Selling images to magazines....

[neil_ross]

ok, i know im no where near as good as a lot of you on here, but ive always liked to push myself and take a chance here and there.

one of my biggest dreams would be to see something ive taken used in a magazine or newspaper.

for those of you who have done this what advice can you give me?

• How would you word the email to the magazine?
• Who would you email?
• Did you go directly to the mag or via agency?

Thank you in advance!

[KeithT]

That a hard one to crack. After thirty odd years of taking pictures and sending them to magazines I finally got my very first response. I had three images published in AP magazine's 'Reader's Images'. I got 50 quid for that and because one image was the Editor’s Choice I got a great Kata DR467i camera rucksack. Now, if I relied on those very gratefully received prizes for a living, I'd be dead before I had them...lol. My only answer to you is keep on sending your stuff out to magazines and by the law of averages you should get some sort of response. My other bit of advice is don't give up your day job until you are well and truly established as an earning contributor. Good luck.

[ABERS]

If you want to make a small fortune out of photography, start with a big one.

[neil_ross]

Originally Posted by KeithT

That a hard one to crack. After thirty odd years of taking pictures and sending them to magazines I finally got my very first response. I had three images published in AP magazine's 'Reader's Images'. I got 50 quid for that and because one image was the Editor’s Choice I got a great Kata DR467i camera rucksack. Now, if I relied on those very gratefully received prizes for a living, I'd be dead before I had them...lol. My only answer to you is keep on sending your stuff out to magazines and by the law of averages you should get some sort of response. My other bit of advice is don't give up your day job until you are well and truly established as an earning contributor. Good luck.

cheers Keith, yea i have no intention of trying to do it for a living, i just dont know the best way to go about contacting people.

do you have a template email you use, ?

[neil_ross]

Originally Posted by ABERS

If you want to make a small fortune out of photography, start with a big one.

a big mag / paper i presume???

[KeithT]

Hi Neil,

I think the best approach is the direct approach. Most magazines have a picture editor, or features editor and you will have more chance of selling your images if you can also offer a few paragraphs of text by way of an article as well.

Remember, magazines work several months ahead of themselves, so winter stuff is probably now pouring in to their offices and already chosen. Also, a lot magazines have regular contributors who are invited to supply stuff via commission and so do not accept spec work from outsiders. A good way of finding the best mags etc to approach is to get the latest copy of the Freelance Photographers Handbook: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freelance-Ph.../dp/0907297617
It will give you all you need to know about markets and what they buy. You could also send regular work in to photography magazines, but be prepared to wait a long time for a response (my experience anyway). Another sure fire method of getting published is to specialise in a particular area and become the best you can at providing images for it. Remember, you will also be up against images supplied by libraries as well.

If you write to a magazines editor and ask for submission details they will usually have a form letter outlining their current needs and T&C. Also, if you have stuff you want to send to them, and you haven't first been invited to do so, write to the editor, briefly introduce yourself and ask if it would be fine to send in a sample of what you have. Keep the letter short and to the point, or they will just file it in the bin for the cleaner to read.

I used to belong to the BFP a few years ago. You get a copy of the handbook I mentioned above and a regular market news letter that points out what the various companies are looking for. The cost is no dearer than a magzine subscription to join and is well worth the money. Here's the link for the BFP http://www.thebfp.com/index.php?page=2

Magazine staff are generally manically busy people if their magazine is a big seller, so have patience with them and good luck.

[AndyStevens]

BFP is a good idea - even if you're only a member for a year, that handbook has loads of correct contact information. I would suggest trying non-photographic titles to target. Think about it, how many photographers contact photography titles on a monthly basis? Probably too many to contemplate!!

I sent some low res (non-printable) images to a local magazine with some words - my local NT property had a special event on. Turned out the NT were going to provide images but they didnt supply any reportage type images - which I did! Only got one published but I'm now on the 'approved' list and can submit further images for consideration.

[neil_ross]

Thanks for the info guys! i will have a look into the BFP. As i say, im not expecting miracles but at least if i educate myself i will know what to aspire too.

[silversnapper1]

I've just had my first ever pic published in another magazine. Managed to get a 2 page pic with a couple of other pics inlaid over the sky. I frequent their forum and the editor asked for pics for a photo hotspots feature so I sent some in. They also wanted about 100 words which they used word for word and they asked me to invoice them for £100. Only small beer I know but hey, the thought of being published was something else.

Steve.

[neil_ross]

Originally Posted by silversnapper1

I've just had my first ever pic published in another magazine. Managed to get a 2 page pic with a couple of other pics inlaid over the sky. I frequent their forum and the editor asked for pics for a photo hotspots feature so I sent some in. They also wanted about 100 words which they used word for word and they asked me to invoice them for £100. Only small beer I know but hey, the thought of being published was something else.

Steve.

Congratulations Steve!

That must be an amazing feeling, i would be framing that mag! at the end of the day the money is just a bonus!