Dear Reader,

When you think of selling your travel photos, you probably don’t imagine close-up shots of a creepy caterpillar, a dog sniffing a turtle, or a butterfly on a flower.

But most of us have photos like these in our portfolios -- and you likely CAN sell them. Even if you’ve never sold a photo before and you consider yourself a beginner.

Scroll down to find out how and where from professional stock and editorial photographer, Efrain Padro...

-- Lori

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division

P.S. Beginners and experts alike will get all the instruction and attention they could ever want at the Puerto Rico Photo Expedition this May with TWO professional photographers by their side. I’m sending BOTH Efrain Padro (who recently photographed his native Puerto Rico on assignment from Frommer’s) and Rich Wagner, my lead photo instructor, on this expedition. They’ll take attendees through colonial San Juan and into the thick green of El Yunque rainforest on our Puerto Rico expedition.

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April 22, 2010
The Right Way to Travel
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Ranger Rick: Sell Photos to Kid and Nature Magazines

By Efraín M. Padró

During a break at the Ultimate Money-Making Photo Workshop in Nashville, Tennessee last weekend, I took some time to sit down with attendees and look over their photos. One was a cute shot of a dog sniffing a turtle. Another attendee showed me some pictures of butterflies. And yet a third person shared with me some very colorful images of a creeping (and creepy, if you ask me) caterpillar.

By the time I finished with the last review, I was seeing a trend in nature photos, so I suggested to the caterpillar photographer that she consider selling her shots to Ranger Rick Magazine. This might be a good outlet for you, too, if you have, or like to take, similar photos.

Ranger Rick is a very popular kids’ nature magazine published by the National Wildlife Federation, with a focus on conservation. As you can imagine, they publish a lot of animal pictures, including bugs, butterflies, frogs, raccoons, and turtles. You can take a look at the magazine’s site, and get feel for its style, here: Ranger Rick website

While Ranger Rick isn’t a travel magazine, it does cover animals and insects that you could photograph while out and about on your travels... or in the pond in your backyard.

Here are a few tips to increase your chances of getting published in Ranger Rick and similar kid and nature magazines. These will work for photographers of any level -- from amateur snappers to professionals:

** 1. Contact the magazine and ask for their submission guidelines. I did not see a specific page in the magazine’s website containing the guidelines, so fill out the “Contact” form, tell them you are a freelance photographer with a collection of animal images, and ask for a copy of the guidelines.

** 2. While on the “Contact” page, check the “Would you like to receive our e-letter?” box. The Ranger Rick e-letter includes pictures, so study them before sending your first submission.

** 3. Send images that are framed tight on the subject with clean backgrounds (make sure they’re free of any distracting clutter). Although images of, say, a lone moose in the distance can be beautiful, keep in mind that Ranger Rick caters to kids, and kids respond more to straightforward images where the subject is big, bold, and takes up the entire frame.

** 4. Show animals doing something. Although animals are so cute that they look good just staring at the camera (and cute sells), pictures of animals engaged in any behavior (like playing or running or flying) are in high demand. This will require additional time and patience on your part, but the extra effort will translate into more sales.

** 5. Finally, make sure you follow the submission guidelines when you approach the editor -- especially on first contact. You want the photo editor to know you are a professional and can follow directions.

Following these simple tips will help you place your work in Ranger Rick (and other nature magazines). Now get out and shoot something!

[Ed. Note: You can sell photos to magazines, as fine art, or online as stock this month -- even if you’ve never sold a photo before. It really doesn’t matter how “amateur” you may feel. We hear from readers every month who decided to make the leap and start selling their shots. People like Bill Havle, who asked the owner at his favorite breakfast spot if he could sell photos on the walls. “Trust me!” he said, “If it can work for me, it can work for anybody! You just have to tell yourself to start.”

To get more simple, basic information on how to start -- and close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be at the end of the year -- sign up here to get the best “back-to-basics” articles from our archives delivered to your inbox to jump-start your success:

Click here to add your name to our photo basics list 

We’re still combing through six years of e-letter archives to put the collection together, but when you put your name on that list, you’ll get an e-mail as soon as it’s ready.

You can also click here to find more details about our Paris and Puerto Rico events (which are perfect for beginners).

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