Photography & Artwork Guidelines

Digital images may be submitted in either 8 bit TIFF (uncompressed) or JPG.  Please do not upsize. Minium resolution is 8 x 12 inches @ 300 dpi (uncropped) or 2400 x 3600 pixels.

Each image needs to contain a caption (description of place, action, and identification of identifiable people and wildlife… common names are fine). Also fill out the creditline or copyright in the IPTC so the magazine knows how you would like to be credited next to your image (i.e. © Your Name, Your Company Name, Your Website, Your Social Media handle, etc.).

It is a good idea to have some contact information in the metadata filled out (at least Creator and Email). Photographs of a location (such as a state park) should evoke a sense of place. Photos should show an intelligent selection of subject and time of day.  The magazine is looking for images that evoke emotion and wonder in our readers, both about their personal surroundings and Texas as a whole.

The magazine is interested in publishing general views, details and portraits of people or wildlife.  Animals need to be from Texas and in Texas locations with a few exceptions (i.e. rare or endangered species or Texas species with a background that can’t be identified as non-Texan). No pictures of dead or mounted animals, please.

Contributors can send their files via digital transfer.  Images can be downloaded and shared via dropbox, google drive or lightbox. Other methods include online large file transfers via services like WeTransfer, Hightail or FileSender.

Front cover: $700

Wraparound and gatefold: $400

Other covers: $250

More than a full page: $200

Three-quarters to a full page: $165

One-half or less of a page: $125

The magazine retains possession of the digital asset via private catalogues not accessible by other members of the agency unless requested by the copyright holder. No freelance material will be released without the permission of the contributor, but it will be the responsibility of the contributor to arrange for compensation from the requesting publication. If an image is selected for publication, the magazine’s administration will ask for paperwork to be filled out to receive compensation via Texas Comptroller’s Office.

Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine will exercise care in the handling of all material received, but the department will not be responsible for loss or damage.