Dear Reader,

Yesterday, a pop quiz from professional photographer Efrain Padro tested your magazine-photo savvy. Could you tell which of his three photos landed on the cover of a magazine? If you missed it, you can take the quiz here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/pop_quiz

One of Efrain’s photos was published on the cover of New Mexico Journey, the state’s AAA magazine. New Mexico Journey currently accepts both travel articles and photos from freelancers.

Read on for more details...

-- Lori

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division

P.S. There are a lot of magazines like AAA New Mexico Journey that buy photos from freelancers -- both with an article and without. Find out how what makes magazine editors tick, what kinds of photos they’re looking for, how to send them, details about rights, and more with the Quick and Dirty Guide to Magazine Photography.

February 6, 2010

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Featured Publication: New Mexico Journey
Website: http://www.newmexico.aaa.com/nm_journey/
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NEW MEXICO JOURNEY
By Alice Derry in Arlington, VA

New Mexico Journey is the state’s AAA magazine, but don’t be fooled. New Mexico Journey isn’t just a resource to AAA members in terms of automobile safety and maintenance. Filled with colorful photos and spirited travel articles, this publication also profiles New Mexican culture, food, travel and news.

As the member magazine for AAA New Mexico, New Mexico Journey prides itself on giving readers new and interesting ways to enjoy and celebrate their state and the world.
Here’s what the magazine is looking for, in its own words:

“Editors are looking for a compelling reason to assign an article: a specific angle, news that makes the subject fresh, a writer’s enthusiasm for and familiarity with the topic. Queries should present a clear, original, and provocative thesis, not just a topic or idea, and should reflect familiarity with the magazine’s content and tone. Submissions should answer two questions: Why now, and why in New Mexico Journey?”

Like most publications, New Mexico Journey strongly encourages you to take a look at past issues of the magazine in order to get a feel for its style before you query. If you aren’t an AAA member, you can send an email request to journey@aaa-newmexico.com, and they will send you a few back issues. While you’re at it, be sure to ask for the writer’s and/or photographer’s guidelines, too.
Once you’ve done your research, you can submit a query by snail mail or send it via e-mail to journey@aaa-newmexico.com. As always, be sure to read through all of the guidelines carefully before you query.

It’s not clear exactly how much New Mexico Journey pays for articles and photos, but the guidelines suggest that compensation is competitive.

When you’re just starting out in travel writing and photography, smaller, regional magazines like AAA New Mexico Journey are more likely to publish your work than larger, national glossies. And you can submit your stories or photos here whether you’re a New Mexico native or you just enjoy traveling out West.

[Ed. Note: Don’t forget that at midnight tonight, the prices go up on all our 2010 small-group photo expeditions. Click here to grab a spot now -- they’re going fast -- and you’ll not only save, but we’ll toss in a special bonus, too. It’s a free copy of How to Get a First Class Seat -- for Less -- on Most Every Flight You Take (bookstore price: $35.94).]

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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2010 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
http://www.awaionline.com/contact

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com  

Pop Quiz: Which of these photos makes the best cover shot?

Efraín Padró here.

Last week, professional photographer Shelly Perry outlined for you the types of editorial images you need to submit to an editor if you want to get your photos published in a glossy magazine (cover shots, people shots, details, and so on).  If you missed her article, you’ll find it here.

Of the ones she listed, the most coveted among photographers is the cover shot. It commands the highest fee in a magazine, and offers the most exposure to the photographer. To take a saleable cover shot, you have to think about it in a special way.

Here’s a little quiz, to test your editorial photo savvy...

Here are three photos I took at different times, in different places. One of them made the cover of a magazine. Which one do you think it was?

Scroll down for the answer...

 

 

 

 

 

 

They’re all good, magazine-quality shots. But this is the only one that made a magazine cover.

Here’s why...

The first image of a man sailing a catamaran has a number of attributes that are often found in cover shots: bright and colorful (features that attract the eye), dynamic (tilted horizon and full sails), and plenty of copy space on either side. However, the image is horizontal and therefore not likely to be selected as a cover shot, since magazines are produced in a vertical format.

Next, the close-up image of a tulip was shot in the vertical format, is also bright and colorful, and has plenty of copy space at the bottom. However, the tulip’s bulb is too close to the top, so the magazine’s name (say, “National Geographic”), would cover the most striking aspect of the image. This image is therefore an unlikely candidate for a cover shot.

The final image of a dirt road in the desert is vertical; has plenty of room at the top for the magazine’s name; has copy space at the bottom (where words can be added over neutral subjects without covering Shiprock itself); features colorful, yellow shrubs in the foreground; and the dirt road leads the viewer’s eye into the picture. The image was chosen as the cover of AAA’s New Mexico Journey magazine, in an issue featuring Tony Hillerman’s novels about a Navajo detective.

Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and every magazine has a distinct editorial aesthetic. It is always a good idea to fine-tune your cover-shot image submissions by reviewing previous cover shots from each particular magazine.

Note: You might have noticed that the cover image is slightly different than the submitted image. This is because magazines often crop and otherwise alter submitted images to suit their design and aesthetic needs. In fact, it is common for magazine licensing contracts to include language that gives the magazine the right to make these changes. In my experience, changes made by magazines are usually minor and within what’s generally accepted in the industry. In addition to cropping, common alterations include minor changes to saturation and contrast.

[Ed Note: Efrain will be leading several of our small-group photo expeditions this year. The next one is to Morocco March 14-18. And it’s on sale this week – save $400 when you register before midnight tomorrow. We have room for only 8 attendees on that trip, so you’re guaranteed to see improvement in your photos and come away with amazing shots you can sell or just hang on your wall. You’ll get even more attention than we originally planned for, in fact. Another of our resident pros, Rich Wagner, said he wanted to tag along, too. So now you’re looking at 2 experts and 8 readers just like you. It’s going to be amazing! Click here for details about Morocco and the rest of our 2010 expeditions – all on sale through midnight tomorrow. ]

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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2010 American Writers & Artists Inc.

245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
http://www.awaionline.com/contact

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Dear Reader,

I have a photo assignment for you this weekend...