How do you Become a Photographer at National Geographic?

I received this question recently and it’s a question I have been asked a number of times before, so thought I would share my answers that I gave here with all of you.

Taking images for National Geographic is a goal for many and is seen as one of the pinnacles of the profession. When I was starting out, it was a dream for me too. I adored the work of photographers like Steve McCurry, Alex Webb, Jodi Cobb and Michael Yamashita.

In my career to date, I have been lucky enough to collaborate with National Geographic on many different occasions. I was represented by their in-house photo-agency from 2011 to 2019 and have had a number of features online, such as, “Young Collectors, Traders Help Fuel a Boom in Ultra-Exotic Pets” and “Pictures Reveal Hardship in the World’s Fastest Sinking City”.

So, here are my 5 (quick) tips to help you…

1) First you need to develop your skills as a photographer. Being able to make technically good and visually powerful individual images is the basic first step.

2) Then you need to go deeper. Do your images tell a story e.g. about a place, a person an issue? Can you make a photo-essay or series about the issue you’re interested in and then make 15-20 powerful individual images, that when you put them together, tell a story?

3) A National Geographic editor I worked with once told me, “Don’t just take images of what it looks like, take images of what it feels like.” This is not easy to do, but it speaks to the meaning of your images. Are your images making the viewer feel something? You could literally photograph people expressing emotions, or you can create a less literal feeling through the way you photograph and present your images.

4) Once you have a strong body or work, then you need to get ‘a foot in the door’ i.e. get your images in front of an editor. Maybe a portfolio review. Maybe an internship at an office etc. Trying to connect with the editors is very difficult. They are bombarded with enquiries. Get creative. Try to meet in-person if you can. Perhaps at an industry event where they might be speaking, perhaps sending a creative portfolio to their office, then following up with an email?

5) There is no definite path to working with Nat Geo. It takes many years of dedication and persistence to wait for a chance to work with them. Patience is absolutely key. National Geographic is seen as the gold standard, but there are also many other wonderful editorial publications to work with too. The more assignments you take on, the more experience you get and the more exposure your images will receive. You never know, if you produce quality work, maybe National Geographic will come looking for you one day!

Extra Tip

– Be known for something. For me, it’s my work on environmental issues in Asia, especially China. Other photographers are scientists, explorers, writers, climbers etc. Find a niche that you love and stick at it. How to find a niche? There are 3 main factors to determining your niche. 1) Location…. Pick a spot in the world, maybe where you live, and just photograph in that region. 2) Issue… Pick a topic that affects society e.g. health issues, and just focus on stories around that. 3) Style… How do you take images? Colour? Black & White? Do you have a special camera, or technique that’s special? — Once you have defined your answer to 1, 2 & 3, you are on your way to defining what makes you special.

——————

Are you an spiring professional photographer? Do you have any questions about getting your work published in publications? Let me know in the comments and I will answer as soon I am able.