Submitting to magazines
Learn how to get paid or get exposure by getting your photographs published
many photographic magazines feature a readers’ gallery section, which can be a great place to start. These probably won’t offer the highest rewards, but they can be a good stepping stone to getting your images published elsewhere in the magazine, or even in other publications. If you have some great seasonal images of your local area you could also try submitting a small selection of images to a local interest magazine or publication, rather than starting out with a large national or international organization.
Most publications will be on the lookout for new and striking images. As long as your photos are up to scratch, for your initial submission try sending a small selection (up to ten) of low-resolution JPEG images, along with a link to your website if you have one, via email. This initial contact is pretty crucial, so make sure that the images that you send are your best work, and don’t include any ‘fillers’ to make up the numbers. Also, don’t be tempted to write a long letter to introduce yourself or your images. Keep your email reasonably brief, but include any relevant information, and if the magazine likes your images they’ll be in touch to get more detailed information.
Remember that most mags are planned and created months in advance. This is particularly important if the images you’re submitting are seasonal, such as landscapes, wildlife or even sports. Submit images that have to be taken at a specific time of year a few months before this season starts. For example, spring shots need to be sent in January to stand the best chance of being considered.
other interests
Remember that it’s not just photography magazines that could publish your images. If you have another hobby or interest that you shoot, there is almost certainly a magazine or publication that covers this activity. You’ll need to do a little research to investigate the possibilities within each magazine, and identify how and where they use images, then try getting in touch with the magazine to see whether they are interested in publishing your images, and whether it’s worth sending them a selection of your work.
be persistent
Getting your work published can take a little time and effort on your part, but there’s a fine line between being persistent and being pushy. Most magazines don’t have time to go through all of the submissions they receive every day, and it often takes some time for the final decisions to be made. So, once you have sent off your photographs you may not get a reply immediately, but if you haven’t heard anything in a couple of weeks it’s worth following it up with another email. Don’t be too pushy, or bombard them with emails demanding to know what’s happening, though, as hassling them can
make it less likely that they will use your images.
It’s also tempting to send the same (or similar) images to several publications, to maximize your chances of getting published, but this is best avoided, as if you get featured in two rival magazines neither are likely to deal with you again.
To get regular work with a publication you’ll need to prove that you can provide consistently high-quality images, and be easy to contact. While quality images will always be in demand, magazines won’t use them if they can’t contact you to get any further information or confirm that you are happy with the terms of the contract.
What are your next steps?
There are several ways that you can use these first published images to help further your photographic ambitions. Once you’ve had some initial work accepted you can move on to submitting article or editorial ideas, particularly if you are able to write to a good standard. Once a magazine knows your work they are more likely to use your images, and ultimately they may even contact you if they are looking for images that they know you might be able to supply.
The better-known your photography, the more likely it is that your work will get published, and you may eventually even get commissioned for specific features or images. This can also help you achieve the most prestigious (and sometimes lucrative) position for one of your photographs: on the cover of the magazine.
Along with simply getting published and paid for your work, getting your images printed is also a great way to advertise your photography to a wider audience. This can lead to getting commissions for other publications, or other commercial work.
how much time will it take?
Getting your images and submissions ready to enter a competition or send to a magazine can easily be done in an evening or two. There may be some additional time needed to add any detail needed for a magazine article or send in high-resolution images if your images are selected. But as long as you’ve organized your images so that you know where to find this info and the high-resolution images, it won’t take you long.
It’s worth noting that you won’t get paid immediately. Most publications work on standard terms that can be up to three months after publication, and you’ll have to sign a rights agreement that states how and where your images can be used.
how much can you make?
Don’t expect to get rich quickly! The rewards vary substantially, depending on the magazine and image usage required. We offer the winner of our Inspirations photo competition a Manfrotto bag worth £140 (see page 77).
When it comes to images used in the rest of the magazine, the amounts paid can vary greatly, depending on the circulation of the publication. As a rough guide, for a single-page image you could expect to get £50 to £120, while for a cover you could make up to £250, again depending on the publication and its budget.