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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Digital Magazines
Colin Williams, Photographer, Photo Editor
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London | UK | England | Posted: 9:16 AM on 11.25.10 |
->> Hi
First post...here goes!
I have created a couple of features for a new free digital sports photography magazine in the UK, the 3rd issue was launched this week. You can view them all at http://seensportmagazine.com.
Each of the last 3 issues have seen a diverse range of photographic stories covered including the Tour De France, the football World Cup, PrizeFighter boxing as well as a MLB series roundup all shot by independent photographers. There have also been interviews included from rugby internationals, boxers and MMA fighters.
It seems that the technology is easily available and creating an online magazine, as long as you have got the content is relatively easy. Is this going to be the way forward? I know it will never completely take over from print but I was interested to know what people thought about free (or not free) online magazines as a way getting work seen and as a genuine alternative to print magazines.
Thanks
Colin |
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Will Powers, Photographer
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Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 11:52 AM on 11.25.10 |
->> Getting work seen is what portfolios are for. Getting paid to shoot is because someone has seen your portfolio. Shooting for free "to get your work seen," is a bad idea.
The link requires that you sign in to the magazine. |
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Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 12:05 PM on 11.25.10 |
->> Hi Colin,
Is this going to be the way going forward? I think the answer is yes. Especially, if photographers who self-publish and/or publishers figure out a way to generate revenue to cover expenses or generate a profit from publishing in an electronic format. For the past three years I've been stirring the witches pot looking for right market, content, readership and eight herbs and spices to do something similar. I feel I'm close, but missing just one or two little ingredients. Once the magic formula that generates readership and revenue come together, electronic publishing will be the new frontier. Right now, I think the idea is still in its infancy, but eventually catch on as our culture continues to adopt portable reading devices. Once the industry becomes competitive for readership and advertising dollars, editorial photography side of the industry could see a big surge in the 8 to 10 years. |
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Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 12:06 PM on 11.25.10 |
->> Will,
You don't have to sign up or in. Just click the "Previous Issue" link. |
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Scott Serio, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Colora | MD | USA | Posted: 12:55 PM on 11.25.10 |
->> Having been through this already this year, my question is - what is your business model? I mean, the photos look great. I think there are better viewers out there. The font and layout is close, but needs work. Real question - how does this generate revenue.
Shooting for free is a bad idea. You need to look at this long term. Ad funding directed strictly towards an online publication is a very nebulous area. The real ad money still isn't quite there. They are going to ask you about click-throughs and reader retention. Can you tell an advertiser what percentage of your readers who look at the cover make it to the last page? What percentage of people look at C2 and C4?
What you have is a good base, but there isn't one ad inside the publication. I get what you did, I think, and what you might be trying to do. You have a concept. You have editorial content. The magazine actually has an identity. To survive, you also need income, and I don't see that built into this product.
Trust me, I know. I did Stride Magazine (http://www.stridemagonline.com) and focused on the horse world. The bigger ad people look at us as a website, which we are not. The smaller ad people loved the look and feel, but really still wanted print. I think until the ad people "get it" many endeavors like this need to look at being a purely hybrid product with some level of print to attract serious ad money.
Good luck. This whole arena is growing in every direction rapidly, but unless you have an already established readership who is paying somewhere else (read SI on an iPad) you have a lot of work to do. |
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Colin Williams, Photographer, Photo Editor
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London | UK | England | Posted: 9:31 AM on 11.26.10 |
->> The shoot is available for syndication and I see it as a personal project. It is separate form commissioned work and therefore an investment.
Surely ever image that carries a by-line is an extension of your portfolio? People see it...they like it...they commission?
I just shot the images, its not my magazine but as I understand it the idea is to build up number of issue and through the use of the log-in facility the numbers of readers will become apparent. This doesn't tell you how may people looked at the mag from start to finish but it gives them an idea to then go out and get ads.
As I mentioned the content of the magazine is available for syndication, this is one way of getting revenue and will probably be the companies main source of cash in the near future.
I do agree it is a very interesting period and having the opportunities to take publications and turn them into international ones is very cool. Its just a case of getting the money flowing back into the mag. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 1:07 PM on 11.26.10 |
->> colin, you're still working for free. no sugar coating, you use a whole bunch of phrases which are serious warning flags..."
"separate form commissioned work and therefore an investment"
-sounds like justification for giving away your work.
"the numbers of readers will become apparent"
-to who?
"but it gives them an idea to then go out and get ads."
-no ad revenue, no payday.
"probably be the companies main source of cash in the near future."
-probably? that is a SERIOUS red flag. near future...
"getting the money flowing back into the mag"
- what about the photographer? |
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