Highlights from my publication history include the following:
June 2019 – 2022 | Professional Photo magazine monthly column
Professional Photo magazine editor Terry Hope has commissioned monthly columns co-authored by myself and Paul Wilkinson. These are three-spread (six-page) features covering advanced portrait lighting techniques, such as working in direct sunlight, using location flash and achieving impressive results with studio lighting.
January 2019 | Writers’ Forum magazine feature
Writers’ Forum magazine commissioned a portrait and interview with multi-award-winning, international bestselling author Lionel Shriver. Lionel is best known for her novel We Need to Talk About Kevin, which was made into a feature film starring Tilda Swinton. She also writes a weekly column for The Spectator magazine. The piece was featured as a secondary coverline.
September 2018 | In The Moment magazine feature
I worked in marketing roles for ten years, because I lacked the confidence to do what I really wanted to: a full-time career in writing and photography. In issue 17 of In The Moment magazine, I share the insight that finally gave me the impetus to leap.
August 2018 | Der Weg zur Portraitfotografie
The best-selling book I co-authored, Mastering Portrait Photography, has been translated into German by White Star Verlag and will be published in August 2018 under the title Der Weg zur Portraitfotografie. This means our top-rated reference guide is now available in English, Italian and German.
May 2018 | Feature in Writers’ Forum magazine
Writers’ Forum magazine commissioned my feature on five research-backed motivational strategies for aspiring authors, which I wrote with the input of Behavioural Neuroscience professor John Parkinson. The piece was used as the main cover line of the May 2018 edition.
April 2018 | Feature in Writers’ Forum magazine
The second article in my two-part series on crowdfunding a book for Writers’ Forum magazine. This article covers building momentum during a Kickstarter campaign, managing the campaign, using ‘stretch goals’, using your story for PR after your book gets funded.
March 2018 | Feature in Writers’ Forum magazine
Writers’ Forum magazine commissioned a two-part series on how to use crowdfunding to publish a book. The first part focuses on preparing to launch a crowdfunding campaign, while the second gives insight into the post-launch and post-publication process. The first part was published in March 2018 and featured as a secondary coverline.
Carl Styants, editor of Writers’ Forum, said, “Much appreciated how detailed and clear the advice is. I think it works very well.”
March 2018 | Feature in In The Moment magazine
In the Moment magazine commissioned a 5-page feature about my experience of using mindfulness to overcome a decade of chronic insomnia. This piece co-incided with World Sleep Day (16 March 2018), was featured as a secondary coverline and was promoted via a radio and podcast interview with Radio Gorgeous.
March 2018 | Feature in Your Letterbox magazine
Your Letterbox magazine commissioned me to write a feature article on how parents can capture better portraits of their children. This tied in with Mothers’ Day (11 March 2018).
January 2018 | Feature in Your Letterbox magazine
Your Letterbox magazine commissioned me to write a double-page spread of sleep tips, based on my experience of overcoming a decade of insomnia.
May 2017 | Go To Sleep is published (crowdfunded book)
Go To Sleep is a crowdfunded book of concise, practical tips for people who struggle to drift off because they have active minds. I wanted to create the exact book that would’ve helped me during the ten years I suffered from chronic insomnia.
Go To Sleep is packed with tips and techniques you can implement immediately. It’s highly visual, with soothing colours and simple illustrations throughout, and is beautifully packaged in a 15 x 15cm format with soft-touch laminate cover, silver foiling and cover flaps.
Go To Sleep has been featured by BBC Radio, Mail Online, The Daily Mail, Take a Break magazine, The Sun, Radio Gorgeous, Real People magazine, Oxford Mail, Bicester Advertiser and That’s Oxfordshire TV.
184 backers on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter paid for the book’s printing costs by pre-ordering copies. The team at Kickstarter chose Go To Sleep as a ‘Project we love’ and featured it in their newsletter. Of the thousands of projects launched on Kickstarter, only 3-4 are chosen for inclusion in the newsletter. As a result, we raised 120% of our initial target.
I developed the concept for the book, launched and promoted a crowdfunding campaign, project managed the book’s production, marketed the book and handled all the distribution and administration. My collaborator Sophie Carpenter designed and illustrated the book and manages the website, gotosleepbook.com.
March 2017 | Master Di Fotografia
Mastering Portrait Photography was translated into Italian and distributed as part of a series under the National Geographic brand.
January 2017 | Writers Bureau Writer of the Year
I was chosen as the Writers Bureau Writer of the Year. You can read more here.
October 2016 | Mastering Portrait Photography is reprinted
Another 5,000 copies were printed of our best-selling Mastering Portrait Photography title, for domestic and international distribution, due to strong sales.
August 2016 | Feature Article in Writing Magazine
Writing Magazine commissioned me to write a four-page article about publishing a specialist reference book. The piece explained how to find a publisher, develop the content and market the finished book. The piece featured as a secondary coverline.
December 2015 | Third book published
The Marketing Academy commissioned me to collate, edit and design Merlin’s Little Book of Wisdom. The small-format book is a collection of quotes, anecdotes and lessons in leadership from those involved with the Academy. The book was given out at events and a future re-print will be sold to raise funds for the Academy’s charitable work. Jon Wellstead provided the illustrations for each spread.
“Sarah has found a way to share the very best lessons and magic that The Marketing Academy has to offer by creating ‘Merlin’s Little Book of Wisdom’. Since her ‘I have an idea’ moment she’s spent countless hours bringing the book to life; from persuading marketing and business leaders to contribute to getting it designed and printed and her energy and passion has been the driving force in this project. We always say at The Marketing Academy that the sign of a great leader is how many leaders you bring up behind you and this book is proof that Sarah is an amazing leader. Thank you.”
Sherilyn Shackell, Founder of The Marketing Academy
November 2015 | Second book published
Ammonite Press commissioned me to write an advanced portrait photography reference book, Mastering Portrait Photography. I worked with one of the UK’s top portrait photographers, Paul Wilkinson, to create the book: Paul provided the images while I wrote the text.
After the book launched, Paul and I created a series of videos to help promote it. The book was also featured in a number of publications and online lists including: Photography News, Black+White Photography Magazine, F2 Freelance Photographer Magazine, Master Photography Magazine and MagaScene.
Mastering Portrait Photography is available in the UK and international. It currently has a 5-star overall review from 56 reviewers on Amazon.co.uk.
November 2014 | First book published
My first book, Foundation Portrait Photography, co-authored with professional photographer Hannah MacGregor, was published by Ammonite Press.
“I’m currently reading through the Foundation Portrait Photography book and I think it’s excellent… it reads really well, is clear and concise, and the pictures are fabulous. You and [co-author] Hannah have done a brilliant job! Thank you.”
Richard Wiles, Previously Managing Editor at Ammonite Press
July 2013 | Photo ideas project in Digital SLR Magazine
Digital SLR commissioned me to create a portrait using a reflector as a make-shift background. This was part of a series giving readers ideas to try for their own photography.
February 2013 | Article in Digital SLR Magazine
Digital SLR commissioned me and professional photographer Hannah MacGregor to co-write a how-to piece on capturing family portraits. The eight-page article featured my writing and three of my portraits (the rest were Hannah’s). After this collaboration, Hannah and I went on to co-write Foundation Portrait Photography together.
December 2012 | Article in Digital Photography Enthusiast Magazine
Digital Photography Enthusiast commissioned an eight-page feature article on how to get a varied set of images from a portrait shoot. My piece covered both natural light and studio light scenarios, used 20 of my photographs and was a secondary lead article on the cover.
November 2012 | Article in Digital Photography Enthusiast Magazine
Digital Photography Enthusiast commissioned my piece on home studio portraits, which taught readers how to replicate studio-style portraits with a minimum of kit. The piece ran over eight pages and featured 14 of my images.
August 2012 – January 2013 | Reader feedback in Digital SLR Magazine
Digital SLR commissioned me to provide feedback on readers’ portraits as part of their expert panel every issue.
October 2012 | Cover feature in Digital SLR Magazine
Digital SLR commissioned my article, ‘9 secrets to natural portraits’. The piece was so strong that the editor featured it on the front of the October 2012 issue, using one of my portraits as the main cover image. The eight-page feature used 11 of my natural light portraits.
September 2012 | Article in Digital Photography Enthusiast Magazine
Digital Photography Enthusiast commissioned a six-page feature on capturing creative portraits using light sources found in a typical home. The piece showed that expensive studio kit wasn’t necessary, and that great portraits could be created using fairy lights, candles, ceiling bulbs and window light. The piece used seven of my portrait images and was mentioned on the cover.
August 2012 | Article in Digital Photography Enthusiast Magazine
Digital Photography Enthusiast commissioned a four-page article as part of their ‘Interview with the Pros’ series. The piece described how I first got into photography, the challenges I’d faced and achievements I’d had, and my plans for the future. It featured five of my photographs.
2012 – 2014 | Secret Marketer column in FE First Magazine
I was commissioned to write a regular column for FE First, a quarterly publication aimed at people working in Further Education Marketing. The columns were written anonymously, allowing me to be candid in my observations of college life. Illustrations for each column were provided by Jon Wellstead.
“Sarah has written several articles about marketing for the College Marketing Network’s in-house magazine. They are always well-written, topical, engaging and enjoyable to read. She meets deadlines promptly and responds quickly to commissions. I would highly recommend her writing skills to prospective clients.”
Rachel Smith, Chief Executive, College Marketing Network
July 2012 | Article in Digital Photography Enthusiast Magazine
Digital Photography Enthusiast commissioned my four-page feature on working with toddlers. The piece gave tips and tricks for capturing effective portraits from this age group, using six of my own images to illustrate it.
June 2012 | Article in FE First Magazine
FE First commissioned me to write a one-page article on how college marketing managers can use freely available sources of data to measure the impact of their marketing activities. FE First is a quarterly publication aimed at people working in further education marketing.
Pre-2012
I worked on a voluntary basis for a local newspaper, the Romford Recorder, and a B2B magazine, The Venturer, as part of my degree programme. I had numerous articles published in both.
Sarah Plater AMPA is a multi-award-winning qualified, certified professional portrait photographer and published author based in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
She is the Master Photographers Association Newborn Photographer of the Year 2019 and Young Families Photographer of the Year 2022 for the Central Region (covering Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire).
