How to Get Published in a Magazine
Maybe you have just started your journey as a photographer or you’ve been in the industry for some time now but you can’t seem to figure out how these photographers are getting published in different magazines left and right. Well, there are some straightforward strategies that can assist you beyond just having images in your portfolio.
This article will particularly be of help to fashion photographers but the concepts are applicable to other types of photography too!
1- Shooting First
You most probably already have photos from previous photoshoots you have done for your portfolio. Put a title on the photoshoot if it already doesn’t have one, go onto Instagram or Google and search fashion magazines. Finding a single one you like will lead to another and you will have many to choose from in a short period.
Introduce yourself to the magazine, tell them about the shoot, and show your images. If they are interested they will probably get back to you in a week. If you don’t hear back, don’t worry. Magazines usually have plans or themes for the upcoming issues and maybe submission did't fit the current theme. As long as you are confident that your photoshoot matches the style of the magazine, that is good enough to begin with! You then need to be in the right place at the right time.
P.S: Make sure you have permission from everyone who was your on team before you make any submissions!
2- Kavyar
Kavyar is a photo submission platform for fashion and beauty magazines (they have recently extended the platform as a networking tool for creative professionals but I have not yet used it). It is a common way to get published in boutique magazines amongst beginner to up and coming photographers as well as some professionals. It is an easy tool and a starting point if you are completely lost and don’t know what to do. However, I remember that some magazines ask the photographers to pay for the submissions, that should NOT be the case. They depend on your work and make a profit out of it, sometimes photographers might shoot for a magazine with no budget but they should never pay the magazine.
I have used it twice in the past (not any magazines that asked payments). You benefit from the credibility that comes from being ‘published’ and that is of great value. It is also a great way to ease yourself into the idea of publishing!
P.S: Always read the guidelines (+rights of use) BEFORE submitting. Some magazines require exclusivity, so even before you and your team share the photos on social media, send them to your preferred magazine first. Be careful in order not to double promise to two different magazines that might both want exclusivity, it is your responsibility to ensure that if you are submitting.
3- Pitch your Idea
Don’t let the word ‘pitching’ scare you. I remember feeling intimidated by the idea of pitching when I first encountered it in my previous corporate job. “I will have an idea good enough? And send it to someone? AND they will also like this idea?” Yes. There is probably someone out there that will like your shoot idea and the corporate world does it all the time! The same applies to the fashion industry, amongst creative freelancers too!
So if you have a concept in mind, describe it in an email, put it on a moodboard, or come up with any other creative ways to display it and send it around. It is not the quickest choice but a promising one. If it works out you will exclusively shoot for the specific magazine you’ve pitched for, with a promise from them to publish it.
One strategy you can use is to identify the most suitable magazines for your work and not waste your time emailing ones that don’t align with your theme in the first place.
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