Discover Markets Abroad

Michael Sedge has been promoting his photos and articles to foreign markets for greater than two decades. His book (THE WRITER’S AND PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO Global MARKETS), can open the door to these markets for other photographers. I talked with Michael and asked him about marketing to foreign purchasers.

“I initial started promoting certificación energética de edificios  pictures to foreign publications in 1983,” Michael says. “Today, greater than eighty percent of my photographs sell in areas outdoors of North America -- in Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is not difficult to sell overseas. The truth is, technologies today has created advertising to foreign publications as quick as promoting to your nearby newspaper.”

“How do you get started?” I asked.

“Start initially with an e mail query letter. It really is the top way to method international publications for the initial time. It saves on costly overseas postage and frequently will bring a quicker reply than will an unsolicited submission of pictures. Involve a list of one's stock images for the photobuyer or art director. Initially, concentrate your efforts towards publications printed in English. Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa all have English language periodicals, as do practically all other countries inside the world. In England, Off Duty; in Singapore, Her World; in Italy, Neural; in Sweden, Scanorama; in Germany, Visuel; in Spain, Lookout; in Costa Rica, FIPP Magazine Planet.

“How do you locate these and other markets?” I asked.

“Finding foreign markets is not as tough as you could feel. One very good source will be the International Writer's and Artist’s Yearbook This 600-plus web page book is published in England and lists more than four,500 overseas markets. It truly is obtainable in big bookstores inside the United states, or your library, by means of the Inter-Library Loan Service.

“The Willings Press Guide,, also published within the UK, is discovered in a lot of libraries, although it will not list rates or distinct editorial wants.”

When Mike sends selections of his photos, he says, “I prefer to send thumb-nails to foreign publications. For many editorial requirements, these are sufficient. And I ship any photo packages by courier -- UPS, Fed Ex, etc. This provides me using a approach for tracking shipments by the net, or via a toll-free number. Also, my knowledge is the fact that in case you use courier service to provide pictures, the client usually returns this courtesy, and returns your package precisely the same way immediately after use. Obviously these days almost everything is digital, with electronic delivery making issues a whole lot easier.

“Opportunities to display your photo story, essay, or individual pictures on your (or possibly a photobuyer’s) net page now present an effective marketing tool, and as more and more international photobuyers are becoming Web-savvy, you’re capable to obtain your perform in front of rising numbers of purchasers.”

I asked Michael what reception he gets if he submits digital submissions.

“Foreign buyers who are accustomed to dealing with English-speaking photographers, are at the forefront in terms of World-wide-web literacy. You've got an benefit dealing overseas with buyers that are Internet-ready. They're able to view thumbnail submissions and make their decisions inside a matter of hours. You then possess the opportunity to submit a high-resolution image on-line, or send a disk to them overnight. The digital revolution has transformed the possibilities of foreign marketing!”

NO CROSS-READERSHIP CONFLICT

“Like periodicals in the Usa, nearly all overseas magazines use one-time publication rights,” reports Mike. “This means you might be absolutely free to sell and re-sell your package and photos as lots of times as you wish. Due to the fact there's no cross-readership conflict among foreign publications, international photobuyers welcome the chance to purchase their material this way.

“International editors are accessible by e mail, and practically all use faxes. And in most instances photo editors abroad like utilizing these modes of communications for initial get in touch with.

“The financial return, in numerous instances, might be higher with overseas publications than domestic U.S. markets. Foreign in-flight magazines typical $750 for a brief text-photo package -- and most use a great deal of photo essays. Publications for females spend inside the $100-$200 range per photo, whilst travel magazines pay $150-$250 per photo. Several international publications will pay having a bank draft in U.S. dollars, often drawn on a U.S. bank. Cashing checks is, consequently, no dilemma. Other folks may possibly offer you to make a wire transfer straight into your account.”

A Method

“Have you refined your operating strategies into some type of a method?” I asked.

“When I initial started marketing my images abroad, I came up with a technique which I think functions for me,” Michael says. “I decided to send a single query/stock list every single week to a various foreign photo editor. Soon after sixty days, I had received 3 replies (one sale), and had an additional 5 queries out. I continue sending a query/stock list overseas each week. Keep in mind, simply because there is certainly no cross-readership conflict, I can send exactly the same photoarticle package to a couple dozen photobuyers. If they all use it, no problem, due to the fact their readers are in distinct nations, and normally in unique languages.

“The photobuyers are open to this, because they know I can invest additional time and talent into my pictures and photo stories when I know I can marketplace them various times, which results in greater top quality material for them.

“Today, more than 25 years following I initial began, I have some 1,000 stock lists on file with foreign markets. During the previous five months, I have had pictures published in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa, the Middle East, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, and, of course, the United states of america.”