Photographer's Guidelines | Resources for Log Homes |
We strongly recommend that you review our magazines for style and content. Photographs not meeting the minimum standards described in these guidelines generally reflect poorly on the log home producer and therefore are better not used. We review all photographs submitted and select those that are technically flawless. We appreciate your investment in your photos, and we're pleased to have an opportunity to view them.
General Requirements
Log Home Living publishes more than 500 color photographs of log homes annually. There are essentially two ways we use photographs:
- Log Home Living Annual Buyer's Guide primarily uses single photographs of interiors or exteriors of homes. These photos are published independently of the articles they accompany, and photo captions identify the producer and some interesting detail in the photo.
- Log Home Living magazine uses photo features. Each feature requires a minimum of a dozen or more photographs of both the interior and exterior of a particular home.
Feature Requirements
To adequately lay out a feature article, we need a minimum of 12 photos of the exterior and interior of the home. These must include views of all major rooms. Close-up shots of such details as roof trusses, log stairs, railings, dormers, porches, and window and door treatments are also appreciated.
A full complement of views is recommended, including horizontal and vertical formats, close-ups, and distant shots from various angles and of various elevations, front, back and sides. Exterior shots must be well framed and present the home attractively in the context of its setting and landscaping.
We also recommend that you include a black-and-white print of the floorplan, no larger than 12-by-15 inches so we can quickly see the relationship between rooms.
Film Requirements
We prefer to see 4-by-5-inch format color transparencies or Kodachrome or Ektachrome color slides, although smaller color transparencies and 35 mm color prints are also acceptable.
Mailing
We will treat photographs with care, but we cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage while they are in our possession. We recommend that you carefully pack all photos and transparencies between cardboard and mail in a sturdy envelope taped on all four sides.
Each photograph must be individually identified with owner's full name and address. Please do not write with pen, pencil, or marker on the photos. Ink may bleed onto other photos. Pencil marks often show through to the image-side of a print. Tape an address label or business card to the back of each photo.
Returns
We always need publication-quality photos, so we keep all photos we don't use immediately on hand for possible use in future editions of our magazine. Unless we have your photos, we cannot consider using them; in other words, "out of sight, out of mind." If you want your photos returned after we look at them, please specify this in your cover letter.
Sample Copy
If you would like a sample copy of Log Home Living magazine, please send your check or money order for $4.00 to HBP, Attn: Sample Copy, 4125 Lafayette Center Drive, Suite 100, Chantilly Virginia 20151.
Style and Content Suggestions
Following are suggestions that will help you better understand what we look for in a photo shoot:
Less is better when it comes to home decorations. Too many objects in a shot overwhelm, preventing readers from getting a true sense of the homes. Please pare back as needed. For example, if you're shooting a dining room with a table for 12, we'd rather see two glasses, some cheese and a bottle of wine, than 12 place-settings and a centerpiece. And if you're shooting a den, we'd rather see a half-full bookcase and a few tchotchkes than shelves, walls and every available horizontal surface covered.
- We're interested in close-ups of neat details, like a family crest carved in the mantle, an intricately carved newel post or a unique piece of furniture.
- We're also interested in shots of innovative technical details, like a dumb-waiter that carries firewood from the basement to the great room, or some high-tech innovation. These shots are helpful in illustrating the technical sidebars that sometimes accompany our features
- On a similar vein, we're interested in photos of grand home features, like an indoor pool, built-in cabinets, home theaters and such. These are the sorts of details that entertain readers and help them plan their homes.
- If the home has a spectacular view, please try to work it into a shot. You might show it through the great room window, or in a in a photo shot across a welcoming porch. We want to place readers in the setting and let them see what it would be like to live in this house.
- We like photos of the owners, if they're willing, but placed in the home rather than posed. For example, you might shoot them cooking a meal together, if they love to cook, or sipping wine in the great room while watching the fire. The goal is to get them looking natural, like we're eavesdropping on the great life they lead.
- If appropriate, incorporate the owner's pets into one or two photos to further establish the home's lived-in feel.
- Please don't use any lighting or effects to warm your photography. The natural tones of the logs lend plenty of warmth on their own.
- We want bright, welcoming interiors, so please light the home accordingly. It's particularly important to brighten up the corners, which otherwise can look oppressively dark. Our readers are interested in every aspect of log home construction, so whenever possible, light even the back corners of the rooms.
- We're looking for a mix of shots--wide-angle, medium range and close-up and a mix of compositional styles. For example, an overview of the room, followed by a close-up from a different angle of a particularly interesting feature of that room.
- We're interested in exterior shots of things like a wildflower garden, or a quiet spot with a teak bench and bubbling fountain. We're expanding our coverage of gardening and landscaping, and these types of shots will help readers visualize good ideas.
- We want to make sure the photos and text complement each other. So, when you're shooting a home, please ask the owners about their favorite features or favorite rooms or unique furnishings and make sure to include photo of those things. Occasionally in the past, we've had homeowners rave to our writers about a feature and not been able to show the feature because we didn't capture it on film.
- Please keep an eye out for strong cover compositions. Please budget time specifically to shoot potential cover shots. These could be interiors or exteriors. We look for dynamic vertical photos that have a neutral area on the left side against which our sell-lines will be readable. For example: an expanse of wall that is of fairly consistent color value provides a legible, uncluttered background for sell-lines, as does an area of sky transitioning to lawn. Please keep in mind that we need approximately one-third of the image space for text. We can provide cover acetates with sell-lines if this will help you compose the photo.
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By ginger seeley on Sep 26, 2008
we have a new large Nevell log home in Seeley Lake, Montana that was barely missed by the summer fires of 07 by only 200 yards...our home is the web page picture for the national forestry InciWeb site and was on the news for weeks showing structure protection. I thought it might be of interest in an article about structure protection for log homes in the forest. Also, our home is over 6000 sq. feet and would make a great picture layout for your magazine. Please advise if you are interested in photos. Thank you.
By Rachel Machacek on Sep 30, 2008
Hey Ginger,
Can you send me an email? I'd love to talk to you about a story we're working on for the January issue. Thanks!
Rachel Machacek
rmachacek@homebuyerpubs.com
By Brian Lounsberry on Oct 16, 2008
I have a beautiful log home in the White Mountains in Northern AZ. It was built in 2007 on 9 acres using alot of material from the Rodeo-Chediski fire that has been rated the worst fire in AZ history & burned 467,066 acres in the summer of 2002. Currently it is listed for sale and can be viewed at www.elkaholicranch.com and my phone number is 480.980.6666, email: blounsberry@zaio com if there is any intrest in going forward. Thank you.
By Brian Lounsberry on Nov 11, 2008
My new email address is rlounsberry@cox.net, the old email is no longer valid.
Thank you.
Brian Lounsberry
By Jenna Labadie on Nov 16, 2008
My husband and father-in-law are currently building our dream log home. We have been in our basement for 10 years and are doing it all ourselves. We have been documenting every stage with thousands of digital photos (hi-res). It has been a fascinating journey and EVERYONE we meet asks to see the photos. Are you interested in a beginning to end series like this, either as one spread or as a monthly bit? bjlabnkids@netzero.net Sullivan, NH
By Tommy Alfredo on Dec 03, 2008
We have a pretty "cool" log home in the Adirondaks in New York on 56 acres approx 658 ft above Lake George. Views are awesome and the house has some really neat features "in and out." It also has some 20" size custom log work throughout. Do you ever come to a sight to take the photos? After reading Log Home Living for 4 years, I am fairly sure we would make a feature spread....Thanks. I look forward to hearing back from you! T.A. Alfredoldc@aol.com ph: 914-232-5745
By Dawn Richards on Dec 09, 2008
Do Log Home Living and Log Home Design accept high resolution digital photos for submission? Site indicates that you are only accepting transparencies, but I am hoping that this status may have changed.
drichardsphoto@gmail.com
By Ron Wilhelm on Jan 06, 2009
We have a beautiful unique Log Home in Dutchess County, New York on 34 acres. We are high on a mountain and have some wonderful mountain views. Everyone says we should submit our home to your magazine, and since we have been reading Log Homes for years we were wondering if we qualify. Can you advise us what we need to do? fnrhelm@frontiernet.net
845-223-5961
By Joy Williams on Jan 12, 2009
Nestled in the woods on 10 acres is our log home with a barn style theme. We have buckets for lights in the garage. The bathroom shower is made of galvanized steel with a metal water can for the shower head. The upstairs bathroom is an outhouse with a built in toilet and a shower made of cedar. There is much more such as the ski chair lift hanging in the living room, but I don't want to give away all the surprises. Interested in doing a story? You can contact us at 231-331-4776 or via email southpawanddoc@yahoo.com
By kathy jones on Jan 24, 2009
My name is Kathy Jones. I am not sure if you are the correct person to contact or not, if not I apologize.
My husband and I just finished our home last year.
I'm afraid my computer skills are not very good so the pictures are actually in the totally wrong order. Last should be first.
The new home , wine room, living room, old homestead/now guesthouse.
A short story about us. This is my husbands great uncle's homestead which had 660 acres and four lakes at the turn of the century. Was sold several times over the years and when we had a chance to buy it we purchased the old homesite and 76 acres with one of the lakes being ours.
We have since taken the acreage up to 435 and have part of another lake included in that total.
The new house is around 6800 sq feet. The builder was a local person in a town of aprox 650. Everyone on the project was local and we are delighted with the way it turned out.
I don't know if this would be of any interest to your magazine or not.
I just thought I would show you a little of the northwest corner of the state.
Thanks for you time,
Kathy Jones
montana.kathy@frontiernet.net
By Doug Gribbel on Apr 09, 2009
I would love to share some pictures of my new log home in the California Gold Country with your readers. Please check out the photos online at www.VRBO.com/216296 and you can contact me at goldcreekcabin@comcast.net.
Thanks!
Doug Gribbel
By Daniel Hayes on May 04, 2009
I have a log home logs date back to 1750 it was taken down moved and restored by me. It is in teh mts of west virginia on 20 acres, I have recently put in a wood fired brick oven and making pizzas and breads for friend sand family on weekends. I thought that maybe it would be a good story with the original logs , staris etc... vs a traditional modern style log home that most peaple build. My E-mail is hayesdaniel88@hotmail.com Thank you
By Patt Buckholz on Jul 28, 2009
I believe I have a very unique self designed log home that I would like to share with your readers
By Doug Peters/Charlevoix, MI on Jul 29, 2009
Our home is scheduled to be featured in your January 2010 magazine. I have some great landscaping and lake view photos which you may have an interest in seeing - as the photos you took were of a non-mature landscape. Just let me know if you wish to have me send the photos via email. Karen
By Crystal Newport on Sep 28, 2009
My husband built a log cabin play house for our daughter. It is full scribbed logs, with a stone wainscoat, there are log dormers, log balcony with slide, twig railings, kid size log steps to the loft. I would like to email you a few pictures, and see if it is something you would be intrested in doinging a story.
Thanks
Crystal L Newport
Hazelhurst, Wisconsin
By Jeff Muldoon on Sep 28, 2009
My wife and i built our log home ourselves (we did all the log work including felling 70 trees, limbing and peeling all logs and hoisting all logs into place. House is on shy 5 acres hour north and east of Seattle and about an hour from Stevens Pass in Washington state. We have 3 stories and approximately 2900 sq. ft and detached 3 car garage all on private wooded acreage and near lake. We have been advised by friends that our home with logs averaging 17 inches in diameter and great room concept with 2 story rock as woodstove backing present a real mini lodge concept that could be of interest for many to view.
We would like to know how to proceed if there might be interest on the part of the publication to run a series of pictures to submit.
Please advise,
thx, jeff
By Whitney Richardson on Oct 05, 2009
Photos and information regarding your home can be e-mailed to editor@loghomeliving.com. Thanks!