How to Sell Nature Photography
Making a career as a freelance nature photographer can be difficult. Finding markets for your work is an important part of making a career out of photographing nature. The narrow focus of this type of work limits your market choices, but with persistent market research and a regular submission schedule, you can develop the markets you will need to succeed in the business of nature photography.
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Instructions
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Compose photographs that stand out from the ordinary. Selling nature photographs can be challenging because a lot of photographers take photographs with a nature theme. Capture images that tell a story or show moments in nature rarely seen by people. This will require spending a lot of time in natural settings and a dedication to getting the best photographs you can manage. Just stepping outside and taking photographs of the first thing you see is not likely to yield the types of photographs you will sell.
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Join a photographer's club where you can give and receive input on your work. Interacting with other photographers who share your passion can lead to creative input that can help you improve. It can also help you build a network of people in the same business, including potential markets for your work.
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Purchase a current copy of the Photographer's Market (see resources). You can often find one at the library. This is an essential marketing tool for any serious freelance photographer, particularly those who specialize in nature. Photographer's Market is the only market listing for photographers with a dedicated section of markets that purchase nature photographs. You can also sign up for the Artist's Market and access the Photographer's Market updated with new markets regularly.
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Select the markets you wish to approach. These markets are listed in alphabetical order, each with its own set of specific guidelines for submitting to the market. Do not randomly send your photographs to any market without knowing what they purchase and how the material should be submitted. Doing so will risk a rejection of your submission. Some of the nature markets want landscape and plant life photographs, others want photographs that include animals. Some of the markets specifically request photographs dealing with pond life or desert life. Choosing the right market for your work is an essential step to successfully selling your nature photographs.
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Submit your photographs according to the guidelines for each magazine you feel is a good match for your photos. Each market will have its own specifics. The listings will tell you what to send, how to submit it (on disc, hard copy or both), where to send your work, and what you will be paid. The listing will also tell you the rights you're selling. Make sure you follow the guidelines specific to the markets to which you choose to send your work, which will help ensure your work isn't rejected.
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Network to build a name for yourself in nature photography. Set up an account at one or more of the stock photo agencies online and post some of your best work in the nature category. Signing up at most of these websites is free. The stock photo websites make money by taking a small percentage from each photo you sell. Stock photo agencies have extensive nature categories potential customers can browse and purchase your work.
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Tips & Warnings
Submit your photographs and continue to find other markets for your work. Don't sit around and wait to hear word on one submission. The key to a successful career as a freelancer, whether in photography or any field, is to build a cycle of submissions that can bring money in regularly.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
