Selling images FOR PRINT & Online
With the right approach you can get some cash, and extra publicity, by selling your shots to magazines and websites
Get to grips with what publishers are looking for in photos
Getting published in magazines or on websites is a great way to make some cash, but they can also act as supplementary marketing to your overall photography business. That’s not to say that you should give your pictures away for free, though.
You’ll need a portfolio of strong images that are relevant to the magazine or website that you are submitting them to. So, take a good look at the images that they already use, and identify any areas where you think your images will be better than the existing ones, or offer a similar subject shot in a different, more interesting way.
It’s often easiest to look for magazines or websites that deal with subjects that you already have an interest in, such as cars or mountain bikes, the great outdoors or crafts. Your initial approach to any magazine or website should be business-like, but keep it brief, as they won’t have the time to read your life story. An email is the best option as a first point of contact, and it’s best to send it to an individual such as the editor or art editor in the first instance, unless they have a specific submissions option on their website. Along with the email attach five to 10 low-resolution images and a link to your website, or your page on a photo-sharing site, such as Flickr or 500px.
Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear back immediately, as they will often be busy or not in the office, but if you haven’t heard anything after a week or two, then send a quick follow-up email. But don’t inundate them with insistent enquiries, as this is a sure-fire way to get your submission sent to the bin.
While every publication needs pictures, they will also need words, and if you can supply both then you’ll majorly increase the chances of getting published. In the first instance you should just give an outline of your idea for the article and a few example
images, but you should also be prepared if they get back to you with a positive response. You’ll need to be able to provide well-written copy that can be published with minimal intervention from the in-house team of editors.
Along with the traditional publishing route, self-publishing is also an option. Online book printing services such as Blurb (www.blurb.co.uk) or Bob Books
(www.bobbooks.co.uk) allow you to design, publish and promote your work. They offer simple-to-use templates and tools to allow you to lay out your book, and also an online bookshop to sell through. Blurb books can even be listed on Amazon and the Apple ibook store, to maximize your reach. The advantage of these services is that they are printed on demand, so you don’t have the huge up-front costs of normal self-publishing outlets. These services come at a cost… you will only receive a percentage of the total when you sell a book.
Don’t inundate them with insistent enquiries, as this is a sure-fire way to get your submission sent to the bin