Submitting Your Work.
One of the main hurdles a new photographer has to face is actually submitting work to a picture agency, or magazine for inclusion. My post bag over the last couple of months has been full of questions relating to this.
There really is no simple answer as it can depend a great deal on what the agnecy/magazine actually requires so before I continue with the "How To" let me lay down a few rules that will help you.
Firstly make sure the work you are submitting suits the type of the work they reproduce. It's really pointless and a waste of your time and money to submit a wonderful selection of prints to a market that only accepts Trancperancies. Also there is no point in submitting 35mm stock when they only accept medium format. Your wasting the picture editors time, your losing the pictures for the three months it takes to have them returned and there is the posting and packaging costs.
There are also importnat rules you must adhere to as well. Let's say for arguments sake that you have submitted a selection of model X wearing school uniform to magazine A. It is not done to also send a selection of Model X wearing a different costume to magazine B at the same time. Let's suppose they both decide to print in the same month. Of course it does happen, but not from the same photographer. They will not be impressed and will probably not use you again.
OK so how do you submit and what is expected.
Well I suggest that after you have found the magazine/picture agency that reproduces the sort of work you provide then write to them. Tell them very briefly who you are on letter headed paper and ask for their submissions information. Provide a stamped address envelope.
Ok so you are providing chromes (transparencies) to a picture editor. Now the argument should they be mounted, or not is endless and has been going on since I picked up my first camera. I don't believe it makes any difference. I know photographers equally successful that present them either way. I do believe that if they are mounted they should carry a little sticker that says who you are. These can be bought from the back of Photo Press magazines. It looks professional also. The chromes should be held in a clear file such as those made by Kenro and Clear-File so the picture editor can lift them from the envelope and hold them to a window to get his first impression. Yes first impression. Of course it's important, very important. He will look at the pictures before he even looks at your covering letter.
Magazines
So you have picked the very best sharpest, cleanest, best colour saturation
pictures (about 25). This is your submission, with a clear professional
looking your brand label on the top of the clear file. Place it in a lightly
padded postal envelope with a covering letter that has your heading at the
top. Explain you are submitting these pictures for their consideration for
inclusion in magazine X, or if they have a stable of magazines then name
the ones you think would be suitable for your pictures. Make sure you include
a daytime telephone number. Also include a photo copy of the model release
and proof of age. Most importantly include a fully stamped addressed envelope
so your work can be returned to you. As this is your work please ensure
you send it recorded so it is signed for.
Bear in mind that it could be some considerable time before you hear anything. I always suggest that you ring the company at some point before submission to get the picture editors name. One it's nice to address your submission to them personally and two if you don't hear anything after submission you have someone to ring. I think a fair time to wait is one month after posting. If by then you have not heard anything give them a ring and ask hat's happening if anything.
Because you don't hear it doesn't mean they are not accepted. It could be that they don't exactly fit in with their idea of their magazine, but the pics are close. So they might be waiting to see if anything nearer comes in as they head toward a deadline. It is certainly possible to have pictures accepted because they were first of the losers and pages had to be filled. Don't misunderstand, they will never use bad pictures, this is just refering to style.
Usually the pictures will be returned with a refusal page if they are not used. The page will explain what is wrong and why they are refused. Take on board this information. If it is merely the style then obviously there is nothing to stop you submitting to other publications. If the editor says that they are too dark/light whatever and you disagree then do submit to someone else. If they are rejected for the same reason then you have learnt something.
If they are accepted expect to wait some months before payment is received as magazines are usually working three months ahead, and they pay on publication. You will receive a contract and they will expect to receive the actual release and proof of age that you have.
Picture Agencies
So you have picked the very best sharpest, cleanest, best colour saturation
pictures (about 25). This is your test submission, with a clear professional
looking your brand label on the top of the clear file. Place it in a lightly
padded postal envelope with a covering letter that has your heading at the
top. Explain you are submitting these pictures for their consideration for
adding your work to their library. Make sure you include a daytime telephone
number. Most importantly include a fully stamped addressed envelope so your
work can be returned to you. As this is your work please ensure you send
it recorded so it is signed for.
Picture agencies are different as most will expect a submission of some 500 to 1000 pictures as a first full submission and then a certain number per period across the year. They also usually expect exclusive rights for 2 to 3 years. If they like your work they will ask to see the full submission. From here it is all pretty straightforward as they will explain everything that is expected of you.
I hope that clears up the how, what, why, when and who.
©Glamour Photo OnLine 2009