What Is Editorial Photography: The Essential Guide

Editorial photography is a type of photography that is usually used in magazines, newspapers, or advertising. It is often used to tell a story and it may require an understanding of the subject as well as a creative eye.

Editorial photography should never be used in a commercial setting, as it is considered a form of art rather than an image that should sell something.
 

Editorial photographers can take artistic liberties with their work to produce a more pleasing image.

The term “editorial photography” is also used to refer to editorial fashion photography, which is usually commissioned by a magazine to photograph celebrities/fashion icons/models wearing clothing designed by high-end fashion designers, or otherwise using lavish clothing and accessories.

This can be distinguished from advertising photography because editorial photographs are usually displayed with information about how to obtain the product or service portrayed in the picture.

When looking at editorial photography, you will notice that there are a variety of different styles and methods used to capture the image.

Many famous photographers are known for their unique editorial styles, such as Annie Leibovitz and Helmut Newton. The editors of magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar use this type of photography to highlight the latest fashions for their readers.

Editorial photographers may work on location or in the studio to get their images. If they are working on-site, they may have to deal with weather conditions or other hazards that could put them in danger while they take photos.

They also may have to deal with subjects who do not want to be photographed. Keeping your subjects happy and safe while taking the photos will help you get great results.

After you get your photos back from the shoot, you can begin editing them on your computer. 

How Do I Shoot Editorial Photography?

Editorial photography is the photography that takes place in the magazines and newspapers you read every day. It’s photography with a specific purpose, other than just showing off the product or service.

There are different types of editorial photography and other ways to shoot it. Look at a few magazines from your home or local library – preferably on a topic you know well.

Look at what gets featured and how. Find out if there is an editorial style for the magazine and see if you can identify any trends in how editorial images support the articles.

As with advertising photography, editorial shots might be used as illustrations within an article. This means they will be used to help tell a story – and give the reader a visual reference – rather than just showing off something cool you’ve found.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an illustration is worth ten thousand! This type of shot will be more about the message than about creating beautiful images. You’ll need to consider what message you want to convey and how best to do it within the context of the page layout:

Are there graphic devices that can be used to create interest or emphasis? Do you need to use descriptive text?

What Is Editorial Fashion Photography?

Editorial fashion photography has been around forever, and it has taken many forms. The idea of editorial fashion shots is to capture fashion in a way that relates to the lifestyle of the magazine’s demographic.

Editorial fashion shots are supposed to represent fashion in a real-life context. What Is Editorial Fashion Photography? The drive behind editorial fashion photography is to show women how to put together looks with clothes they already have in their closets, not what new trends are out there for them to buy.

Editorial fashion photography also demonstrates how easy it is for women of all shapes and sizes to look good in what they have. Editorial fashion photography can be defined as photos that are taken on location or studio, with the main focus being on the clothing.

It can also be defined as pictures that emphasize an editorial theme or storyline and only include models who reflect the publication’s personality and its intended audience. 

Editorial fashion photography is worked into a narrative involving other aspects such as hair, makeup, and accessories, while still focusing primarily on the clothing worn.

Editorial fashion photography shows women how to put together looks with clothes they already have in their closets, not what new trends are for them to buy.

What Is The Difference Between Editorial And Commercial Photography?

What Is The Difference Between Editorial And Commercial Photography? Editorial photography is a type of photography that is used by the media to give information about a topic. Commercial photography, on the other hand, is done for advertising purposes.

It is used in magazines, catalogs, and brochures to promote a product or service. One of the main differences between editorial and commercial photography is the purpose behind each kind of photo.

While editorial photography presents an image to inform the viewer about a subject, commercial photography aims to persuade the viewer to purchase a product or use a service.

Commercial photographers tend to work for companies that have products to sell or services to offer, whereas editorial photographers are hired by publications or other media outlets.

Another difference between these types of photography is the cost involved in creating both kinds of images.

Commercial photography often requires advanced equipment and professional models who are paid for their time, while editorial photographs can be created with simple equipment and taken by an amateur photographer.

The amount of money spent on editorial images varies depending on where they will be presented, but commercial images are usually more expensive because they will appear in print media or online advertisements.

How Do I Get Editorial Photography Work?

What is editorial photography? Editorial photography is the type of photography that most magazines and newspapers use to illustrate articles. Editorial, or “stock,” photography is a great place to start if you’re new to the world of photography.

It provides you with a steady source of income, it gives you a chance to work on a variety of subjects, and it allows you to develop your technical skills at your own pace. Best of all, it’s relatively simple.

All you need is some basic equipment and an eye for taking pictures. Editorial photographers are often known as “storytellers.”

Their job is to illustrate articles written by others visually. So how do you gather enough information about the article to create pictures that complement the words? It’s all about asking questions and paying attention.

When you’re assigned an article, take some time to read it first. Then think about what will be important in your pictures.

What story does the text tell? Who are the people in the story? What is their relationship to one another? Who are their friends, family members, and co-workers? Why are they important? Where do they live or work? And finally, where will you take pictures?

   

Budgeting In Editorial Photography

Budgeting and staying within your editorial photography budget can be a challenge. There are many things to consider when planning your shoot, from travel, prep time, talent, and equipment.

Below is a video on how we approached the project I shot for the book “How Design Can Change Your Life” and how we stayed within our editorial photography budget.

While it’s true that each model has its rate, it’s important to remember that they will NOT take away from your budget if they don’t give you what you want. Don’t pay for bad pictures, pay for great ones! Make sure the model is right for the job you’re hiring them for.

If you need a tall, thin model, make sure that’s who you hire, even if they cost a little more. You want to make sure your message is being delivered correctly; second-guessing yourself about what message your audience might be getting will only cost you time and money in retouching down the road.

Have an idea of what kind of image you want before you start scouting models or contracting agencies.

Imagery In Editorial Photography

I want to share with you a few things I have learned about imagery in editorial photography. These lessons come from personal experience, and from talking to many professional photographers and photo editors over the years.

It’s very important to think of your photos as part of an overall conversation you are having with your reader. The best way to illustrate this is by going back to the days when we received printed magazines in the mail.

When you received a magazine, you would sit down and read it front to back. It was like a book. You would start at the beginning and not skip around.

However, in a modern-day magazine, people are more likely to jump around and read what interests them most first. That’s because we have unlimited access online, so why read it in order? The truth is that there isn’t any “correct” way of reading an article online; however, people usually prefer jumping around because they don’t want to be restricted by the old school rules of reading every article from “A” to “Z”.

Equipment Needed For Editorial Photography

A lot of people ask what kind of equipment you need to be a professional photographer. The answer is simple: any camera and a lot of luck.

Most (not all) top photographers will use professional-level equipment, but if you want to become one, it would take time and a lot of hard work. To start with, there are 4 essential things that every photographer has to have.

This is almost a given in photography. There are times when you cannot get steady hands, so you need something to keep the camera rock solid.

Tripods don’t come cheap though, so it might be better to find a good one at a reasonable price. The lenses that come with your camera are usually not very good for taking pictures in some situations.

So, it’s best to buy the lens that suits your needs. For example, if you like taking pictures of wildlife, buy a good telephoto or zoom lens.

Flash- For indoor or night photography, a flash is needed to illuminate your subject. There are different types of flashes available and they can be expensive but they don’t have to be too expensive if you look around on the net for deals and discounts on them.

Licensing In Editorial Photography

When you are a photographer who makes money off of licensing your images, you may want to consider submitting them to an editorial photo agency. There are plenty of editorial agencies that can help connect you with publications that need images for their content.

While most people think of stock images when they think of an editorial photo agency, these types of agencies can also help you find work with newspapers and magazines, both online and in print. You will want to make sure your images are appropriate before submitting them to an editorial photo agency, or else they won’t be able to sell them.

These agencies should be able to tell you what submission requirements they have so that you can get started on submitting your photos. If you do not know where to start, there are plenty of free resources online that can help you find the right agencies for your photos.

Once you have found the right agency for your photography, it is time to submit your work. Many different types of submissions can be made.

You can submit your photos directly through email or over the internet if the submission platform permits it. Some agencies also accept physical submissions via postal mail if this option is offered by the agency itself or if it is mentioned in their submission guidelines.

Use The Best Camera And Lens For Editorial Photography

You could start with a cell phone or point-and-shoot camera and take some great photos, but if you want to be serious about taking high-quality photos, you need to invest in the right equipment. The type of camera you choose will determine how much control you have over how your photos look and the quality that they’re able to achieve.

TIP: Use a DSLR camera. Most professional photographers use Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras when shooting editorial photography.

These cameras are more expensive than point-and-shoot cameras but allow for greater control over shutter speed, aperture setting, ISO settings, and other elements of photography. Use the best lens for your subject matter.

There are three main types of lenses: wide-angle, standard, and telephoto. There are others – fish-eye, macro, and zoom lenses – but the three main types are what most photographers use for editorial photography.

Wide-angle lenses produce a distorted image with a wider field of view than standard lenses and are generally used for landscapes or large interior spaces. Standard lenses are ideal for portraits because they can adjust to either a close-up or long-distance shot without distortion from the lens itself.