There are magazines all over the world on every topic imaginable, so if you have taken an amazing photo there is a good chance that a magazine somewhere would like to consider it, and maybe, to publish it.

Magazines have traditionally been one of the main markets for freelance photographers with many magazines paying hundreds of dollars for a single cover image.

During your next visit to your local bookstore, take a good look at all the shelves of popular magazines. All those publications represent a tremendous opportunity for freelance photographers.

How Much Will You Earn?

Magazines tend to pay different fees depending upon the size that the photo appears in the magazine, and where it appears.

Typical fees for a cover photo in a regional magazine range from $200 to $700. A full page photo inside the magazine might pay $75 to $300. As the photos get smaller, the fee range does too.

This is just a rough indication, and ultimately each magazine sets its own prices.

Here are some examples of rates paid by some popular magazines for cover photos.

Alaska Magazine seeks to depict life in Alaska through high-quality images of its people, places and wildlife. Assignments are negotiated in advance. Other fees for photos are: cover $500, double page $400, full page $300, half page $150, quarter page $75.

British Columbia Magazine is a quarterly travel magazine looking for fresh, unusual approaches to familiar landmarks and subjects, as well as seeking out the rare, exotic, strange, unfamiliar, and remote. Photo rates are: cover $700, double page $400; one page
plus: $300; front cover inset: $200; one page: $200; half page:
$150; one third page or less: $100.

Women in the Outdoors covers a variety of outdoor sports and activities including camping, fishing, hiking, shooting, hunting, canoeing, boating and bird watching. Pays: cover $400, double page $175, full page $125, half page $100.

Conservationist is a non-profit magazine published bi-monthly by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Typical topics include fishing, hunting, nature viewing, and outdoor recreation. Pays: cover photos $50, other $15.

These are just a few examples of magazines that purchase freelance photography and all of them have guidelines for photographers on their web sites.

Some Magazines Expect Exclusivity

Some magazines require exclusivity on any photos you submit, or they might ask that you do not submit the same photograph to a similar publication for a certain period of months or years. So be sure to check the magazine’s guidelines for photographers carefully so you know what you are agreeing to when you submit your photos.

About the Author

Michael Kryzer is the author of “Sell Your Digital Photos” a 201-Page Guide to Freelance Photography.

Would you like access to my database of magazine photography markets? Many of these magazines pay $100 to $500 for cover photos, and a range of fees for freelance photography inside the covers.