I’m often asked how to get your photography published in magazines.
My urban London photography has been published over 80 times in publications including TimeOut, Huffington Post, Petapixel, The Evening Standard, The Guardian and many more so today I’ve decided I’d share some tips which I’m sure will help some of you who will read the full article.
Opening a freshly printed magazine and finding your work inside for the first time is a big moment for any photographer.
I never get tired of it, my latest series CAPTURED LONDON is currently included in a big four page feature in Digital Camera Magazine (March 2021) and that never ceases to make me smile.
Sadly print is in decline and we often have to make do with having our photos published online, there’s nothing wrong with that, just not as tangible and not quite the same rewarding feeling.
The positive side is that online publications have an undeniably broader reach.
I will always remember an artist I used to look-up to when I started shooting who told me back in 2009:
“Set yourself one achievable goal to reach by the end of this year. Say for example you want to see your work published”.
3 months later, having followed his advice I had my first photo, of the London Eye, published in all UK magazines for 6 months. I had focused on this one goal and achieved it.
My first published photo in 2009, in all UK photography magazines for 6 months.
TimeOut asked for my urban photography tips.
First, you'll need to get real about the high probability of not getting a reply.
You are not the only one wanting to get published, there’s a lot of competition out there, some with better work than yours, others not so much.
But wanting is one thing… some people “want” all their lives but don’t do much “doing”. These same people who are probably already tired of reading this article, they want everything quick and easy.
My pro tips published in the 200th issue of Digital Camera.
For the rest of you, the ones who persevere… keep reading for my best tips.
My first tip?
Work your way up.
By this I mean aim for an easily achievable publication, maybe something more local. Once this is achieved, move up a level, go for a regional publication, then national, then international… Each time use the previous publication as leverage, as a proof that your work is liked and is publishable, it’s a seal of approval in a way.
If you’re feeling pro-active and want your work shared the general approach is to contact publications directly. By publications I include blogs on influential photography brands’ websites (think Adobe, Affinity, Canon, Sony, Vanguard, Billingham Bags...) which can also help raise your profile.
When approaching strangers asking essentially for a favour, the first impression you make via email is as important as how good your photography actually is.
If your photos are great but your email and attitude aren’t so much, chances are it won’t work.
Work hard on your email / writing skills, learn to craft a masterpiece of an email and not a lazy copy/paste filled with Emojis and abbreviations.
As I said before, most people want instant gratification having forgotten that things take time and hard work, so make sure your email expresses the fact you work and research just that bit more than the rest.
- Find out who is the right person to contact as well as their email (Google search, LinkedIn…)
- Address them by their name (Not “Hey there” or “Greetings of the day”). Don't shorten people's names, it's not always welcome either.
- Be polite and respectful of their time (How many emails do they get daily?)
- Make it 100% relevant. Go through your work and choose only work you have scrupulously selected again and again and again
- Don’t copy / paste (They will know if you just emailed half the industry with the same wording)
- Triple check your spelling, never only rely on spell check
Now that you’ve found the right contact at a magazine you would like to be featured in, you’ve written a lovely email and sent beautiful photos… but no reply.
Do not get discouraged yet. Actually: don’t get discouraged EVER.
Just keep trying, there are enough magazines out there for you to email one a day without emailing the same twice.
A feature in Digital Camera.
A great way to identify who best to approach is to look at other photographers within your niche who have had their work published.
Contact the same people who published their work, it’s possible they’ll be open.
Use social media to engage with publications, it works too (same advice applies: be polite, relevant, non-harassing, etc…)
Very importantly, develop strong writing skills. I said it before and I’ll say it again. With a well written approach you will convey your ideas more easily and better.
Photography alone is not always attractive enough for some publications but if it can be paired with words expressing your passion, then you will have a higher success rate.
Most of them need constant fresh content so often are open to suggestions.
Get writing today. If you want to write excellent emails and have your photography featured, make sure you polish your writing skills and practice a lot. The way I do it is through this blog where I share as many useful tips as I can to help others succeed.
Finally, why not contact publications which have nothing to do with photography itself but a lot to do with another one of your passions/interest? Say for example you're a landscape photographer but on the side you love taking photos of classic cars. Contact classic car publications. Or if you love gardening... gardening magazines, architecture...
I hope some of these tips will help you get your photography in front of more people.
But then what after that?
Why not read my SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS GUIDE which recently featured in PetaPixel?
Until next time,