“Guest Speaker”
M. Gerber - Art Director
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The best way to make contact to magazines or major book publishers…
Photographers get involved in projects with book publishers or editorial in magazines through a variety of ways. In my own experience as art director, it is through word of mouth. Somebody knows somebody who knows somebody. I went to a college that was well known for photography and I knew a lot of photographers that I still keep in touch with and use periodically. If a photographer does not have many contacts in design or editorial and wants to try and break into it they could send samples of their work to the Art Director of the publication or publishing company. The photographer should contact the art director/art department as opposed to the publisher because it is the art director who suggests the style photography to the publisher or editor. They should contact art directors directly, sending them samples of their work via emailed jpegs and a website link or even by sending a simple postcard. The Art director keeps these samples filed away. When a project comes up and a photographer is needed they will go through their files of samples and portfolios and can suggest certain ones to the editor or publisher. Who gets chosen for a project is based on the photographer’s portfolio and what style they are skilled in most. (exercise, food, nature, portraits, architecture, etc)
Art directors of magazines are easy to find in the first few editorial pages of any magazine. Then a photographer can send samples to the address of the company to the art director’s attention.
To contact a book publisher’s art director, a photographer can most likely look up the company’s site online and get the proper address and information for where to send samples. Or they can call the main publisher’s number and ask for the name or email of an art director for a certain imprint. That is how a photographer can get specific information as to where to send portfolio work.
Once a photographer is signed on to work for a publisher they need to ask if specific company guidelines exist for how to submit photography. They need to be sure to ask the art department for any and all information and specs before starting the project. All images should be at least 300 dpi if digital and to the correct size the publisher or art director requires. If they are images that will need to be scanned or retouched, more time may need to be built into the schedule. The photographer should let the designer or art director know the process in which they work and how much time they will need. Many art directors will also ask you to leave extra bleed around a photograph in case the photo needs to be cropped in a certain way. This way the designer has the freedom s/he needs to make an image work in a certain project. This is the kind of information a photographer will need to get at the start of a project before it is too late and there needs to be a re-shoot.
If models are involved in a project, model releases are needed for every photograph. If it is a minor who is in the photo a parent or guardian will need to sign a special minors release form. Many publishers have their own release forms that the photographer is responsible for getting signed by all necessary parties. They may not be able to use their own release form.
If a photographer is chosen to work on any food related projects, in magazines or cookbooks, it is wise for them to have a food stylist they feel comfortable with that they can bring along with them. The photographer will also be responsible for renting a studio and organizing everything involved unless the editor wants to help or give additional guidance at the shoot. Most likely an art director or designer will be at the shoot with the photographer to make sure all photos will work within the design concept and page layout.
A photographer should always make sure a contract or agreement is in place before starting a project. The contract should mention a “kill fee” so that if a title is postponed or is no longer going to be published the photographer can get paid for any work that has been done so far.
Most important, being an art director, deadlines are VERY important. If photos are late, a book has less time to be designed and prepared and is at risk for being printed late. If a book misses its pub date it can lose many important sales from buyers. And no matter how great the photography is the photographer may not be asked to work on other titles. And in a magazine if photos are late, they will most likely not end up in the magazine at all.
~ M. Gerber
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Summary:
Getting your photography published really helps boost your reputation, portfolio, confidence and exposure. Do your homework and make sure you follow the submission guidelines.
by Rob
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