Why Photographers Prioritize Craft Over Publication, and Why Models Should Embrace Exposure Without Losing Focus

This article has been bubbling in my head for more than a year; after a beautiful conversation with two well-established photographers who I am happy to consider friends and whose work has been deeply influential-  I am finally ready to share why those who see photography as an art, a path for artistic expression, do not believe submitting to magazines is the best use of your efforts and time, and why steering your focus to another medium is best well suited for today’s age. To be clear, this is not referring to magazines that have a strong subscription base, solid reputation and healthy ad revenue, etc.

During my conversations with my friends and other seasoned photographers, I noticed that most of them usually agree that unless the magazine pays you, the task of submission should be left to your client.  They did point out that many photographers try to make money by adding the cost of what it would take to submit to their packages – there is nothing wrong with this if that is what you choose to do.  The purpose of this article is to expose the opinion of those of us who like to focus more on the art and construct of photography, and just because we don’t choose to personally publish or to publish often, does not mean we don’t take photography seriously; on the contrary, to us art is a passion not just a business...

A while back, I was given this advice by a friend, mentor and seasoned photographer whose pieces are well recognized and always in demand because he creates for his own pleasure or if he enjoys the theme proposed when commissioned; his advice hit home… “Unless you are being commissioned a piece, there isn’t much play for seeking to publish all the time”

“First, social media today has more eyeballs than a MagCloud magazine hidden in oblivion. An editorial piece hidden on MagCloud doesn’t hold as much value. Second, you can’t even share your work right away; you usually have to wait a month. The world moves so fast nowadays that a month-old shoot can feel ancient. Thirdly, in an age of storytelling, you’re going to rely on someone else to tell your story the way you want it to be told? -  I’m over here scratching my head. Even if I had my photos named in a specific order, I’ve received editorials where I was disappointed in how the photos flowed. And finally, they don’t even give you a magazine, you have to pay for it yourself. Enough said”.

There are pros and cons to publishing in vanity magazines.  A vanity magazine is a publication, digital or print, that exists by making money from featured artists' work, rather than making profits from advertising space and off-the-wrack sales as most well-known magazines do.  Established magazines can earn money this way because they have a wide distribution of print magazines and website readership, whereas vanity magazines earn their income from those who submit images and then buy copies once the magazines are published.  These publications DO NOT PAY the photographers or the artists; their existence is maintained from a large amount of imagery that they obtain at no cost to them.  I will not deny that there certainly is an indulgence one gets as a photographer from publishing in a vanity magazine, and it is a great way to make your introduction to the world (if you are just starting to expand) or if you intend to use vanity magazines as a strategy to maintain business. However, be careful not to get lost in it so much that serious projects miss you. 

As per models, here is some crude advice from seasoned experts:  "There is certainly value in having your work featured in vanity magazines, but it’s important not to become overly focused on this path. While it can offer some exposure, it often comes at the cost of being overlooked by more prestigious publications or artistic commissions—where the long-term benefits tend to outweigh the immediate gratification. Be clear about your intentions. If unpaid exposure aligns with your goals, then continue pursuing it. Vanity magazines are best suited for seasoned models whose income does not depend on them—they publish for the joy of the craft, not out of necessity. This approach is vastly different from those who are still establishing themselves and hoping for a breakthrough. For younger models, caution is essential. Overexposure in lesser-known publications can be detrimental, particularly in an industry as competitive and unforgiving as modeling. If you’re just starting out, take time to assess whether modeling is truly your calling, and commit fully to it. In such a competitive environment, balance is key, and sometimes, too much exposure in vanity magazines can do more harm than good."

If you are a client who just wants to see your image published in a magazine for fun, to give your ego a healthy boost, or just to show off a bit to your friends – there is nothing wrong with that.  A vanity magazine can provide all of that, and there are many photographers who will offer the whole package, and they do a good job at making the process painless to you.  Just be careful to be clear as to the style of the magazine your image is being showcased in, especially if your images are boudoir or artistic nudes – you do not want your beautiful images to be showcased side to side with some questionable material – art should remain art. Sometimes, it is best to err on the side of caution when it comes to those styles. You could be better off showcasing the results of your shoot on your social media, than the alternative of a questionable online magazine.

Artistic photographers look for the story – the reason behind something; that is what compels them; they need to decipher and transmit something. From the “simplest photo” to the most complex one, it is the subject's and photographer's artistic self-expression.  It is a dance of technique and heart, using the camera as a medium.  At MF Imagery, we like to showcase our work with its own manifesto so as to help reveal the photograph to the one observing it – this is an art form that, over time, got lost. Other times, we do not say anything at all, and let the piece speak for itself.  I noticed some photographers mimic the manifesto style without understanding their own piece – it is almost mechanical; someone else does this, so I do something similar – and that is when the lack of connection with their art is revealed.   Telling a story or revealing the soul of the individual being photographed requires finesse and passion – anyone can master the technique, but not everyone can compel the vision within with the spirit of the subject – that’s where photographers divert in two categories, each as an umbrella to subcategories. 

For those of us who focus on the art of photography as a language, our projects that create a buzz, the photos we submit to art buyers, the commissioned pieces by reputable collectors, and the stories we and our clients tell on social media are much more important nowadays than constantly submitting our work to someone … trusting them to tell our story – for at the end, what our clients love is the fact that no one else can tell our story as we can.