Understanding Agencies

These were submitted with amateur in mind. It is not work we accept, but still lighting and contrast must still be of the highest quality.

I don't think I need to say too much about this set as I am sure your readers can see for themselves what is wrong here.

Now although this set is unusable due to the lack of lighting, contrast and colour saturation, I did get back to this photographer with some suggestions as to what he can do to improve.

It can be hard when you first submit to an agency, or magazine to know what they require. You can always contact them first and simply ask their requirements which saves you time and money wasted. What agencies don't want is bad pictures and it seems that a lot of people are not capable of being critical of their own work. Place yourself in the picture editors shoes. He has customers to satisfy at the same time needs pictures to sell, or publish. On his desk is a pile of envelopes with submissions from photographers. Well first I can assure you he will sort through them looking for photographers he knows. When they are all done he will work through the unknowns. I guarantee you he is looking for something great. There is nothing a picture editor likes better than a new talent to arrive. I know how busy these guys are (I did a bit myself a few years back) and it amazes me how willing they are even if the pictures are not acceptable to offer advice and help if there is talent there.

Here is an excerpt from a letter I received last month from such a picture editor:

Dear Eugene

I hope through the pages of Glamour Photo I can enlighten your readers as to what is required as far as quality is concerned when submitting work. You often state you hope to raise the standards and I know you were working on a picture desk for sometime and appreciate what we often receive. I have enclosed examples that are copyright clear for you to publish on your site.

These three sets were submitted by three individuals on CD. We now accept CD submissions, but the physical quality of the pictures must be the highest and of far greater size. Now I'll talk about the photographic quality.

I often have photographers writing to me after rejection asking what they did wrong. Let me simply say if the rejection slip is just that with no comments then be assured the pictures were of poor standard. As picture editors our day is pretty full anyway and we really don't have time to teach the basics of Photography. I can only repeat what Eugene is always saying Pin sharp Focus, good colour, well lit with nice eye pleasing contrast. .

The examples below are not necessarily great pictures, but I would certainly be interested in the photographers and giving them help and advice. Handling a camera is like driving a car, everyone can do it. How many are interested enough to learn to do it really well?

EDITORS NOTE: These Pictures are not the full size and jpeg quality due to keeping my bandwidth down.

Below are some sets that I hope will show your readers which way to go.

These sets are not great, but are certainly saleable in the teen area of magazines, Internet and CD. I hope this gives your readers some idea of what is required.

Your as always

Carl Ridpath

So there you have it readers, from the horses mouth. A note about submissions on CD. Unless you know what you are doing let a professional do it for you. There are so many things you need to know if the pictures are to be printed in magazines, calendars etc. It's a long process from film to digital (electronic) back to mechanical (printing) and needs a lot of experience. Most good print shops will do it for you, but of course check about the content you have. If you are planning to sell electronically then you can do it yourself.

Eugene Struthers

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