photographic subjects
At any time of year, there are likely to be articles on the following:
the most popular subjects, including portraits, children, buildings, sport, glamour, travel and still life
different types of composition
aspects of lighting
exposure modes.5
metering patterns
shutter speeds and apertures
lens choice: wide-angle, telephoto,
zoom, specialist lenses.
TECHNIQUE IMAGES
Photo magazines are always looking for images that can be used to illustrate techniques.This picture could be used in a article on composition, shooting at night or architectural details.
HOW–TO SEQUENCES
Digital imaging magazines are always pleased to receive sequences of pictures that show different techniques–but make sure you include ‘screengrabs’ of what you’ve done.
As well as individual pictures and comparative sets, many photography magazines publish several images by one photographer, usually over three or four pages with accompanying text, in a ‘portfolio’ or ‘gallery’ format. For pictures to be used in this way, they need to have some kind of theme. They might be all landscapes, all taken using long shutter speeds, all in black and white or all composed using diagonals. Whether you specify it or not, any submissions you make will be considered for this kind of slot. So don’t just send a random collection of images; take care that they can work cohesively as a set.
It can also be a good idea, particularly in the early days, to narrow down the type of work you send to photography magazines so that you get known for that area. As an editor, I have a mental directory of who takes pictures of what. When I want nature pictures, for instance, I have two or three photographers who come immediately to mind. Not only do I know they have quality work on file, I also know they have lots of it – many thousands of pictures, covering most aspects of the subject – and they almost certainly have what I want. There may well be many other competent photographers who could supply me with work of an equal quality – but I don’t think of them. Once you have become known as a specialist, you can start to branch out, submitting other material – but in addition to the area you are known for.
Photography magazines also run regular competitions, some on a monthly basis, which can provide a decent income. See ‘Winning Competitions’ for more details.
Another accessible market is local magazines that cover a particular town, city, area or county. While their freelance budgets are often modest, they are usually delighted to hear from photographers who either have strong local material or are able to shoot to order. They rarely have a staff photographer and are usually run by a small team, with limited resources either to track down the images or to get out and take them specifically.
The geographical area covered by the magazine may not be large, and the subject matter will therefore be ‘on your doorstep’ – which means that the time and effort involved is often minimal. You might even be able to build a reasonably comprehensive set of images as you go about your daily business, grabbing a few frames here and there when the weather and light is at its best.
A good starting point, as ever, is to get hold of a copy of your chosen magazine and study it carefully. Does it look as if they use freelance material? Is it the kind you could supply? If so, either give them a call or send them an email saying that you are a local photographer with pictures of the area, and ask if they would be interested in seeing a submission. Most will say yes.
If possible, send a selection of photographs of the subjects most likely to be used in the magazine for them to hold on file. In this kind of publication the focus is normally on people, natural history, and heritage in addition to specific locations. Don’t send in anything too arty or unusual, unless you’ve seen that kind of material published. County and local titles tend to have an older, more conservative readership, so shots that are straightforward in style are more likely to succeed.
If your images are right for the magazine, they will steadily get used over time – with a small but welcome cheque following on each occasion. But don’t rest on your laurels. Once you have made your first sale, continue sending material – and if possible get to the stage where it’s you the magazine contacts when they need a particular image.
That’s what happened to me with a local magazine called Stamford Living. I’d had a number of stock images published in it, and had developed a good relationship with the editor, when he rang up and asked me to shoot the Christmas cover – for the following year. With seasonal issues like this, you have to work a year ahead – the Christmas edition needs to be published at the same time as the festive lights go up, so you can’t do it the same year. So I spent a couple of pleasant, if chilly, evenings at dusk in Stamford’s picturesque streets, capturing the scene that was published the following Christmas.
UNUSUAL SUBJECT MATTER
Quirky images can be sold to a range of publications, so keep your eyes peeled for anything that’s out of the ordinary.
Note that not all local magazines will consider photographs on their own; some only accept complete words-and-pictures packages. Therefore, it’s worth learning how to write a simple article (see ‘The Write Stuff’ for some tips) to maximize sales in this area.
Some magazines are of general interest, not specializing in one particular area. Many have large circulations, often several hundred thousand copies a month or even a week, and are aimed at either a male or female readership. The good news is that general-interest magazines are often extremely profitable, and as a result have a healthy budget to spend on photography. The bad news is that most of the images either come from leading picture libraries or are commissioned from experienced photographers. That doesn’t mean there are no opportunities for the freelance, but it does mean there’s little point submitting a selection of shots. For a start, what subject would you send? With a fishing magazine, you know they want fishing pictures, but with a general-interest title the content changes every issue, and you have no way of knowing what will be featured.
COVERLINE SPACE
When taking pictures for possible use on a cover, make sure you leave enough room for the magazine’s masthead and the ‘tasters’ that describe what’s inside.
However, if you’ve
