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 first 10...
Tip 1: Tell a story. Magazines are all about stories. Focus on one species, place or project to get the original content editors look for.
Tip 2: Surprise me! Every editor’s mantra. Don’t overlook familiar or common species, find fresh ways of portraying them.
Tip 3: Sell your work. Don't simply invite an editor to browse your entire website to see if anything catches their eye. They won't do it.
Tip 4: Know what sells. Editors are always asked what they’re looking for, but inspiration is all around. Look at books, mags, ads and online.
Tip 5: Be different. Don’t follow the hoards to photograph polar bears or tigers. It’s been done hundreds of times and competition is fierce.
Tip 6: Be emotional. Take images of things that mean something to you.
Tip 7: Take heart. It’s not only professionals who get published. Editors are constantly looking for new, fresh and inventive photography.
Tip 8: Be committed. You may need to follow your subject for a year (or more) to capture all its key behaviour and tell its story properly.
Tip 9: Be inspired (but don’t copy). Study the sort of images that win competitions, sell as prints, turn up in calendars and are used in campaigns.
Tip 10: Stories are made of words, not just photos. If you're not a writer, suggest an expert, researcher or writer who can tell your story.
Tip 2: Surprise me! Every editor’s mantra. Don’t overlook familiar or common species, find fresh ways of portraying them.
Tip 3: Sell your work. Don't simply invite an editor to browse your entire website to see if anything catches their eye. They won't do it.
Tip 4: Know what sells. Editors are always asked what they’re looking for, but inspiration is all around. Look at books, mags, ads and online.
Tip 5: Be different. Don’t follow the hoards to photograph polar bears or tigers. It’s been done hundreds of times and competition is fierce.
Tip 6: Be emotional. Take images of things that mean something to you.
Tip 7: Take heart. It’s not only professionals who get published. Editors are constantly looking for new, fresh and inventive photography.
Tip 8: Be committed. You may need to follow your subject for a year (or more) to capture all its key behaviour and tell its story properly.
Tip 9: Be inspired (but don’t copy). Study the sort of images that win competitions, sell as prints, turn up in calendars and are used in campaigns.
Tip 10: Stories are made of words, not just photos. If you're not a writer, suggest an expert, researcher or writer who can tell your story.
More tips will follow so don't forget to come back...
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