Uncover Markets Abroad

Michael Sedge has been promoting his photographs and articles to foreign markets for more 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 advertising and marketing to foreign buyers.

“I very first began promoting certificación energética de edificios  images to foreign publications in 1983,” Michael says. “Today, more than eighty percent of my photographs sell in places outdoors of North America -- in Africa, Asia, and Europe. It's not difficult to sell overseas. In actual fact, technology these days has made promoting to foreign publications as straightforward as selling for your local newspaper.”

“How do you get started?” I asked.

“Start first with an e-mail query letter. It really is the most effective approach to strategy international publications for the first time. It saves on expensive overseas postage and usually will bring a faster reply than will an unsolicited submission of photographs. Contain a list of your stock pictures 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 nearly all other nations in the world. In England, Off Duty; in Singapore, Her Globe; in Italy, Neural; in Sweden, Scanorama; in Germany, Visuel; in Spain, Lookout; in Costa Rica, FIPP Magazine Planet.

“How do you find these along with other markets?” I asked.

“Finding foreign markets is just not as tough as you could think. One particular good supply may 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 is offered in important bookstores inside the Usa, or your library, by way of the Inter-Library Loan Service.

“The Willings Press Guide,, also published within the UK, is located in many libraries, though it will not list prices or certain editorial requirements.”

When Mike sends selections of his photos, he says, “I prefer to send thumb-nails to foreign publications. For most editorial needs, they are sufficient. And I ship any photo packages by courier -- UPS, Fed Ex, etc. This provides me having a system for tracking shipments by the world wide web, or via a toll-free number. Also, my experience is that should you utilize courier service to deliver images, the client normally returns this courtesy, and returns your package the same way just after use. Of course currently practically every little thing is digital, with electronic delivery generating points lots less difficult.

“Opportunities to show your photo story, essay, or person pictures in your (or 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 get your work in front of increasing numbers of buyers.”

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

“Foreign purchasers who are accustomed to coping with English-speaking photographers, are in the forefront with regards to Net literacy. You've got an benefit dealing overseas with buyers that are Internet-ready. They will view thumbnail submissions and make their choices 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 advertising!”

NO CROSS-READERSHIP CONFLICT

“Like periodicals in the Usa, practically all overseas magazines use one-time publication rights,” reports Mike. “This suggests that you are totally free to sell and re-sell your package and photos as numerous times as you want. Because there is certainly no cross-readership conflict amongst foreign publications, international photobuyers welcome the opportunity to get their material this way.

“International editors are accessible by email, and almost all use faxes. And in most instances photo editors abroad like working with these modes of communications for initial make contact with.

“The financial return, in numerous cases, may be greater with overseas publications than domestic U.S. markets. Foreign in-flight magazines typical $750 for any brief text-photo package -- and most use numerous photo essays. Publications for girls spend within the $100-$200 variety per photo, while travel magazines spend $150-$250 per photo. Numerous international publications will pay having a bank draft in U.S. dollars, usually drawn on a U.S. bank. Cashing checks is, as a result, no issue. Other people may possibly offer you to create a wire transfer straight into your account.”

A System

“Have you refined your functioning solutions into some sort of a system?” I asked.

“When I initial started marketing and advertising my photos abroad, I came up with a technique which I consider operates for me,” Michael says. “I decided to send one query/stock list every week to a diverse foreign photo editor. Right after sixty days, I had received three replies (one sale), and had one more five queries out. I continue sending a query/stock list overseas each and every week. Recall, due to the fact there is certainly no cross-readership conflict, I can send the same photoarticle package to a couple dozen photobuyers. If they all use it, no trouble, since their readers are in distinct nations, and normally in unique languages.

“The photobuyers are open to this, simply because they know I can invest extra time and talent into my pictures and photo stories when I know I can market them various occasions, which leads to greater quality material for them.

“Today, more than 25 years following I very first started, I have some 1,000 stock lists on file with foreign markets. Through 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, certainly, the United states of america.”