Magazine articles/photo submissions?

[jacobsen1]

Anyone here do anything with magazines?

I'm curious as to how the whole process works with writting an article and taking picutres, how you put it together, how you submit it, and how much $ can be made if you know what you're doing?

My wife and I like to take some crazy road trips. I've seen less crazy trips in articles in magazines (specifically national geographic adventurer) and we're wondering if we put something together, how it might work? We have a fun/crazy trip planned for this summmer and we're going to take lots of notes and pictures and see where it goes from there, but any advice/suggestions ahead of time would be great.

We're not doing this for the $, but I'm curious how that works too because if we were to get some money from this is would mean we could afford to do more trips.

Thanks,
Ben

[TeeJay]

Most magazines IMHO will only accept commisioned work on subjects that they have a specific need for (which is why they commision it)

The best thing to do is check the magazines web sites, and see if they are willing for you to submit images (which they will probably want some story to go with them) and get the name of the editor handling it. Then contact that editor, tell them you have some images and article (of whatever length - i.e. number of words) and providing they agree, then, and only then, send the images/article in to them.

Also, ensure that you have entered the correct IPTC info on all images submitted.

I tend to find that if they are not expecting them, they very often don't even get looked at.

Here in the UK there is a book for freelance photogs listing all the contacts of these various periodicals, maybe you have something similar where you are.

TJ

[Hawg Hanner]

By IPTC information, I presume you mean International Press Telecommunications Council. What exactly is the "correct IPTC info" and why is it important I submit it with my photos?

[transcend]

Don't send them content for free, especially to a magazine like NG adventurer. They can afford to pay you just like they pay their regular contributors. If they like the story, they can pay (and NG will, others will probably be more than willing to take advantage of you).

Hawg: IPTC information details
Originally designed to allow press photographers to provide information concerning images they sent back to the home office, IPTC fields can be used to store supplemental information about an image. IPTC information differs from EXIF information in that EXIF information is generated by the digital camera and contains information about various camera settings. IPTC fields can be used to “annotate” images with a great deal of information.

Or if you prefer, a really long winded explanation with history back to 1970 is available here: http://www.controlledvocabulary.com/imagedatabases/iptc_naa.html

[Hawg Hanner]

Never mind...I found the answer. Thanks.

[TeeJay]

By IPTC information, I presume you mean International Press Telecommunications Council. What exactly is the "correct IPTC info" and why is it important I submit it with my photos?

Most organisations will have auto-indexing software that scans the images and reads the IPTC data as they arrive. This is then added to their own databases so that the editors can search and find submissions at some stage in the future.

If you don't complete the info in the correct boxes their systems may not be able to recognise images that you have submitted.

(hope that's the answer you found!)

TJ

[sfaust]

Most magazines will look at unsolicited work, but obviously you get paid nothing if they don't use it. Its best to contact them first and give them a heads up with what you are doing, and see if there is interest. They will probably want to see some of your past work, both photography and writing.

If they really like your ideas, and your work shows you can indeed write well and supply good images, they may try to assist you in some way to get the story done. Don't expect advances or such, but they migth make phone calls on your behalf to help facilitate you access in some places, or hook you up with contacts they may have in that area, or similar help.

I would also ask them what the going rate is, and accept no less. If they like your story enough to publish it, they are more than willing to pay the standard rate.

Look at it this way. The magazines only publish work that reflects the quality of their magazine. They aren't going to take a crummy photo and article and publish it because they can get it at a cheaper price. So if they decide to publish your work, they have already established it as their standard quality level. If they offer you less, its because they are taking advantage of you, not because your work isn't up to their standards.

They just don't publish substandard work, so you shouldn't get substandard pay for standard quality work. Simple as that. You can use some resources such as the Photographers Market to establish what their standard rates are, and don't accept anything less. And don't forget on commissioned work, they pay the standard rates, plus expenses and digital fees. So they are already getting a bargain when paying standard rate and no expenses.

So don't be timid to ask for, and only accept, the standard rates.

Of all the working magazine photographers I know (a good dozen or so), not one has ever gotten a second assignment at standard rates after accepting less because the magazine told them the budget was tight, or low pay for first job until you establish yourself with the magazine, first time shooters get 1/2 pay, a credit line will help launch your name, or any of the other BS lines they use. They were all passed over when they asked for standard rates, and the magazine found another shooter willing to work for reduced rates or credit lines.

The reputable mags are good about paying all equally. But there are some name magazines, as well as lots of smaller and more obscure ones that have no problems doing the low ball scams.

[PhotosGuy]

Google Photographers Market 2007
http://www.overstock.com/?page=proframe&prod_id=2027224

Your library may have it.