“A clever man once said that ‘if a photo holds your attention longer than a few moments, it is a good photo.’” So says Fritz Schuster photo editor at Red Bulletin, the “almost independent” sport and lifestyle magazine from Red Bull.
For most photographers photo editors are the link between taking photos and getting them published. But what do these guys do each day and what is the key to impressing them enough to print your photos?
“Most of my job is dealing with other people,” says the 47-year-old Austrian. “Our team is based in Vienna and London. So we have to manage who in the team takes care of each story and that the photos are in at the right time.”
“It is also important to treat all people involved in a professional way. Being fair and making them feel good about the job they are doing - this always brings the best results and commitment.”
“Flexibility and good methods of communicating with others are essential.”
The Bulletin team has regular editorial meetings to discuss what stories have to be photographed and what images need to be bought from agencies.
“We prefer to do the shoots with photographers of our choice so we can have as much influence on the style of the photos. Briefing the photographers correctly is also very important otherwise we wouldn’t get the photos we need.”
The monthly 100-page magazine appears in seven countries, so it’s up to the Bulletin photo editing team to make sure that the local editors’ photographic needs are met and whether they can provide images from their local events.
“It’s also part of my job to control the quality and size of each image that gets used in the magazine.”
Sifting through thousands of images each day and finding the right shot for the magazine is no easy task.
“A good photo editor has a well-trained eye and knows how to pick the good ones from the rest. It all depends on the feeling a photo gives you the moment you see it.”
“We look at images differently from photographers. We know the needs and the flow of the magazine better than anybody else. Stories do not stand alone, all the layouts and stories must fit together.”
What should a photographer do to impress him?
“Show me good and passionate work and do it in a very professional way.”
Having the skills to pick standout photos is not something learned overnight. Natural talent, a passion for photography and quality training are important elements that make up the job.
“I worked as a professional photographer for 20 years for daily newspapers and weekly and monthly magazines. I also had a studio together with some friends so it was a great advantage starting this job with lots of experience.”
“As well as my experience as a photographer and in print media work, I learnt a lot by doing.”
“I also attended the School of Photographic Arts in Vienna, which was great training, which was an excellent introduction to serious interpretation of photography.”
Like all art forms, photography is subjective – does he get into heated debates about the merits of certain photos?
“Anyone who has taken a few pictures in their life has an opinion on what a good photo is. I think the reason is because photography communicates information directly – you are instantly told a story just by looking at a picture.”
“However good discussions about photos can be very helpful in finding the right solution to making a strong story.”
Finding that right solution for each story is what makes the magazine compelling and visually attractive to the reader, something Fritz is completely aware of.
“A photographer does his own job but a photo editor must bear the entire magazine in his mind.”
www.redbulletin.com
Quality Control: What Does a Photo Editor Do?
Quality Control: What Does a Photo Editor Do?
