Photography Guidelines

Viva List

Please follow the guidelines below when selecting photographs for submission to V!VA World:

1. Send all photos electronically. Electronic photo files must be at high resolution- at least 300 dpi and no smaller than 900 x 1500 pixels (larger is ok!)- to be usable for print reproduction. These days most digital cameras (4.2 megapixels or more) are up to the task when shot on their highest resolution settings.

2. Photos should be clear and sharp. As a rule of thumb, if it needs a run through Photoshop, it is probably not worth it and DO NOT manipulate your images for us (using Photoshop and other image software). Send your files as .jpg or .tif files without doing any color management or sharpening- we'll do any necessary conversions. An image is degraded with each modification, so please do not modify it in advance.

3. Label all photos with an explicit cut line and make sure you include the date and location the photo was taken. Do not send in over 30 photos- editors do not want to sift through 100 photos for one good shot. Submit a few worthy photos that you are truly proud of and that deserve to be published. If the editor likes your style, then he or she is likely to ask for more!

4. No holiday snapshots. Photos of family members in front of the Iguazú Falls are personally nice, but not for a book. Travel writing should inspire travelers to reach dreams about visiting a place by taking them there in their minds. Photos should represent this notion. 

5. Be creative! Get high, get low- submit artistic angled shots, along with black and white photos.