For the photographer who is drawn to the editorial market, seeing one’s images in print can be quite a rush. However, seeing your images illustrate a story you also researched, wrote and successfully pitched is an even more rewarding experience. During this week with photojournalist Keith Graham, you learn to combine your photographic abilities with your interest in writing to create stories from concept to completion.
Having worked as a photojournalist for newspapers across the country and as a contributor to numerous magazines, Keith Graham has years of experience in creating original content for publication. During this course, he walks you through the process of concepting, producing and selling your images and words as a complete package. Group photo shoots at a variety of locations around Montana allow you to create images that could be used to illustrate a story. In the classroom, Keith critiques your pictures as a photo editor would—looking for strengths in the images you captured, while identifying images you can create to make the story stronger. Keith explores a variety of editorial markets and discusses possible challenges associated with getting your foot in the door in each type of market. You learn the importance of a well-written query letter and how queries can save you time, increase your success rate, help define your angle and help you previsualize your images. Keith discusses the pros and cons of working with the title of freelance photographer or writer, and addresses ideas for marketing and self-promotion that can help you beat the odds in this highly competitive field. Contracts, copyright and model releases are all necessary considerations for the freelancer. Keith covers these business necessities as well as determining your rates, joining professional organizations, utilizing the stock photography market and taking advantage of the emerging multimedia market.