3 replies to this topic

[KurtCopeland]

I am a life-long amateur. I have been piddling around with photography forever but have this back-of-my-mind bucket-list type item stuck in my head about getting a story and photos published in National Geographic. Yeah, I'm sure it's the photo industry equivalent of making an NFL team but I will NEVER have a chance to do it if I don't endeavor to get there.

 

What can I say? I watched the recent release of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and it got me all motivated.

 

Any advice, info, links, suggestions, experiences, stories or pertinent anecdotes are welcome.

 

 

[K-9]

I would work on finding a stock agency first, and try to sell some photos through that outlet.  I am pretty positive Nat Geo doesn't take unsolicited submissions.  I believe they also look for photojournalism experience.

[KurtCopeland]

I did find some information here...

 

http://intelligenttr...o-photographer/ (for Nat Geo Traveler)

 

and here...

 

http://www.nationalg...x/careers-faqs/

 

Obviously, it is highly competitive and, of course, they seek photojournalistic experience (specifically a minimum of five years for Nat Geo Traveler according to their site, the same or more for Nat Geo, I'm sure.)

 

I'm just looking for a pathway. I'm not expecting it to be any time soon, but I gotta start somewhere.

Also, it turns out, according to the website, ALL of the photographers for NAT GEO Traveler are freelancers.

 

Interesting!

[TBonz]

That's a tough gig to get, but an excellent goal to shoot for!  I'm not sure I'd consider it like making the NFL or MLB...maybe more along the lines of making one of those THEN making the Hall of Fame...Getting published is not easy, but there are quite a number of folks who can achieve that (kind of like college ball) - getting published by any major organization is definitely harder and gets even more difficult as the organization gets better known (kind of like pro ball)...as indicated by one of your links, you pretty much have to regularly get published to be considered by them...