How Can I Sell My Photographs to Magazines?

Make money with your photography

Publish your photography in magazines to get exposure, recognition and extra income for your talent. Magazines seize images that demonstrate unique perspective, telling stories that complement their current issues and themes.

Magazines pay anywhere from $20 to $500 per image depending on the size, quality and originality of photographs that meet their perspective content and audience. Cover shots pay an outstanding $600 to $1,000 or more. Writing an article to accompany photographs will average $1 per word that can yield hundreds of dollars more. Join a photo-stock website for easy exposure with smaller royalty pay.

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Computer
• Internet access
• Photo-editing software

Instructions

Review, Edit, Target, Select, Submit, Track

1. 

   What are your photo genres?

   Review your photography. Separate and compile images according to theme, location, or subject. Select magazines of interest that regularly feature work you have in stock. Choosing photographs that complement a magazine's content and audience is an important step to being taken seriously as a photographer that will help you target the magazines you wish to pitch to.

2. 

   Editing is essential

   Edit your images with photography software to increase the odds of publication. Crop pictures to create unique angles and perspectives. Eliminate unwanted subjects in the scene. Refine photo resolution, light and contrast. Adjust size and pixels for highest quality resolution. Enhance your photos with digital effects that can turn a typical scene into a surreal piece of art. Transform the ordinary to the extraordinary by altering colors and textures, superimposing images, and adding layers to scenes. Remember that pictures should tell a story without words. Work with pictures that evoke curiosity and emotion.

3. 

   Target your publications

   Target your audience by researching magazine publications. Select a list of publications that feature the kind of work you have in stock. Genres such as travel, home and garden, arts and entertainment, parenting, fitness and more. Most publications can be easily researched online, or even at your local library if you do not have a subscription. Study the quality of other contributors. Check information on submission guidelines. Make a list of ideas for further photograph subjects or locations.

4. 

   Check each magazine's submission guidlines

   Choose only your best work for final selection to be submitted to your targeted list of magazines. Check and follow specific submission guidelines carefully for each chosen publication. Criteria often vary within publications, and are known to frequently discard submissions that do not follow their set standards for submissions.

5. 

   Organize and track your submissions

   Organize your submissions in a log book or on your computer to track the time line, success and profit of your submissions. Enter publication name, content submitted and date. Follow up when responses are received to enter in acceptance or rejection and the length of time to response. Tracking submissions will help you identify markets that readily accept your work, monitor your progress, and modify your time investment depending on your success ratio.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for photography competitions through magazines that offer cash prizes and publication to their winners.

• Be sure to check legal guidelines for model releases and permission to photograph minors.

References

• PhotoSecrets.com: How To Sell Your Photos Direct To Magazine Publishers
• Microstock Photography: Sell Your Photos

Resources

• Photosecrets.com