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Getting published in a magazine might be a well-shared artist’s dream, as many photographers and creatives alike are die hard fans of iconic mags like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar , Elle, The Knot Magazine, etc., and would love to contribute or be a part of it. In today’s episode with Vanessa Joy and magazine owner Steve Sendor of Sophisticated Weddings in New York City we will explore tricks that on how to get an edge up when submitting your photos to magazines, on the example of wedding magazine industry.
Vanessa: One of thethings with photographers, you know, welove the idea of getting published, andwe want to whether it’s online, or amagazine, and it can be so daunting tocompete with the hundreds thousands ofother weddings that are trying to do thesame thing. So I was hoping you can giveus a tip or two.
Steve: There’s lots of tips,the first thing is it’s actually easiernow than ever before to get published. There is a misconception that printis dying,that is not quite the case, there’s justmore competition for print with internet,but because there’s a general overallfeeling that print is dying thepublications are spending less, so few ofthem have staff photographers anymore, which means the photographers like you,and everybody else who are out there! You have a lot ofopenings! Next, with most magazinesexcluding ours…Um… there is a frightening lack ofcreativity, but that also is good for thephotographer because what happens is thephotographer who takes the initiative tobuild the story his or herself,well, it’s more likely to get published.Gone are the days of “here is mybeautiful photo,what are you going to do with it?” You have tobuild the whole package for thepublication. And you’re much more likelyto get published, especially onlinepublishing with a blog.
Vanessa: Well there.. you’retalking the whole package, like vendors,telling the wedding story, the story ofthe couple, it’s a lot more research.. lot morework for us now.
Steve: Yes well everything has a hook. Not everywedding is the same. Pick the time ofyear and certain weddings will relate tocertain seasons, or holidays or thingsthat are happening, so there’s lots ofdifferent things you can do.
Vanessa: Well talk tome about relationships, because if therearen’t staff photographers any more, thenit’s also our jobs to buildrelationships with magazines, withvendors. Am, talk to me about what it’slike when you get a beautiful weddingthat’s gorgeous, but you don’tnecessarily want to publish it, becausemaybe there’s a bad relationship inthere!
Steve: Um.. there’s a million reasons not topublish a beautiful wedding,sometimes it is a bad relationship, sophotographers behave yourselves! Don’tgraze at the buffet during cocktail hour!Yeah, it’s a small circuit, everybodyknows everybody, am..
Vanessa: and we’re saying that inNew York City, where there are so manyof us.. but still,everyone knows everyone!
Steve: … absolutelyand everybody talks and you want to benice!One of the things that somephotographers are terrible at is sharingtheir photos.So if a floral designer, or a dressshop or a planner contact you during theweek after the wedding, and says do youhave any photos we could see yet?I know everybody’s busy, especiallyduring the busy seasons, but be ascourteous as possible. Say – ‘you’re going tolove what you see when you see them. I’llget them to you as soon as possible’. Andthen in terms of going back to gettingthem published, never put your watermarkor your logo in the file, embedded.
Vanessa: Yes because it’s extra work, you got to go get newfiles or crop it out or…..
Steve: And if it’s abusy magazine that gets a lot ofsubmissions, they’re not going to botherto ask you for a file without anembedded watermark or logo. They’rejust going to discard.
Vanessa: Yeah, because the next one is easier andjust as beautiful and will attract just asmany brides to their magazine or blog.
Steve: Yeah!But then back to the vendors and theword of mouth, and playing nice,share your photos. I know you wantcredit for your art and allphotographer should get exactly that, andsometimes your photos are going to beposted on social media, and you won’t betagged and it’s frustrating!But nature of the beast.
Vanessa: It is! Well tell us what we can do maybe.. to end this..How can we build good relationships withmaybe blogs, magazines,or even another vendors.
Steve: Do your research, ifyou start looking at the popular blogsand online magazines and magazines you’llnotice that a lot of vendors get usedover and over again.So for instance you can see in thebackground the floral designer workingwith today, Diana Gould Ltd, she getspublished a lot! And with good reason!So, get her email address and introduceyourself. The cake behind us, is byRon Ben-Israel, probably the mostrecognisedand sought after cake artists inthe country, because he has a TV series.Offer to come to Ron’s studio andshoot him with cakes, he love having hispicture taken!Ha ha!And then you’ll start to see.
Vanessa: Sofind ways to serve your fellow vendors,and build relationships and good, andgood karma. I guess it all comes around.Thank you so much for taking the time todo this!
Check out our WORKSHOPS in Los Angeles that teach you hands-on how to make great photos!
One of our closest workshops – “Workshop Day! 5 workshops in one day!”
will take place on April 28th, 10am-5pm, at the FD Hill Location, Los Angeles.
Watch the full episode with Vanessa Joy and Adorama TV: