Thank you for inquiring about our use of photographs and photographer's guidelines.
Our use of photographs on a recurring basis is limited to the Down The Shore Calendars, which feature scenic images of the New Jersey Shore, and the New Jersey Lighthouse Calendar. Calendar guidelines are sent out in early January and submissions are generally reviewed in the first two months of the new year.
From time to time, we have a limited need for images for regional books we publish. When such needs arise, we send out separate requests detailing needs for these projects.
Our guidelines indicate deadlines and review periods. We regret that we're unable to review unsolicited images at other times. Please do not send images for our review unless requested.
We do not assign photographers to projects. However, many photographers are aware of our needs for the calendars and will shoot Jersey Shore images throughout the year. They generate a wide variety of seasonal stock images, which they submit during the review period.
If you'd like to be on our list for future guidelines and photo requests, email your contact info to: downtheshorephoto@gmail.com
For your reference, calendar photo guidelines are below.
PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDELINES
Down The Shore & New Jersey Lighthouse 2024 Calendars
Thanks for your interest in contributing to the 40th edition of the Down The Shore Calendar and the 29th edition of the New Jersey Lighthouse Calendar — for 2024. Here are the details:
1.) SUBJECT MATTER: We’re looking for exceptional Jersey Shore scenes with strong artistic content. The photographs should evoke a mood and an emotion as well as give a sense of place and season. A documentary/photojournalistic approach works best to provide a fresh perspective on familiar scenes. We won’t consider images that are excessively altered or overly processed. Please be selective and edit carefully: Don’t submit multiples of essentially the same image.
• NJ Lighthouse Calendar: All NJ lighthouses — Sandy Hook to Cape May and up the Delaware Bay —all angles, all weather conditions, day and night, dawn and dusk.
• Down The Shore Calendar: Published in three editions — a main NJ Shore edition, and Long Beach Island and Ocean City. Some images may run in two or all three editions depending on location. Be sure to identify locations!
2.) LOCATIONS: From Sandy Hook to Cape May with landmarks (boardwalks, piers, pavilions, etc.) and icons such as boats, bay, beach, shorebirds, etc. as well as unique structures that “place” shore towns. Please name your files accordingly and ID where the image was taken and what’s in view.
3.) FORMAT: The Down The Shore Calendar uses slightly horizontal images; the Lighthouse Calendar uses roughly square images. If an appropriate image can be cropped without losing resolution we can use it.
4.) RIGHTS & PAYMENT: One-time rights are purchased and contributors retain full copyright to their work. Photographers are fully credited on the calendar (we don’t include trade names — eg: “Hot Shot Photos”). Contributors permit us to make incidental use of a published image only for promotion and marketing. Payment is made in September (September 2023 for the 2024 calendar) and contributors receive five complementary copies.
5.) RELEASES: A signed release from any prominent, recognizable person in your images may be requested (not distant people, or crowds in a public place like a beach).
6.) AGREEMENT: By sending your photographs to us for review, you indicate that you agree to the terms outlined here. If not acceptable, do not submit.
7.) DEADLINE: Please have your work to us by February 24, 2023. We’re beginning the selection process now, so earlier is better. We look forward to seeing your work!
PREPARING YOUR SUBMISSION
Format — JPG or TIFF
DPI and size: Minimum original specs needed for quality reproduction -- For the Down The Shore Calendars: 350 ppi, at least 9" height x 12" width. For the Lighthouse Calendar: 350 ppi, at least 12x12". (Rule of thumb: we need 4,000 pixels for widest dimension.)
Don’t send images with resolution that’s too low — keep in mind we need flexibility to crop. If cropping makes the remaining resolution too low, we can't use the photo. It’s best to provide large original files that allow for cropping.
Sending Images: You can send high-res images via a download link like WeTransfer (recommended), or Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. Please email a link and info to this address: downtheshorephoto@gmail.com
If you prefer, feel free to postal mail us a small USB flash drive (we will return if requested) — address below.
Naming: Please name each image file logically — like: “Belmarbeach1”, Belmarbeach2”, etc. and write the same file name on the reference print so we can find it.
If you have any technical questions about submissions, email us at downtheshorephoto@gmail.com . We're sorry we don't have time to acknowledge every email or critique submissions, however.
Shipping Address for media: Our PO Box is the most secure delivery address: Down The Shore, PO Box 100, West Creek, NJ 08092. (For UPS or FedEx, use this street address: Down The Shore, 106 Forge Rd., West Creek, NJ 08092.) We assume no liability for materials lost or damaged in shipping.
Bottom line….
• Check resolution!
• Name files logically
•Locations are essential when we make selections — each image should have location identified. Be as specific as possible. (For example: if you ID an image as from Long Beach Island, please tell us which town on this 18-mile long island. Or: “Ocean City bridge from Somers Point.”)
• Make sure landmarks and visual elements are current for the locations. If a building, boardwalk, pier, etc. has changed since the image was shot, it’s out of date and we can’t use it.
• Documentary and photojournalistic ethics apply. We expect an honest depiction. Composites, distortions, effects, photo illustrations, or images significantly altered won’t be considered.
•We only review calendar images once per year -- so unsolicited submissions received at other times will be returned. We do not pay research, review, or holding fees.
• Be sure to write your name and address on your submissions.
Thanks for your interest!
About Down The Shore: Down The Shore Publishing is a national award winning publisher of coastal books, calendars, cards and videos with a focus on New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. Profiled in The New York Times and New Jersey Monthly, and founded in 1984 by a photojournalist, Down The Shore has a strong ethic of creative rights and supports writers, photographers, and artists with fee-for-use payments and traditional royalty arrangements. We license limited rights; creators retain full copyright.
