Hard to break into National Geographic's staff.

I wrote to National Geographic asking them whether they would consider
hiring good quality wildlife photographers, and this is the response I
received....

----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 12:49 PM


Dear Mr. Graham: Thank you for your email to the National Geographic
Society.

Photography jobs on staff are very rare. National Geographic does use
freelance photographers, but to be frank, it is extremely difficult to
obtain a first assignment for the magazine. The magazine does not accept
any unsolicited submissions. The editors meet regularly to discuss
possible story ideas. If an idea is decided upon, the article is then
assigned, usually to someone with whom we've worked before or to someone
with many years of outstanding work in the field of journalism. Because
there is a large investment behind each National Geographic article, we
are conservative in choosing writers and photographers, opting for those
with well-established reputations. At this time we have many more
freelance photographers than we do assignments.

If this all sounds negative, we apologize. It is, however, a response
dictated by a rather precise goal for the style of the magazine, coupled
with the limited number of stories we are able to publish each year.

I am sorry that we could not offer more encouraging news regarding your
friend, but we appreciate your thinking of us.
Sincerely,
CL Stroud
Communications
National Geographic Society

On Aug 11, 6:19 pm, "William Graham" wrote:
I wrote to National Geographic asking them whether they would consider
hiring good quality wildlife photographers, and this is the response I
received....----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 12:49 PM

Dear Mr. Graham: Thank you for your email to the National Geographic
Society.

Photography jobs on staff are very rare. National Geographic does use
freelance photographers, but to be frank, it is extremely difficult to
obtain a first assignment for the magazine. The magazine does not accept
any unsolicited submissions. The editors meet regularly to discuss
possible story ideas. If an idea is decided upon, the article is then
assigned, usually to someone with whom we've worked before or to someone
with many years of outstanding work in the field of journalism. Because
there is a large investment behind each National Geographic article, we
are conservative in choosing writers and photographers, opting for those
with well-established reputations. At this time we have many more
freelance photographers than we do assignments.

If this all sounds negative, we apologize. It is, however, a response
dictated by a rather precise goal for the style of the magazine, coupled
with the limited number of stories we are able to publish each year.

I am sorry that we could not offer more encouraging news regarding your
friend, but we appreciate your thinking of us.
Sincerely,
CL Stroud
Communications
National Geographic Society

Bill, your letter to NG is highly commendable. I salute you sir! I
am certain I know who you are talking about and I couldn't agree
more. In my opinion it's their loss.
Helen

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Aug 11, 6:19 pm, "William Graham" wrote:
I wrote to National Geographic asking them whether they would consider
hiring good quality wildlife photographers, and this is the response I
received....----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 12:49 PM

Dear Mr. Graham: Thank you for your email to the National Geographic
Society.

Photography jobs on staff are very rare. National Geographic does use
freelance photographers, but to be frank, it is extremely difficult to
obtain a first assignment for the magazine. The magazine does not accept
any unsolicited submissions. The editors meet regularly to discuss
possible story ideas. If an idea is decided upon, the article is then
assigned, usually to someone with whom we've worked before or to someone
with many years of outstanding work in the field of journalism. Because
there is a large investment behind each National Geographic article, we
are conservative in choosing writers and photographers, opting for those
with well-established reputations. At this time we have many more
freelance photographers than we do assignments.

If this all sounds negative, we apologize. It is, however, a response
dictated by a rather precise goal for the style of the magazine, coupled
with the limited number of stories we are able to publish each year.

I am sorry that we could not offer more encouraging news regarding your
friend, but we appreciate your thinking of us.
Sincerely,
CL Stroud
Communications
National Geographic Society

Bill, your letter to NG is highly commendable. I salute you sir! I
am certain I know who you are talking about and I couldn't agree
more. In my opinion it's their loss.
Helen

Well, to me it's interesting (and a bit distressing) that the guy talks
about the photography like it was only a matter of work output, and not an
artistic endeavor, or even a highly skilled trade.....You know...."Sorry,
but we already have too many bricklayers....Try again next year." So I tried
to tell him that I know one who lays his bricks a little better than the
ones on the NG buildings that I have seen......I doubt that it will make any
difference, or that he will understand that, but it is true, in any
case.....

On Aug 11, 7:43 pm, "William Graham" wrote:
wrote in message

oups.com...



On Aug 11, 6:19 pm, "William Graham" wrote:
I wrote to National Geographic asking them whether they would consider
hiring good quality wildlife photographers, and this is the response I
received....----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 12:49 PM

Dear Mr. Graham: Thank you for your email to the National Geographic
Society.

Photography jobs on staff are very rare. National Geographic does use
freelance photographers, but to be frank, it is extremely difficult to
obtain a first assignment for the magazine. The magazine does not accept
any unsolicited submissions. The editors meet regularly to discuss
possible story ideas. If an idea is decided upon, the article is then
assigned, usually to someone with whom we've worked before or to someone
with many years of outstanding work in the field of journalism. Because
there is a large investment behind each National Geographic article, we
are conservative in choosing writers and photographers, opting for those
with well-established reputations. At this time we have many more
freelance photographers than we do assignments.

If this all sounds negative, we apologize. It is, however, a response
dictated by a rather precise goal for the style of the magazine, coupled
with the limited number of stories we are able to publish each year.

I am sorry that we could not offer more encouraging news regarding your
friend, but we appreciate your thinking of us.
Sincerely,
CL Stroud
Communications
National Geographic Society

Bill, your letter to NG is highly commendable. I salute you sir! I
am certain I know who you are talking about and I couldn't agree
more. In my opinion it's their loss.
Helen

Well, to me it's interesting (and a bit distressing) that the guy talks
about the photography like it was only a matter of work output, and not an
artistic endeavor, or even a highly skilled trade.....You know...."Sorry,
but we already have too many bricklayers....Try again next year." So I tried
to tell him that I know one who lays his bricks a little better than the
ones on the NG buildings that I have seen......I doubt that it will make any
difference, or that he will understand that, but it is true, in any
case.....- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Bill, I'm cooking dinner for you one night. You certainly deserve at
least that! I agree with you 100%.
Thanks Bill.
Helen

"William Graham" wrote in message
. ..

Well, to me it's interesting (and a bit distressing) that the guy talks
about the photography like it was only a matter of work output, and not an
artistic endeavor, or even a highly skilled trade.....You know...."Sorry,
but we already have too many bricklayers....Try again next year." So I
tried to tell him that I know one who lays his bricks a little better than
the ones on the NG buildings that I have seen......I doubt that it will
make any difference, or that he will understand that, but it is true, in
any case.....

My sister worked there for five years as a reseacher, and I can tell you
first hand photography is a commodity and not an artistic endeavor at NG.
They want images that can sell, period. And yes, they only hire shooter with
a deep and proven body of work. I think Nichols is the only "big assignment"
shooter left there.

"Rita Ä Berkowitz" ritaberk2O04 @aol.com wrote in message
...
William Graham wrote:

Well, to me it's interesting (and a bit distressing) that the guy
talks about the photography like it was only a matter of work output,
and not an artistic endeavor, or even a highly skilled trade.....You
know...."Sorry, but we already have too many bricklayers....Try again
next year." So I tried to tell him that I know one who lays his
bricks a little better than the ones on the NG buildings that I have
seen......I doubt that it will make any difference, or that he will
understand that, but it is true, in any case.....

Welcome to the harsh reality in the world of professional photography. It
seems pros are a dime a dozen.

Always has been the case. It's a very desireable job, and the competition
has driven incomes down to the point where if you don't do it for love, you
have no other reason. Unless you're one of the top tier shooters, you'll
starve.

"Kinon O'Cann" wrote in message
news:Yatvi.9353$eb4.5464@trndny08...

"Rita Ä Berkowitz" ritaberk2O04 @aol.com wrote in message
...
William Graham wrote:

Well, to me it's interesting (and a bit distressing) that the guy
talks about the photography like it was only a matter of work output,
and not an artistic endeavor, or even a highly skilled trade.....You
know...."Sorry, but we already have too many bricklayers....Try again
next year." So I tried to tell him that I know one who lays his
bricks a little better than the ones on the NG buildings that I have
seen......I doubt that it will make any difference, or that he will
understand that, but it is true, in any case.....

Welcome to the harsh reality in the world of professional photography.
It seems pros are a dime a dozen.

Always has been the case. It's a very desireable job, and the competition
has driven incomes down to the point where if you don't do it for love,
you have no other reason. Unless you're one of the top tier shooters,
you'll starve.

I think that's the case with any art. It certainly is true with painting and
music.....They aren't looking for artists....They are looking for pushy
salesmen who can push harder than everyone else......Or, at least, that's
who they hire, so that's the bottom line......

In article ,
William Graham wrote:
"Kinon O'Cann" wrote in message
news:Yatvi.9353$eb4.5464@trndny08...
Always has been the case. It's a very desireable job, and the competition
has driven incomes down to the point where if you don't do it for love,
you have no other reason. Unless you're one of the top tier shooters,
you'll starve.

I think that's the case with any art. It certainly is true with painting and
music.....They aren't looking for artists....They are looking for pushy
salesmen who can push harder than everyone else......Or, at least, that's
who they hire, so that's the bottom line......

At least for music (I don't know anything about the 'painting scene'),
that depends on how much the audience values content. If the audience goes
for the public image of the artist and accepts contents any competent
artist can deliver then yes, the best best salesmen will win.

Some time ago I went to concert and I was suprised how badly a rather
famous archestra performed a work of a famous composer. It was not that
the orchestra was bad, pieces from a different composer were excellent.

That concert reminded me how good those people a they are really
specialized in certain subjects and cannot deliver the same quality just
everywhere.


--
That was it. Done. The faulty Monk was turned out into the desert where it
could believe what it liked, including the idea that it had been hard done
by. It was allowed to keep its horse, since horses were so cheap to make.
-- Douglas Adams in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

sorry what is NG? I need them....?

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Aug 11, 6:19 pm, "William Graham" wrote:
I wrote to National Geographic asking them whether they would consider
hiring good quality wildlife photographers, and this is the response I
received....----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 12:49 PM

Dear Mr. Graham: Thank you for your email to the National Geographic
Society.

Photography jobs on staff are very rare. National Geographic does use
freelance photographers, but to be frank, it is extremely difficult to
obtain a first assignment for the magazine. The magazine does not accept
any unsolicited submissions. The editors meet regularly to discuss
possible story ideas. If an idea is decided upon, the article is then
assigned, usually to someone with whom we've worked before or to someone
with many years of outstanding work in the field of journalism. Because
there is a large investment behind each National Geographic article, we
are conservative in choosing writers and photographers, opting for those
with well-established reputations. At this time we have many more
freelance photographers than we do assignments.

If this all sounds negative, we apologize. It is, however, a response
dictated by a rather precise goal for the style of the magazine, coupled
with the limited number of stories we are able to publish each year.

I am sorry that we could not offer more encouraging news regarding your
friend, but we appreciate your thinking of us.
Sincerely,
CL Stroud
Communications
National Geographic Society

Bill, your letter to NG is highly commendable. I salute you sir! I
am certain I know who you are talking about and I couldn't agree
more. In my opinion it's their loss.
Helen

Bob wrote:
sorry what is NG? I need them....?

Abbreviation for National Geographic - it's a magazine that uses a lot
of photographs.