Sometimes, you must find conventional ways to market yourself and your work. No, we don’t mean applying to photography contests or galleries or pushing your social media presence. That’s a pretty done-and-dusted method. We mean going back to the art and craft of bookmaking. Before you say that photo books are an expensive process, which we are aware of, let me remind you of various ways publishing can disseminate your cause. For instance, the creation of zines.
If you wonder what it is, a shorter example would be a “combination of a pamphlet, printed portfolio, and magazine.” They are basically like a small picture book, giving you immense freedom to showcase your work. “A zine is an accessible way for someone to create this object, and they can take on many different forms – from a very DIY aesthetic to high-end magazine print quality,” James Moreton, who has been creating zines for years, told us. But that is not all; a zine offers you something online portals don’t: Tactility. “So many photographers don’t print their images these days, but if you can only get those prints into the hands of folks, they’ll start to understand it,” our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Gampat, explained in his article, where he spearheaded the creation of his own zine, Emulsion.
They may be an expensive practice and certainly more time-consuming, but they offer a great way to meet a larger audience. Let us explain how:
- A better grasp of your work and print-making: Zines requires you to narrow down your work and create a distinct visual language that can function well in the form of a print. This means you labor over the design aspect, choosing images and text that can create a visual symphony. The more you analyze your work, the easier it becomes to build your language. Once that is done, you must figure out ways to print. Your pictures appear entirely different once you compare the print with the screen. So, you have to learn the color process and, sometimes, even rethink your compositions.
- A personal way to introduce yourself: Every other photographer has a social media presence, so how do you stand out from the rest? Through a zine. The printed form gives you more useful leverage over your peers; it goes to show your dedication and commitment to the medium. Zines can’t be created within hours. It takes love and struggle, which can last up to weeks. So, when you give someone a zine, they will quickly separate you from Instagram photographers. As our Editor-in-Chief once explained, “Busy editors, gallery owners, curators, and producers get hundreds of emails and pitches a day. But if you put something into the physical mail, you stand a much bigger chance.”
- Better recall value: How often do you remember the images you see on social media? Barely a few, right? Now, how many pictures can you recall from a magazine? I am sure the numbers are higher. Your retention of an image is likely higher when you hold a print, as opposed to being bombarded by visuals online. A printed zine, thus, requires your absolute attention, which isn’t the case on the internet. Furthermore, a zine also has a better shelf life than an image on Instagram. A person will store your photographs and revisit them whenever guests are over.
- Let’s you connect with the masses: While a zine should ideally be given to the right person, it can also be a great way for anyone who is looking for a photographer. For this reason, you can make a much smaller zine, which can be given to people who could be potential clients. This way, you can give them a glimpse of your work without utilizing your laptop or phone, which is a distraction. Sure, this could be an expensive exercise, so there is always a way to sell your zines separately to recover the cost of production.
As we mentioned earlier, it will be a slightly expensive way to meet people, but it is certainly the start you need to distinguish yourself from everyone else. Zines have no hard and fast rules, so don’t stress over them. What matters is that you can make a product (no matter how small) that allows you to showcase your talents outside of the digital domain.
