Submitting Your Pictures to a Magazine for Publication

It's true that most magazines have their ownsure you make your images of adequate size so
photographers on staff. However, some magazinethat they're easily seen. If the images are too
publications also use freelance photographers onsmall, they'll be too hard to see and will not likely
an occasional or regular basis to get shots theirbe picked. Editors don't have a lot of time to
staff photographers just won't. Does that meanreview images, so make sure their job is as easy
that you can submit your own shots? Yes, often,as possible by making your images as large as
as long as you follow specific guidelines.First of all,possible within reason. If you want to get your
you can't submit shots you've had printed. This isCD back after you submit it to the magazine,
because a digital team is going to clean up yourenclose an envelope with return postage. Be
pictures before they send them on to printers.aware that even if you do this, the CD may
The best bet for you is to send your imagesbecome their property regardless.If there are any
along in CD-ROM format.To submit your picturesother concerns to be addressed, enclose a short
properly, make sure you know the correct pixelnote with your CD or call them. Be aware that
size and resolution to send them in. This will makeyour concerns may not be addressed regardless
sure the magazine can see your image no matter(after all, these people are very busy), but you
what operating system they're using. It's true thatcan at least give it a try. Whatever you do, don't
a lot of people use Microsoft Windows, forsubmit very large images, especially if they
example, but others have shifted to Apple Mac orhaven't been solicited. These take up a lot of
Linux. Because of this, you're going to have tospace and can be very hard to read. Only send
make sure your pictures can be seen in anyimages that are relevant to their particular topic
format. What that means is that if you don't havethat you have found images for.Never submit the
the software to make your pictures the propermemory card from your camera and instead
resolution, invest in some, if you intend to makemake sure you submit your images on a CD you
this a regular activity.You can save your images incan afford to lose, in the format they request.
different formats. Most commonly, you'll use GIF,Make sure the CD you use is high quality enough
GPG, and PNG. JPG is the most compatible nothat the image is going to be of good quality,
matter the operating system used. When youtoo.If you do things right, you could have success
submit images, include your name and address, asin submitting your images to a magazine, such
well as a description of the CD's contents. Onethat this may land you a full-time job taking
way to do this is by using the program Adobephotographs for a publication -- maybe even one
Photoshop. With Photoshop, you can store yourof the magazines you submitted images to and
images in folders on your computer, choose "file,"had accepted. Regardless, though, it looks great
"automate," and "contact sheet." Then, simplyon your resume to have done this, so go ahead
choose your paper size and the number ofand submit as long as the publication invites you
images you want on each "sheet of paper."Maketo do so. It could just be a path to a new career.