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The Secret to Landing Your First Magazine Cover

In 2004, living under the canopy of clouds in upstate NY, I used to wonder how models made it to the covers of magazines. It was a mystery to me and seemed like an almost impossible goal. Fast forward 6 years to 2010 and I had landed 12 magazine covers, all without the use of a manager, agent, or outside help. In this article, I’m going to teach you how it was done.

The two basic methods

The first option is to shoot with photographers who regularly get published. Go to a newsstand and pick up the magazine you want to be in. Flip through the pages and see who the photographers are. Next, contact the photographer and set up a shoot with the intention of having your images submitted to that magazine. The photographer may get pre-approval from the magazine to shoot you for a feature, or the photographer may shoot you on “spec.” Shooting on spec means the photographer does the shoot without pre-approval and submits to the magazine anyway, in hopes that they use the images.

The second option, and the one I used most, is to take matters into your own hands. Find the best photographer in your area, shoot the style of pictures you see in the magazines you want to be in, and submit them yourself. Go to the inside few pages of most magazines and look for the email or mailing addresses of the Editor and Chief or Art Director. You can also go to the magazine’s website and usually find the contact information there. Once you have the contact info, start introducing yourself and submitting your photos. I’ve even sent actual prints via FEDEX to art directors. Everyone opens an overnight FEDEX package, right?

Don’t be afraid of “NO”


Photographer: Armond Scipione

For every magazine cover I landed, there were sometimes up to 6 other magazines that passed on the same image. I used to submit a web size sample of my image to several magazines at the same time. Some editors would say no, others would say it’s not the right look, and still others wouldn’t respond at all. However, eventually I would get a YES!  I once sat on an image for a whole year before it was picked up for a cover. I knew it belonged on a cover and I didn’t stop until I got my yes.

As a model, you have to evaluate your goals. Do you want to make small amounts of money from beginner photographers paying you? Or do you have a bigger vision? Would you rather shoot with the best photographers, submit to magazines, and make a name for yourself? That’s where you have an increased chance of getting sponsors, contracts, and/or endorsements. Enlarge your vision.

When I was modeling, I got to the point where I wouldn’t shoot with a photographer who wasn’t up to my standards, no matter how much they paid me. To the contrary, I would seek out the best photographers and I was the one paying them.

Why did I pay the best photographers?


Photographer: Armond Scipione; Model: Tamlyn Cosster

There are several reasons I paid to work with the best photographers.

  • Ability to pick which images are retouched
  • Being provided with both high resolution and web size images. High resolution images are necessary for publication
  • Ability to choose the looks/outfits/locations that I wanted and felt were best
  • Freedom to submit the images on my own to publications

***Always discuss your plans for the images with the photographer before the shoot. Make sure the photographer is ok with you submitting to magazines on your own. The photographers I worked with in the past were always happy to have me submit to magazines because it was more promotion for them.

***Always discuss with the photographer ahead of time the shoot details, such as high resolution images, and any other questions you might have.

Why did I not shoot with just anyone?  Even if they were paying me


Photographer: Armond Scipione;  Model: Karolina Wozniak

You have to protect your image at all costs. Look through the photographer’s portfolio and find their worst image. You could be their next worst image. You have to ask yourself, does the $200 you made from the shoot justify having bad pictures of yourself circulating around the internet forever?

Other disadvantages of doing TFP shoots and some paid shoots:

  • Photographer typically decides which images are retouched (not always)
  • Typically only web size images are given
  • Photographer usually shoots what he/she wants, which may not necessarily be exactly what you had in mind (not always)
  • Often you will have to sign a release that does not allow you to submit you images to magazines

As Robert Greene stated in his famous book, The 48 Laws of Power, “Despise the Free Lunch. What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence.”

I always found these principles to be true in modeling and in life. So many models refuse to pay photographers and expect to be paid or given a free shoot. In my opinion, they are missing a key step that I used to land 12 magazine covers.

Finding a photographer

How do you find the right photographer so you have images to submit to magazines?  The simple answer is, you have to find a photographer who gives you a finished product good enough to go directly on a magazine cover. These photographers are few and far between.

After my last cover as a model in 2010, I decided I had accomplished everything I wanted to on the modeling side. I needed a new challenge and I felt there was a gap in the industry. That’s when I began the journey over as a photographer.

Now, as a photographer, I offer my clients everything I used to want when I was a model. I deliver a polished, realistic final product that I feel is good enough to go directly in any magazine.

Please visit my Facebook page and contact me if you have any questions. I’m always happy to give advice from the lessons I learned over the years.

Disclaimer: The information that I provided above was just my personal experience over the past 8 years in the industry. There are certainly other ways to get published and accomplish you goals. Everyone has different aspirations and there is no right or wrong way. I only want to give others insight into how I accomplished my goals without an agent or manager.

Armond Scipione Photo

Armond Scipione is a professional photographer based in South Florida. Before becoming a photographer, Armond was a successful model who appeared on the cover of many popular fitness magazines.

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49 Responses to “The Secret to Landing Your First Magazine Cover”

  1. May 09, 2019 at 9:37 pm, Phalos Maddox said:

    How can I get a chance at being a model

    Reply

  2. December 29, 2018 at 10:27 am, Donna Gagne said:

    you said you give lessons great I need pointers to land my first magazine cover. My dream cover is vogue from Paris.can you help me. I’m a graduate of John Casablanca and looking to further my career . i took advanced Modeling and Acting.

    Reply

  3. October 28, 2018 at 2:29 pm, Gurinder singh said:

    Yes, it’s working.

    Reply

  4. July 07, 2016 at 2:33 pm, KeliLeli said:

    This is so true. My first photoshoot was a TFP, and the photographer said if you want to do anything let me know, so I let him know in our shoot, and he was all like I don’t think we will have time for that. It was kind of irritating, and honestly, that’s what I got, I got pics that the photographer liked, not so much of what I liked. I have yet to find a photographer that I want to pay for, but I will find one and I will submit to many magazine companies. Thank you, for this! You’re helping a lot of aspiring models!!

    Keli

    Reply

  5. June 09, 2016 at 3:10 am, Cody Mekale said:

    This is very nice advice, though, as the writer stated, thats their own personal experience. Sometimes there are exceptions to the rule. Ive worked with a few TFP photographers that were willing to let me look through all of the images and pick at least a few that I wanted retouched and finished up. Ive also worked with a few (even one thats paid me) that let me pick not only the theme but also my own wardrobe etc. Of course, magazines arent my only goal, so TFP shoots are wonderful when im going for that artistic goal more than the magazine type goal. Either goal i have in mind, though, is specific so getting to go through the photos is really nice.
    Ive been published to two smaller magazine covers and some photos on the interior of a few magazines, one being a magazine published outside of the country. It definitely takes a lot of work submitting a LOT and getting rejected is common.

    I definitely agree on paying a photographer if you are aiming for a very popular magazine. I mean, feel free to try with TFP, because you may run into a photographer very up for doing the look youd like, but if you cant, paying a good photographer will help.
    This is a very nice article. Definitely makes me think on what my next goal is for modelling. If i want to keep going with the artistic side or if I want to make more of a name for myself. Im still unsure of which one I want. I may just find a way to do both still. =P

    Reply

  6. April 17, 2016 at 11:23 am, handsomerandyblackladdiebrad said:

    At 62-63 July 6-I’m regarded cover boy handsome (I mean,FEW DAYS PASS without someone complimenting my boyish good looks!!!!)However,I’ve NEVER modeled and wish to become a GQ-or another men’s fashion magazine cover boy.Could you advise me on how to realize my goal?

    Reply

  7. October 25, 2014 at 8:55 am, Leslie Savage said:

    Did you get paid for these photos?

    Reply

  8. October 22, 2014 at 10:31 pm, L.L.Silvercloud said:

    This may have worked for a young and beautiful woman, but ordinary people, mature models and plus size models would not have this option. Very interesting article, and I love your ambition… 🙂

    Reply

  9. October 22, 2014 at 3:54 pm, Col Patrick G Montgomery said:

    Another method, is to show up on a casting call. If you want to be seen and heard, you have to take risks. Take the risk to go to even the most obscure casting calls. Don’t just stop at fashion magazines, look into automotive publications, even website builders who are looking for just the right cover model.

    Reply

  10. October 22, 2014 at 11:49 am, Sarah Marie Hilker said:

    Member awaiting approval or no longer on the site?

    Reply

    • May 19, 2016 at 11:57 pm, L.L.Silvercloud said:

      I didn’t see tat the site needed to verify my email, just verified it a few minutes ago…

      Reply

  11. November 11, 2013 at 7:17 pm, Lori Fiddler said:

    Can you send pictures in yourself as a model? I thought that you could not as the photos belong to the photographer. If anyone has any information on this, please let me know!

    Reply

    • October 22, 2014 at 3:09 pm, Carl Herbert said:

      I see this comment was posted a year ago, but if anybody is currently thinking about this issue, the model and photographer — and really anybody who might be involved — are free to work out copyright and licensing however they wish. It only requires a contract. Copyright belongs to the author of the work by default, but a model, designer or other person can pose their intentions to a photographer and reach whatever agreement they decide is mutually beneficial.

      Reply

  12. October 29, 2013 at 4:21 pm, AJScalzitti said:

    Good advice but the author spends a little too much time backhanding other photographers to prop themselves up.

    Reply

  13. October 29, 2013 at 2:50 pm, JesSay said:

    This is amazing 😉

    Reply

  14. October 29, 2013 at 12:12 pm, ModelReader said:

    Good points about paying for what you want, I had to learn the hard way that free really wasn’t free when I was bringing my time, talent and literal goods to the table. I really like Model Mayhem articles and I don’t usually say that about messages I get from forums like this from other places. I like that the articles always have practical and in-practice advice that I can immediately apply to what I’m doing. Thanks!

    Reply

  15. January 06, 2013 at 10:35 pm, KAM said:

    when can you start setting rates? I know Im not ready for setting rates because i only started modeling last year, but when do you start asking for money?

    Reply

  16. January 03, 2013 at 10:24 pm, Miles Dooner said:

    Good to know that as a photographer I’ve been making the right decisions!

    Reply

  17. January 03, 2013 at 2:47 pm, Ryan Photo said:

    This should be mandatory reading for every model on this site.

    Reply

  18. December 23, 2012 at 10:45 am, Alex Benitez said:

    This is the single best article I’ve read on modeling and the industry I can see how these principles would apply to photographers, MUAs, and models. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! How can anyone argue against this article? Your results speak for themselves. 🙂

    Reply

  19. December 23, 2012 at 10:35 am, Guest said:

    This is the single best article I’ve ever read on modeling and the industry in general. These principles can be applied to photographers, models, muas and others. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!

    Reply

  20. December 21, 2012 at 4:41 pm, Allen said:

    Keeping in mind that not every model has what it takes to be on a cover, regardless of how good the photographer they opt to pay might be, there are a LOT of models on this web site who would be foolish to turn down local photographers offering to pay them to pose for an artistic or concept shoot, or local business advertisement shoot. Additionally, I don’t know of many photographers who will sign over all of the copy rights to the work they do with a model, so that the model can in turn sell or license out those images, without charging the model quite a bit for those rights on top of the fees for the shoot itself, so a model doing things this way will very likely be laying out a good bit of change with no assurances of getting their investment back, either by monetarily profiting from the images or even by the gratification of being published without payment offered by the publisher. There is also the fact to consider that many publications will not even look at unsolicted sibmissions without a submission fee being paid by the model (or photographer) who is trying to get published. I’m sure this method may work for some, but I expect the majority will not have as much luck.

    Reply

  21. December 14, 2012 at 1:50 pm, KGR Photography said:

    Great article that EVERY model should read! I especially love all the models on MM that boldly say in the first couple lines of their profile that they DO NOT pay photographers. Wonder why they often are the “worst photo”.

    Reply

  22. December 14, 2012 at 1:48 pm, LARAimages said:

    Great article, Armond! Thanks for your clarity and honesty.

    Reply

  23. December 13, 2012 at 8:50 pm, Joey Snburg said:

    Very informatve article! Thanx for posting!

    Reply

  24. December 12, 2012 at 11:13 pm, Don Jones said:

    Something is off about that first picture. The “buff” dude in all those magazines. I swear it looks like the look “Blue Steel” that Derek Zoolander used.

    Reply

    • February 06, 2013 at 9:08 am, Lesa said:

      so true! haha

      Reply

  25. December 12, 2012 at 1:29 pm, Michael Higgins said:

    good to know.

    Reply

  26. December 12, 2012 at 12:55 am, model said:

    how much money did you make in those years though? I’m a full-time pro (for over 4 years) and I’d give the opposite advice on a lot of these issues.

    Reply

  27. December 11, 2012 at 10:58 pm, Trychanel5 said:

    Forever embedded in my mine…great advice

    Reply

  28. December 11, 2012 at 10:58 pm, Classy lady said:

    Good advice thank you

    Reply

  29. December 11, 2012 at 7:14 pm, karyn elizabeth ayria said:

    I loved reading this. very inspiring and well written. Congrats! x

    Reply

  30. December 11, 2012 at 5:15 pm, Allen Freeman said:

    I actually agree with pretty much all of this! Nice work.

    Reply

  31. December 11, 2012 at 4:17 pm, sisi said:

    Well, at least she was lucky on getting offer money even if it was a little. Over here where I live most of this people is for exchange. I hate it.

    Reply

  32. December 11, 2012 at 2:48 pm, russell worldpeace said:

    i need to be on a magazine cover

    Reply

  33. December 11, 2012 at 2:26 pm, Mary Kalaska said:

    Brilliant article! I’m soooo motivated right now!! Thank you!

    Reply

  34. December 11, 2012 at 2:00 pm, Lorena Fernandez said:

    How true! I have always got better deals out of those cases in which a good photographer submited my picture to a magazine (but I did not get paid for it) than when I got paid for a photoshoot with a ‘starting’ photographer…at the end of the day I think it’s about picking up what’s best for you! 🙂

    Reply

  35. December 11, 2012 at 1:11 pm, SabotImages said:

    Excellent article.

    Reply

  36. December 11, 2012 at 8:31 am, Blaccdiamond The model said:

    Great advice!

    Reply

  37. December 10, 2012 at 9:32 am, Lindsay Wood said:

    WOW! Awesome work and great advice! Thank you! 😉

    Reply

  38. December 09, 2012 at 3:56 pm, vlada lane said:

    this was very insightful

    Reply

  39. December 09, 2012 at 2:35 am, Leta said:

    Thanks so much! That tattoo cover will be mine!

    Reply

  40. December 07, 2012 at 4:44 pm, Robert Ash said:

    Great article, Armond. And you’ve become an excellent photographer. Have you landed magazine covers as a photographer as well?

    Reply

  41. December 07, 2012 at 3:29 pm, Paul Dempsey said:

    Have any of your photographs been on a cover? Do you give your TF models full size images with rights to do whatever they want with the images?

    Reply

    • October 30, 2013 at 12:18 am, Mark Eddiford said:

      I have not had any on a cover but I have had plenty on the inside of magazines. I have to say, I have always given high res images to any model that I have asked to work with me whether I paid her or did it as TFP. Even though I’ve advertised to do work for models for payment only Two have ever done so and they were both very well known here in the UK working as newspaper/magazine glamour the other a calander girl/tv station presenter. Any other model I’ve approached to help them improve their portfolio has always insisted I pay them… Well that is there loss. I never have a problem getting customers for portrait and boudoir shoots. More models need to take this article to heart and realise what they are missing out on.

      Reply

  42. December 07, 2012 at 1:30 pm, Ken Yee said:

    TF means trade for. It’s a shoot where the images are supposed to be for everyone’s benefit including the MUA. Sounds like you didn’t work w/ the right people. I definitely don’t fit your TF categorization 😛

    Reply

  43. December 07, 2012 at 1:00 pm, $976712 said:

    Smart model. Hope everyone reads this.

    Reply

  44. December 07, 2012 at 3:37 am, hoggleboggle said:

    “Other disadvantages of doing TFP shoots and some paid shoots:

    Photographer typically decides which images are retouched (not always)

    Typically only web size images are given

    Photographer usually shoots what he/she wants, which may not necessarily be exactly what you had in mind (not always)

    Often you will have to sign a release that does not allow you to submit you images to magazines”

    Aside from the first part (I would have thought the photographer will select retouch all their photos whether paid or TFP) are all the TFP photographers that bad? Every TFP I have done I have always provided the model with a DVD containing on average 20-30 full size watermark free images and any always supplied a release form that gives the model the right to use the image for whatever purpose they wish providing they credit me as the photographer. I am also more than happy to work with the model in developing the design of the shots unless I am looking for something very specific. Even then I expect the model to bring their own style to it.

    My point is that TFP in itself isn’t a bad thing, providing both parties approach it with a professional attitude.

    Reply

  45. December 06, 2012 at 10:58 pm, Photo DeLux said:

    Great article and you make the points very well! You generally have to pay for what you want to get, and with high quality work and plenty of perseverance – eventually you will get there. Fantastic advice for both models and photographers.

    Reply

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