I'm very fortunate to have Dr Alex Mustard's permission to reproduce a post from wetpixel where he suggests some routes to getting published in the magazine world.
With a few additional comments based on my experience at the end.
If you're reading this and you have had experience of getting published, I'm sure there are people out there who would love to hear about it, e-mail me with details or post a comment.
Anyway, here's what Alex has to say:
"Many underwater photographers look at diving magazines and say "My shots are as good as those", but this is NOT enough to get them published. Your best chance of getting them published is to have the editors asking you to submit, rather than sending them in on spec.
Each month the Editor has to fill the pages of his magazine - so they are on the lookout for new contributors to do this. But new contributors mean risk. The regular guys and gals you see each month are the contributors that the magazine trusts to produce quality material, ON TIME and to the correct length.
A new contributor is a new risk for the editor. Remember they HAVE to fill those pages each month. Maybe their material will be below par, maybe the images won't relate to the story, maybe they will write too many words, maybe they won't deliver at all. This is why magazines tend to stick to the same few reliable names. Those people have a track record of trust.
So to break in to this circle you need to offer something that is better than the existing contributors or at least different. And prove you are reliable.
One of the best ways to get noticed as a photographer is to enter the big competitions that the editors see. This usually means the ones that are open to pros as well as amateurs. If you are targeting a particular magazine then you can enter their in-house competition too. Of course, this does not prove you can write, but it is an important step to getting noticed. All editors are interested in identifying the up-and-coming talent.
It is also well worth going to shows and actually meeting editors face to face. The best one for this is the Antibes festival - because there are usually so many editors there and it is a relaxed and social occasion. The diving media world is very small and it does not take long to get to know everyone. You don't necessarily need to bombard an editor with material at an event - but you can promise a follow up email a few days later.
Each magazine is different. Each has a very different take on diving and all think that their way is the only correct way to write about diving. So before submitting study the "house style" and make sure you article fits.
The final point I would make is practice. The more you write the easier it gets. So volunteer to write articles for your dive club etc - learning the ropes so that you know what you are doing when you get your chance to impress."
Wise words Alex and thank you again for the permission to reproduce your post.
I would add that editors are real people (contrary to the image they may present) and they do like to be approached with ideas, but make sure you have prepared your pitch before you do so.
Here's what some editors I know have said to me on this subject:
"When people phone up, they're often really surprised that I answer the phone. I do like to speak to people who have new ideas."
"If you don't encourage new talent you will eventually run out of writers, they don't stick around forever."
"Don't be upset if I don't speak to you or if I'm short with you - if it's the busy time of the month I won't have time."
The dead give away to whether editors want to be spoken to, e-mailed, or not bothered at all, is their contact details in the masthead.
If they have a telephone number next to their name then they don't mind being called. If it's an e-mail address, then they prefer to be e-mailed. If they have neither, then you'll have to go through the switchboard, where I would ask if the editor ever speaks to would be contributors, and if they do, when is the best time.
You might find that the magazine has contributor guidelines, in which case, follow their 'contact us' advice to the letter. Failing to do so is a sure fire way of annoying the editor - you can just imagine the scene as you try and speak to them after they have put, 'please write in the first instance...' in their guidelines:
"I write up guidelines, and this dufus can't be bothered to read and follow them!"
Chances of getting published following this?
Keep writing.....
Brendan
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