Every architect or almost the majority dreams of publishing their work in architectural books and magazines.
For some it is something of obligatory fulfillment: a testimony of the hard work and years of dedication. For others, it is a marketing strategy. Publishing is a form of social proof that our designs deserve the attention of our prospects.
The process of publishing architectural works and projects is one of those secrets that architects learn throughout their careers.
Sometimes the publishing business can seem like a secret society. There is no simple manual, publishers do not openly share the process.
As an architecture photographer, I have the duty and pleasure to guide and help my clients increase their chances of being published in architecture magazines, industry media and architecture platforms.
Publishing in architecture magazines may seem impossible.
Once you understand these steps, it will be much easier for you. Once you understand what matters most and who you need to talk to, opportunities will arise.
9 Key steps to publish in architecture magazines + Professional secret
Here are the 9 most important steps you have to take into account when publishing projects in architecture magazines.
If you take care of all the details and apply these steps, you will have a good chance that your project will be published in very well recognized architecture magazines.
Many architects think that their project is not good enough for having small budgets. This thought is totally wrong and limiting.
1. Design interesting details and spaces
From the best architecture and interior design magazines, to the most niche architecture blogs on the internet, can be interesting.
I have been able to see publications of all kinds: super low cost houses, strange bathrooms, modern canine accommodation facilities or waste treatment plants that have reached the covers and pages of the most brilliant architecture magazines.
Don’t let a low budget limit you when it comes to creating great architecture and submitting it to magazines for publication.
Any project can contain beautifully designed details, extraordinary materials, or interesting spaces regardless of your budget.
Editors look for innovative and interesting solutions.
They just need some attractive photos to fix on your architectural and interior project.
2. Photography and photographer’s choice – A decisive factor
Unless you have the skills of a professional architecture photographer, you will need to hire a specialist architecture photographer to obtain professional photographs.
You need professional architecture photographs, this means that they are not included those that can be taken by family, studio staff or friends even though they have a semi-professional camera and love photography.
You shouldn’t hire a professional photographer who is generalist, wedding, portrait, fashion or other disciplines.
You should look for a specialist architecture photographer with the specific architecture tools and objectives.
You need a specialist photographer to make the photographic report and that the images you obtain are a real asset, achieve the desired results and achieve the dissemination that your project needs.
3. Get organized
We are all always busy. Editors are too: always with deadlines, juggling to fit several projects in the same magazine, with pressure from bosses and sponsors …
For this reason, when you are aware of this and provide all the perfectly organized material to publishers, you make their work easier and increase the chances of publishing.
This means having the essential information, naming all the people who were part of the project, the photographer who made the photo report, all the images well tagged and available in high resolution, with various formats for web and print, uploaded to Dropbox or with a link to WeTransfer where they can be easily viewed and downloaded.
Therefore, being organized is very important if you want to see your project published in that architecture magazine that you like so much.
4. Cultivate relationships with writers and publishers
We live in a world of social networks and instant digital communication. They are all accessible on some level.
Find the decision makers and contact them. Do not immediately submit your project. Only a dialogue begins. Comment on their posts. Retweet your tweets. Start a discussion or debate.
Relationships occur when common connections are made. It will take some time, but with consistency and determination the managers of.
5. Build your own platform
Every architect needs a platform to be able to tell their story.
Create a blog, open an account on instagram, a podcast or a video channel on Youtube. Create and publish content regularly. Build a great community of people interested in what you do. Create and contribute valuable content.
When you have an audience interested in the content you offer, you will probably be more interesting to writers and editors.
Helping to publicize the article and drive traffic to the publication’s website will make it more attractive to a possible second article.
6. Be useful to publishers and offer your experience
If you have already contacted editors, make it clear that they can count on you, make themselves available to answer questions or pass on the contact of another expert when they need it.
When writers are preparing a story, they sometimes need help filling in the blanks in their magazines. When you become the reference “expert”, you will be the first to be called.
7. Tell a good story about your architecture project
Each project has a story behind it. A well-crafted email that tells the unique story of your project will be a great incentive for any writer looking for their next article.
Professional writers are always looking for interesting projects.
What inspired you? What have been the architectural challenges? Does the project use innovative technology or special building materials? What makes your project different from all others? Did you discover Any special objects during the job ?..
Maybe you designed the project based on the owner’s favorite hobby. It tells a good story, it will make publishers and the public want to know more.
8. Self publishing
Share your stories and images on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or on your own website.
You no longer need to wait for the big media and magazines to present your work to the world. Amazon and many other companies offer print publications on demand.
Gather a collection of your best works and publish your own monograph to share with potential clients and existing clients.
Posting your own work and constantly sharing it with the public for all to see can also make you stand out and attract the right customers.
9. Secret / Professional Council
Congratulations for reaching the end, that means that you are really interested in publishing your projects in architecture and interior magazines and you are going to follow these steps and the following professional secret-advice that I am going to give you:
If you already have these steps clear, I advise you NOT TO WAIT to have the largest architecture project of your career.
Not wait to have a studio like BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) to start publishing your works in architecture magazines, blogs, social networks and architecture platforms like Archdaily or Archilovers.
Start photographing and publishing all your projects, these will probably lead you to bigger ones.
In addition, I advise you that when you have the photographic report, do not publish all the images on your website, blogs and social networks.
Save some with an interesting story to send it to architecture magazines or interior magazines to increase the chances of being published. , publishers often prioritize fresh, unique and valuable content, if other magazines, blogs and networks have already published it, it is probably less attractive to them.
In addition, the ideal is that you send a single project by email with the selection of the best images and essential documentation of the project, all super organized and well documented.
I hope you liked it and above all this article on how to publish in architecture magazines is very useful to you.
If you have more questions or want information about my services as an architecture photographer, you can write to me at info@nachovillafoto.com or through the following contact form: