Mary Burzlaff Bostic - 2011 Photographers Market

No doubt about it, the last couple of years have been tough. Although the Great Recession has been difficult for everyone, freelancers have been hit particularly hard. Unfortunately, bringing freelance work back in house is a simple way to tighten a companys budget. So, staying abreast of the latest market trends and developing your business savvy have never been more important. As always, Photographers Market is here to help, and, as PMs new editor, Im excited about joining the effort. In addition to a bunch of new market listings, this edition of PM has a great lineup of articles filled with updates on todays best business practices, ideas, and market trends.

One of the best ways to help yourself succeed in a tough economy is to find the right niche for your work. In Finding Your Niche (page 27) photographer Vik Orenstein offers advice for finding the area of expertise that suits you best, be it an established area or a new niche completely specific to your work.

Then read on for interviews with three photographers succeeding in very different venues. Robb Siverson (page 39) works in a variety of areas, from commercial aerial photography to artistic landscapes of his home in the Northern Plains. Suzanne Bird (page 46) has found success in the fun, chaotic world of animal lifestyle photography. Genevieve Russell (page 52) has created her own niche, capturing and preserving stories through images, video, and audio.

Sometimes the best way excel in hard times is to stick with what you know. In No Place Like Home (page 58) photographer Paul Grecian explains how to find local publishing opportunities in your area. Finally, when times get tough, it helps to have a built-in support group. Check out Networking With Other Photographers (page 60) for Orensteins advice for joining a community of photographers.

I sincerely hope that 2011 looks brighter for everyone, but, in the meantime, take heart, brush up on your business basics, and keep shooting!

Mary Burzlaff Bostic www.artistsmarketonline.com

T he first thing youll notice about most of the listings in this book is the group of symbols that appears before the name of each company. Scanning the listings for symbols can help you quickly locate markets that meet certain criteria. (Youll find a quick-reference key to the symbols on the front and back inside covers of the book.) Heres what each symbol stands for:

This photo buyer is new to this edition of the book.

This photo buyer is located in Canada.

This photo buyer is located outside the U.S. and Canada.

This photo buyer uses only images created on assignment.

This photo buyer uses only stock images.

This photo buyer accepts submissions in digital format.

This photo buyer uses film or other audiovisual media.

This art fair is a juried event; a juror or committee of jurors views applicants work and selects those whose work fits within the guidelines of the event.

Complaint Procedure

If you feel you have not been treated fairly by a company listed in Photographers Market, we advise you to take the following steps:

First, try to contact the listing. Sometimes one phone call, e-mail, or letter can quickly clear up the matter.