment Photography Courses Photo Gallery Photo Essays |
Photography Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster |