As a wildlife photographer, you probably dream of seeing your name on a multi-page photo story in a glossy magazine, but it's not always easy to get your work published. I've compiled 76 top tips to help you improve your chances. Here are the next 10...
Tip 11: Quality counts. Ask yourself (honestly) if your photos match the quality of the photos already published in your target magazine.
Tip 12: Ask a friend. It’s difficult to be objective about your own photos, so don’t be afraid to ask for someone else’s opinion.
Tip 13: Don't give up. If your photos aren’t up to the mag's standards take time to work on your technique and creative vision til they are.
Tip 14: Enjoy it. Don’t do it if you don’t love it (or you just want to make money). There are hundreds of people out there who do love it – and it shows.
Tip 15: Stories not stock. Selling stock photos is no longer a way to earn big bucks (sorry). Even photo libraries now look for image sets that tell stories.
Tip 16: Get connected. Link up with a science or conservation project and include key (model-released) people in your photo story
Tip 17: Stand out from the crowd. Every editor is swamped with content pitches every day, so you need to make sure yours catch his/her eye.
Tip 18: Free your mind. You might think it's impossible to show a lion, tiger, elephant or snow monkey in a new, fresh way. You'd be wrong.
Tip 19: Get something new. This might involve unprecedented intimacy, new, iconic or rare behaviour or a new technique or artistic interpretation.
Tip 20: Be original. Editors look for something that stops them in their tracks so show your subject as it’s never been seen before.
Tip 12: Ask a friend. It’s difficult to be objective about your own photos, so don’t be afraid to ask for someone else’s opinion.
Tip 13: Don't give up. If your photos aren’t up to the mag's standards take time to work on your technique and creative vision til they are.
Tip 14: Enjoy it. Don’t do it if you don’t love it (or you just want to make money). There are hundreds of people out there who do love it – and it shows.
Tip 15: Stories not stock. Selling stock photos is no longer a way to earn big bucks (sorry). Even photo libraries now look for image sets that tell stories.
Tip 16: Get connected. Link up with a science or conservation project and include key (model-released) people in your photo story
Tip 17: Stand out from the crowd. Every editor is swamped with content pitches every day, so you need to make sure yours catch his/her eye.
Tip 18: Free your mind. You might think it's impossible to show a lion, tiger, elephant or snow monkey in a new, fresh way. You'd be wrong.
Tip 19: Get something new. This might involve unprecedented intimacy, new, iconic or rare behaviour or a new technique or artistic interpretation.
Tip 20: Be original. Editors look for something that stops them in their tracks so show your subject as it’s never been seen before.
There are still plenty more tips to come next week. Next challenge – how to pitch perfectly.