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Editorial and Photo Guidelines

Writing for Sports Afield

Writer's Guidelines

Sports Afield is America’s original outdoor magazine, founded in 1887. The magazine is devoted to people who share a passion for high-end sporting pursuits, especially North American and African big-game hunting. Our focus is on species such as sheep, elk, caribou, moose, trophy whitetails and mule deer, bears, African plains game, and dangerous species such as Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard. Coverage of fine guns, optics, clothing, and equipment is an essential part of the magazine. To a more limited extent, we also feature stories on upland hunting and big-game hunts outside North America and Africa.

While most of our departments are written by regular contributors, we do accept some feature articles from freelance writers. The majority of our coverage consists of big-game hunting destination pieces and exciting, well-written hunting adventure stories. Please do not send “hunt-payback” pieces; we do not run stories that are blatant advertisements for a particular outfitter. We run very few “how-to” pieces. We are also interested in stories about rifles and calibers that are appropriate to the type of hunting we cover. Features should be no more than 2,500 words in length. We also accept short items (300-400 words) for our Almanac section. These items include Safari Basics, Personalities Afield, Hunting Tech, Shooting Tips, and Conservation Corner. Freelancers may also contribute to the For the Record department, which tells the stories of world record animals.

The best way to sell to Sports Afield is to first query the editor. Queries should clearly explain what you’d like to write about, show the editor why the subject is relevant, and why you’re qualified to write the piece. Also tell us what kind of photo support you will provide. Please understand that we receive a large number of freelance submissions every week. Please allow eight weeks for us to review your article or query; we will get back to you with an answer whether we decide to use the piece or not. Please do not query us via telephone.

Specific Guidelines

All manuscripts must be submitted on CD-ROM; both Mac and PC formats are acceptable. Microsoft Word files are preferred. Please include a hard copy of the article. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with all snail-mail queries. Finished articles should not be submitted via e-mail unless specifically requested in that format by the editor. We will not review any simultaneous submissions or stories that have been previously published elsewhere.

Photographic support is extremely important. Every article submission must be accompanied by a good selection of high-quality color slides or a CD of high-resolution digital images. Package slides and transparencies carefully, for the magazine will not be responsible for photos damaged or lost in shipment. Every article must be accompanied by a variety of supporting images, including action shots of hunters glassing and hiking, photos of the camp and terrain, and a “trophy shot.” Photos of hunters posing with their trophies should be tasteful, respectful (please don’t sit on the animal), free of blood, and show the animal to best advantage. We cannot accept black-and-white photos or color prints. We will accept digital photos IF they are of exceptionally high quality, with a resolution of 300 dpi at 8x10 inches in size, and taken with a camera of not less than 5 megapixels. Preferred format for digital photos is RAW. Please do not process or sharpen your photos using Photoshop or other image-processing software.

Include a photo release form for all recognizable people pictured in your photographs, and submit clear captions for each photograph that include: names of people depicted, location, date, activity, and relevance to the story subject.

Unless they were assigned by the editor, all submissions are reviewed “on speculation.” If your work is accepted for publication, you will be sent a freelance contract. We purchase first North American and European rights for all features and departments; we buy all rights to Almanac items. Payment will be made after we receive your signed copy of the contract.

Address article queries to:

Sports Afield
15621 Chemical Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1506

Editor in Chief

fax: 714/894-4949

Sports Afield Photo Guidelines

Sports Afield magazine is devoted to people who share a passion for high-end sporting pursuits, especially North American and African big-game hunting. We often purchase photos from professional photographers to illustrate our feature articles and departments. Most photos are purchased from our Contributing Photographers, but we do purchase some freelance photography on occasion. Our primarily photo needs are for Western big-game species such as sheep, elk, caribou, moose, pronghorn, trophy mule deer, grizzly and black bears, African plains game, and dangerous species such as Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard. We also look for action shots of hunters in the field glassing, hiking, and shooting. To a more limited extent, we have a need for photos of more exotic game species such as red deer, Spanish ibex, and mouflon. We purchase very few images of upland game birds or waterfowl, and we do not cover fishing at all.

Photographers may submit a selection of photos to the editor for consideration. Please include a sheet specifying number of photos included in the submission as well as a padded envelope or other packing material for return of your photos. We endeavor to be extremely careful with all photos submitted and will return them to you via a trackable method, but we can’t be responsible for loss or damage of unsolicited submissions.

When you send us a selection of photos, we will return those we know we can’t use to you and keep the remainder on file for a period of time or until you request their return. We do occasionally e-mail photographers with requests. However, the vast majority of the photos we use in the magazine are those that are kept on file with us.

Photos submitted for publication must be high-quality, original color slides or transparencies. No prints, duplicate slides, or slides made from prints. Please do not scan slides. We also accept high-resolution digital photos (see below).

Digital photos: We prefer RAW format but will accept JPEGs if shot with a camera of 6 mp or higher. Photos must be 300 ppi at the size they will run. For example: a photo spread across both pages would need to be 11-1/4" x 17" at 300 ppi for full bleed across the magazine. Submissions must achieve this prior to interpolation. To assist us in viewing and selecting files, please include a contact sheet that shows thumbnails of the images and their corresponding file names with all digital submissions. We strongly prefer files that have not been altered or sharpened. Please do not e-mail files; burn them to CD and mail to us.

We purchase one-time North American rights to images according to a rate schedule available upon request. Payment is made upon publication. Photographers will be credited with name and/or Web address. Photographers must provide, upon request, photo release forms for any recognizable person appearing in any photograph.

Send photo submissions to: Editor in chief, Sports Afield, 15621 Chemical Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92649.