Quelles sont les erreurs les plus courantes à éviter lors de la présentation aux magazines?

A key factor in editorial photography is asking your AD or editor as to how the images will be laid out in the final layout. Study the magazine's structure and learn which photos need negative space for text, or a gap for the double-page spread gutter. Sometimes the best image in the magazine doesn't make the cover because it didn't have enough breathing room for the layout team to put in text, barcode, etc. Don't be afraid to ask for some creative direction to make the images easier to layout. Also make sure you're clear on publishing deadlines and allow yourself time for retouching, edits, re-edits and such. Mags publish on a schedule and if you're stuff isn't polished and in on time, you're not going to be hired again.

Not doing your research when pitching? Big mistake. Imagine attending a formal dinner while wearing flip-flops. That’s what it’s like pitching to the wrong magazine. Know the mag’s style, tone, and vibe. 🔹 Is it artsy? 🔹 Corporate? 🔹 Edgy? Match their energy. Find out who the editor is. 🔹 What do they love? 🔹 What do they hate? Tailor your pitch like you’d tailor a suit. And avoid generic inboxes. Your pitch deserves eyeballs, not a one-way trip to the spam folder. Do your homework. Editors can detect a sluggish pitch easily. Don't be that person.

Failing to research the magazine’s style, audience, and content focus can lead to pitching ideas that don’t align with their editorial needs. Offering broad or unclear ideas can weaken your pitch. Be specific about the angle you’re proposing, why it’s relevant, and how it fits into the magazine’s current themes or issues. Ignoring their guidelines - this can make you appear unprofessional or careless.

Editors aren’t playing Where’s Waldo? with your pitch. If they say 5 images, don’t send 7. If they want high-res, don’t hit them with pixelated potato pics. Consider submission guidelines as a recipe: if you make a mistake, your pitch could be rejected. No editor wants to chase down your contact info or sift through a novel-length bio. Respect their time. 🔶 Clear 🔶 Concise 🔶 Professional Make your pitch simple to say YES to. Because ignoring the rules is a fast track to the rejection pile. And nobody wants that.

Editors are busy. They’re not looking for charity cases. They want value. Your pitch needs to scream, THIS IS WHY MY WORK IS WORTH IT! Have a story behind your images. Not just attractive shots: 🔘 A perspective 🔘 A unique angle 🔘 Something that makes it sticky Professionalism matters. But so does passion. If you’re not excited about your work, why should the editor be? Context is key. 🔘 Why does this belong in their magazine? 🔘 How does it serve their readers? Don’t just ask for a feature. Make them want to feature you. Show them why they’d regret passing you up.

Editors see everything. If your pitch fails to stand out from the crowd, it will be immediately dismissed. Trends? They’ve seen them. Clichés? Yawn. Imitation? Nope. Your job: make their eyes widen. Show them: 🔴 Your unique take 🔴 Your weird twist 🔴 Your unmistakable you-ness If your photos could easily be someone else’s, rethink them. Pitch something only you can create. Being original doesn't mean creating something entirely new. It’s making them think, WHY HAVEN'T I SEEN THIS BEFORE? Give editors something to remember, or they’ll forget you.