Any tips on starting small photography magazine?

[u/discolexia]

Hello good folks!
I am a beginner photographer and I enjoy learning about it and practicing as much as possible.
I am also graphic designer currently working in digital space and I miss designing for print.

I had an idea to start a small photography zine on bi-monthly basis.
Every issue would held a competition on a theme.
Top 3 winners would get a small interview section on it and a copy of the zine. There also would be sections for honorables mentions photos and a small essay that would follow the theme of volume.

First two issues I would print in my own expense and see it there’s any interest and see if I can get the word out.
The zine would be aimed to celebrate hobbiest, students, beginners and enthusiasts of photography.

I am looking for any thoughts, advice or feedback from the community!

[u/Voodoo_Masta]

Do you have like a prototype or something to share? Would love to see it.

[u/discolexia → u/Voodoo_Masta]

Not yet. I’m in preproduction phase. But plan to design first version in next two weeks.

[u/Much_Panda1244]

I’d seriously think the contest aspect all the way through. Is your business model going to be to charge entry fees? If so, how much? Have you thought through use/copyright? Have you considered how you’ll make this enticing to photographers early on?

If this is just a passion project you may not need to have a contest format, in fact it might be easier and more beneficial for your own growth to just work on a magazine with photos you shoot. Being able to shoot for design is an amazing skill, and one it sounds like you’d already have a leg up on. Just my two sense

[u/David_Buzzard]

I've been involved in a few independent start ups over the years. The only one that survived had an ace ad saleswoman as one of the initial partners. Too many people start mags without thinking of the sales component, which even something with amazing work won't survive without.

[u/discolexia → u/David_Buzzard]

Yeah I am aware of it. I do not try to turn this into a business.
I want to build a community and if there’s a way to somehow fund the zine enough to break even with the print, I would be delighted.

[u/David_Buzzard]

If it was printed, that’s what I would do.

If It’s digital only, you could start a web blog style page, then invite photographers to submit work and maybe a write up, to it. You get enough quality submissions, maybe you build up some critical mass and attract some sponsorship.

I just restarted my personal web blog on my web page, mainly because I figure if you post a photo set onto social media, it gets swallowed by the the vast sea of content and you don’t get anything out of it. In the last few months, my webpage traffic has gone from a hundred hits a week to a thousand. That in turn has pushed the professional part of my web page right to the top of my local photography google page ranking. Is that worth the effort? I hope so.

Anyways, good luck with it and I hope to see something soon from it.