HOW TO USE
THIS BOOK
The first thing you’ll notice about most of the listings in this book is the group of symbols that appears before the name of each company. Scanning the listings for symbols can help you quickly locate markets that meet certain criteria. (You’ll find a quick-reference key to the symbols as well as a sample listing on the back inside cover of the book.) Here’s what each symbol stands for:
This photo buyer is new to this edition of the book.
This photo buyer is located in Canada.
This photo buyer is located outside the U.S. and Canada.
This photo buyer uses only images created on assignment.
This photo buyer uses only stock images.
This photo buyer accepts submissions in digital format.
This photo buyer uses film or other audiovisual media.
This art fair is a juried event; a juror or committee of jurors views applicants’ work and selects those whose work fits within the guidelines of the event.
COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
If you feel you have not been treated fairly by a company listed in Photographer’s Market, we advise you to take the following steps:
• First, try to contact the listing. Sometimes one phone call, e-mail, or letter can quickly clear up the matter.
• Document all your correspondence with the listing. If you write to us with a complaint, provide the details of your submission, the date of your first contact with the listing, and the nature of your subsequent correspondence.
• We will enter your letter into our files.
• The number and severity of complaints will be considered in our decision whether to delete the listing from the next edition.
Pay scale
We asked photo buyers to indicate their general pay scale based on what they typically pay for a single image. Their answers are signified by a series of dollar signs before each listing. Scanning for dollar signs can help you quickly identify which markets pay at the top of the scale. However, not every photo buyer answered this question, so don’t mistake a missing dollar sign as an indication of low pay rates. Also keep in mind that many photo buyers are willing to negotiate.
Pays $1–150
Pays $151–750
Pays $751–1,500
Pays more than $1,500
Openness
We also asked photo buyers to indicate their level of openness to freelance photography. Looking for these symbols can help you identify buyers who are willing to work with newcomers, as well as prestigious buyers who only publish top-notch photography.
Encourages beginning or unpublished photographers to submit work for consideration; publishes new photographers. May pay only in copies or have a low pay rate.
Accepts outstanding work from beginning and established photographers; expects a high level of professionalism from all photographers who make contact.
Hard to break into; publishes mostly previously published photographers.
May pay at the top of the scale. Closed to unsolicited submissions.
Subheads
Each listing is broken down into sections to make it easier to locate specific information (see sample listing on the back inside cover of this book). In the first section of each listing you’ll find mailing addresses, phone numbers, e-mail and website addresses, and the name of the person you should contact. You’ll also find general information about photo buyers, including when their business was established and their publishing philosophy. Each listing will include one or more of the following subheads:
Needs. Here you’ll find specific subjects each photo buyer is seeking. (Use the subject index at the end of the book to help you narrow your search.) You’ll also find the average number of freelance photos a buyer uses each year, which will help you gauge your chances of publication.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1 How do companies get listed in the book?
No company pays to be included—all listings are free. Every company has to fill out a detailed questionnaire about their photo needs. All questionnaires are screened to make sure the companies meet our requirements. Each year we contact every company in the book and ask them to update their information.
2 Why aren’t other companies I know about listed in this book?
We may have sent these companies a questionnaire, but they never returned it. Or if they did return a questionnaire, we may have decided not to include them based on our requirements.
3 Some publishers say they accept photos with or without a manuscript. What does that mean?
Essentially, the word manuscript means a written article that will be published by a magazine. Some magazines will only consider publishing your photos if they accompany a written article. Other publishers will consider publishing your photos alone, without a manuscript.
4 I sent a CD with large digital files to a photo buyer who said she wanted to see my work. I have not heard from her, and I am afraid that my photos will be used without my permission and without payment. What should I do?
Do not send large, printable files (300 dpi or larger) unless you are sure the photo buyer is going to use them, and you know what you will be paid for their usage and what rights the photo buyer is requesting. If a photo buyer shows interest in seeing your work in digital format, send small JPEGs at first so they can “review” them—i.e., determine if the subject matter and technical quality of your photos meet their requirements. Until you know for sure that the photo buyer is going to license your photos and you have some kind of agreement, do not send high-resolution files. The exception to this rule would be if you have dealt with the photo buyer before or perhaps know someone who has. Some companies receive a large volume of submissions, so sometimes you must be patient. It’s a good idea to give any company listed in this book a call before you submit anything and be sure nothing has changed since we contacted them to gather or update information. This is true whether you submit slides, prints, or digital images.
5 A company says they want to publish my photographs, but first they will need a fee from me. Is this a standard business practice?
No, it is not a standard business practice. You should never have to pay to have your photos reviewed or to have your photos accepted for publication. If you suspect that a company may not be reputable, do some research before you submit anything or pay their fees. The exception to this rule is contests. It is not unusual for some contests listed in this book to have entry fees (usually minimal—between five and twenty dollars).
Audiovisual Needs. If you create images for media such as filmstrips or overhead transparencies, or you shoot videotape or motion picture film, look here for photo buyers’ specific needs in these areas.
Specs. Look here to see in what format the photo buyer prefers to receive accepted images. Many photo buyers will accept both digital and film (slides, transparencies, prints) formats. However, many photo buyers are reporting that they accept digital images only, so make sure you can provide the format the photo buyer requires before you send samples.
Exhibits. This subhead appears only in the Galleries section of the book. Like the Needs subhead, you’ll find information here about the specific subjects and types of photography a gallery shows.
Making Contact & Terms. When you’re ready to make contact with a photo buyer, look here to find out exactly what they want to see in your submission. You’ll also find what the buyer usually pays and what rights they expect in exchange. In the Stock section, this subhead is divided into two parts, Payment & Terms and Making Contact, because this information is often lengthy and complicated.
Handles. This subhead appears only in the Photo Representatives section. Some reps also represent illustrators, fine artists, stylists, make-up artists, etc., in addition to photographers. The term “handles” refers to the various types of “talent” they represent.
Tips. Look here for advice and information directly from photo buyers in their own words.