This is a topic I started here last year on June 1st, regarding a shoot I got to do for a nice regional Pennsylvania publication called "Happenings Magazine", with distribution of more than 25,000 copies--I won't bore you with all of the old details, but I agreed to do the cover and many interior photos for a small price, but they also saw fit to reward me with a full-page ad, worth $1,200, which was quite a nice surprise. Anyway, it's all in the original thread:
Anyway, we've developed a nice relationship and I just completed several other assignments for 2012 issues.
But in this month's June 2011 issue, they used shoots I did last summer, featuring some gardens and a working farm... I'm just trying to reiterate the point that several made here in my original post, sometimes you need to accept less and take advantage of where it leads, I know I'm glad I did!
I can't link the two, two-page spreads directly, but here is the link to this month's issue where my photos appear, on pages 74-75 and 80-81 respectively. Also have some in the upcoming July issue featuring Lake Wallenpaupack, near the Pocono region. Thanks!!
Very nice get! Just curious, do you know if you have had an work directly or indirectly from being in the magazine article and/or the ad they put in? IT was well worth it even if not!
Thank you all, I mean it's not Nat Geo, but it all helps is my point, as I've found out over my three years of doing this.
To answer your question Troup, yes. First, I can recall a few direct print sales as a result. Definitely more name recognition and I guess you'd say "respect" in the region?. Also, one of, if not the leading environmental advocacy group in Pennsylvania, www.pennfuture.org, auctioned off two of my prints to help raise funds... one in Philadelphia this past holiday season, and the other at a big event in the Poconos this Spring--and they only found out about my work from the pub and ad.
The warm and growing relationship says volumes about you and the magazine.
...I mean it's not Nat Geo, but it all helps is my point.... Definitely more name recognition and I guess you'd say "respect" in the region....
That confirms our experience. "Big" scores like Nat Geo are great feathers in your cap you can strut for other photographers. But local sales and local visibility net a lot more money. That's especially true of the long-term relationships for building a healthy business with the cumulative results of assignment shooting. The local markets see your work and know the subject matter, so they can accurately judge you and the value of the photos for their own uses. And your cadre of happy local clients become a marketing force as they brag about you in venues like local restaurants, Rotary meetings, and Chamber of Commerce meetings.
Nature photographers are about the worst in the photo world for recognizing and utilizing such local "marketing," yet it has huge impacts on your business volume. Nat Geo covers only come a few times in a lifetime for a very few photographers, but local sales can come through the door at any time. I just did a shoot yesterday paying 3 times the cover rate for Nat Geo, the second I've done for this client since January. Another is scheduled in September and yet another in November. Meanwhile more local businesses were on hand as I shot, and the manager goes to Rotary every Tuesday. It's a revolution!!!!
Thank you folks, again, I'm just relaying this info as experience. As I'm sure many others here have done, I've been given assignments that pay very little--or asked to donate photos to many organizations, or worthwhile charities. Some would argue against doing so, that you are devaluing your work. My experience has been that one seemingly "little" thing, always leads to something better. The "Trickle Down", or rather, "Trickle Up" theory works in marketing my work.
Special thanks Hank, your enthusiasm and support, and knowledge base are always welcomed. All the best, Bill.
Discussion
8 replieshttp://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=56805&CGISESSID=c6f5468ecdffe22682f3f076e87e6a5c&u=30130
Anyway, we've developed a nice relationship and I just completed several other assignments for 2012 issues.
But in this month's June 2011 issue, they used shoots I did last summer, featuring some gardens and a working farm... I'm just trying to reiterate the point that several made here in my original post, sometimes you need to accept less and take advantage of where it leads, I know I'm glad I did!
I can't link the two, two-page spreads directly, but here is the link to this month's issue where my photos appear, on pages 74-75 and 80-81 respectively. Also have some in the upcoming July issue featuring Lake Wallenpaupack, near the Pocono region. Thanks!!
http://www.happeningsmagazinepa.com/pdfs/11Mags/JUNE11_PGS_73-96.pdf
Troup
To answer your question Troup, yes. First, I can recall a few direct print sales as a result. Definitely more name recognition and I guess you'd say "respect" in the region?. Also, one of, if not the leading environmental advocacy group in Pennsylvania, www.pennfuture.org, auctioned off two of my prints to help raise funds... one in Philadelphia this past holiday season, and the other at a big event in the Poconos this Spring--and they only found out about my work from the pub and ad.
Thanks for the sound advice and congratulations on the publications. Sounds like you've got a good relationship started! Best Regards.
Gary.
The warm and growing relationship says volumes about you and the magazine.
That confirms our experience. "Big" scores like Nat Geo are great feathers in your cap you can strut for other photographers. But local sales and local visibility net a lot more money. That's especially true of the long-term relationships for building a healthy business with the cumulative results of assignment shooting. The local markets see your work and know the subject matter, so they can accurately judge you and the value of the photos for their own uses. And your cadre of happy local clients become a marketing force as they brag about you in venues like local restaurants, Rotary meetings, and Chamber of Commerce meetings.
Nature photographers are about the worst in the photo world for recognizing and utilizing such local "marketing," yet it has huge impacts on your business volume. Nat Geo covers only come a few times in a lifetime for a very few photographers, but local sales can come through the door at any time. I just did a shoot yesterday paying 3 times the cover rate for Nat Geo, the second I've done for this client since January. Another is scheduled in September and yet another in November. Meanwhile more local businesses were on hand as I shot, and the manager goes to Rotary every Tuesday. It's a revolution!!!!
Special thanks Hank, your enthusiasm and support, and knowledge base are always welcomed. All the best, Bill.