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If you are submitting photographs for publication, find out how the art department wants your submission. There was a time when art directors only wanted slides, but many have other preferences now, including low-resolution images sent via e-mails, CDs, or tear sheets (pages with photographs you have previously published).

Regardless of how the publication prefers submissions, always make sure your presentation is professional. CDs should be clearly labeled. Don’t just scrawl your name with magic marker across the CD or case. Make sure the case is clean if you’re reusing one, and use the thinnest one you can find. Keep it simple; trying to be “cute” or “outrageous” to capture an art director’s attention is as likely to work against you.

If you are submitting tear sheets, don’t fold them and stuff them in a small envelope. Use an envelope big enough so nothing is bent and make sure you reinforce the envelope with mat board or cardboard (again, clean, unmarked) so it doesn’t get bent in the mail.

If you are sending slides, go to a photography store and get black presentation boards made specifically for this purpose. Anyone at a professional photo store (as opposed to most of the ones you find in malls) will be able to direct you to professional presentation materials. Impressionabilities. the picture is an excellent resource.

If you’re showing your work in person, present your photographs in a portfolio.