Are you a photographer who has designed a photo book containing your work and you now want to publish it?
Below you’ll find 19 top photography book publishing companies.
1. Acanthus Press
Acanthus Press is an independent publishing company based out of New York, New York that was established in 1982 originally as a small antique bookstore. Acanthus Press has since become a driving force in the publishing industry, producing high-quality photography-heavy works about architecture, interior design, and garden books. Some of their titles include “Capital Houses Historic Residences of Washington D.C. and Its Environs, 1735-1965” by James M. Goode and photographed by Bruce M. White, and “Houses of the Hamptons, 1880-1930” by Gary Lawrence and Anne Surchin.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts and book proposals. They encourage you to first send a query letter to see if your project would be a good fit with the publishing company. You can do so via email or through their website’s online contact form. When submitting, be sure to include a cover letter that provides a summary of your book, provide a table of contents, information on your intended audience, and any sample illustrations or photographs you hope to include.
2. Amherst Media
Based out of Buffalo, New York, Amherst Media is a publishing company that specializes in producing print and ebook photography titles. From wedding photography, to fine art photography, and everything in between, Amherst Media is responsible for publishing some of the most beautiful photography books out there. Some of their books include “Dancers in Motion” by Susan Michal, “Photographing the Aurora Borealis” by Andy Long, and “Niagara Falls for Everybody” by Barbara Lynch-Johnt.
The team at Amherst Media is actively seeking new authors to work with and highly encourage you to submit either a query letter or book proposal via email. They’re especially interested in instructional books about photography. For more information, you can refer to their submission guidelines.
3. Angel City Press
Founded in 1992, Angel City Press is an independent publishing company that specializes in publishing nonfiction books in both print and ebook formats. They’re especially fond of photographic collections about Los Angeles and general architecture. Some of their titles include “After/Image: Los Angeles Outside the Frame” by Lynell George, “Homeless Women in Santa Monica” by France Noble and photographed by Ian Noble, and “Downtown In Detail” by Tom Zimmerman.
They are currently accepting submissions and book proposals via regular mail only. They do not accept electronic submissions. They strongly encourage you to review their submission guidelines and browse through their catalogue to make sure that your project will be a good fit. Be sure to include a cover letter that provides your book’s title and summary, an approximate word count, a suggested table of contents, an introduction, sample chapter, and artwork copies for consideration, a brief author bio, and information on your intended audience.
4. Balcony Press
Balcony Press was founded in 1994 in Glendale California and has since become a publishing company specializing in illustrative nonfiction books about art, architecture, and design. Some of their bestselling titles include “Japan: A Reverence for Beauty” photographed by Gil Garcetti, “Moody Nolan Design” by Curtis Moody, and “The Gamble House Cookbook: Good Design Good Food” photographed by Meg McComb.
They are currently accepting unsolicited submissions and accept book proposals via email or regular mail. They ask that you first browse their catalogue to make sure that your photography project is a good fit for this publishing company. With your book proposal, be sure to include your book’s title, a brief summary, an approximate word count, information on your target audience, provide a brief author bio and resume, a suggested table of contents, a sample chapter and introduction for consideration, and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) if you would like your material returned to you.
5. Boulder Books
Boulder Books is a Canadian publishing company based out of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador that was founded in 2002. They publish a wide range of books and are actively seeking to expand their photography catalogue. Some of their titles include “Saltwater Mittens” by Christine Legrow & Shirley A. Scott, and “Wildflowers and Ferns of Newfoundland” by Todd Boland.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscript submissions via email or regular mail. If you send via regular mail, please be sure to include an SASE and only send copies of your work. In your submission, be sure to include a cover letter that offers a brief author biography, a few sample pages of your manuscript, a synopsis of your book, and any photographs that you hope to include. For more information, you can refer to Boulder Books’ submission guidelines.
6. The Brucedale Press
The Brucedale Press is an independent Canadian publishing company based out of Port Elgin, Ontario that specializes in a wide variety of books and strives to promote works from talents writers and photographers alike. They’re especially interested in projects about nature and the environment. Some of their titles include books like “Birding the Bruce Peninsula” by Mike Pickup, and “Harvest Dust: Tales of Farm Life 1913-1976” written and photographed by John R. Hardy.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts from Canadian writers and photographers only. In addition, they only accept manuscript submissions via regular mail. All electronically delivered submissions will be deleted. You can review The Brucedale Press’ submission guidelines for more information with regards to their requirements. Due to the high volume of submissions they receive, they ask that you allow up to three months to hear back.
7. Camino Books
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Camino Books is an independent publishing company that was established in 1987 with the aim of publishing high quality nonfiction that revolved around the Middle Atlantic states. They currently boast a very impressive photography category, and have published titles like “Discovering Philadelphia: Places Little Known” by David S. Traub, “PCN Tours: A Companion to the Popular Television Series” by Brian Lockman, and “Philadelphia: A Railroad History” by Edward W. Duffy.
They are currently accepting unsolicited submissions, but strongly encourage you to review their submission guidelines and browse through their currently published titles to see if your project would be a good fit with their company. They note that they do not publish fiction, poetry, or children’s books. All submissions should be sent via mail. Be sure not to send any original copies of your work, and include a SASE if you would like your material returned to you.
8. Gingko Press
Gingko Press is a publishing company based out of Berkeley, California whose books are distributed world-wide through Ingram Publisher Service. They’re a publisher of high-quality and truly beautiful illustrative and photographic titles about topics like graphic design, popular culture, street art and graffiti, architecture, fine arts, and more. Some of their books include “Aesthetica Botanica: A Life with Plants” edited by Sandu Publications, “Architecture Today-Interior Design” by Oscar Asensio, and “Back to the Lab: Hip Hop Home Studios” edited by Papi Press.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts for consideration via regular mail. They ask that you include a cover letter with your contact information, be sure to include an SASE, sample spreads of your illustrations, a sample table of contents, and an excerpt of your text and introduction. For more information, you can refer to their submission guidelines.
9. Joggling Board Press
Based out of Charleston, South Carolina, Joggling Board Press is an independent publishing company that specializes in producing nonfiction works about history, culture, and the American southeast. Some of their titles include “The Humours of Folly” by Ellie Maas Davis & Frank Braden, and “Cornices of Charleston” by Jack Alterman and Susan Romaine.
They are actively seeking book proposals from new authors and photographers. The team at Joggling Board Press strongly encourages you to review their submission guidelines before proceeding. They’re more than happy to work with both agented and independent authors. Your book proposal can be sent via email. If they’re interested in your project, they may reach out to you to send your materials in hardcopy via regular mail at a later date.
10. KMW Studio Publishing
KMW Studio Publishing is an independent publishing company based out of Staatsbury, New York. They have a flare for books that are unique and out there, brightly colored with great and different perspectives on life. Some of their photography titles include “Drags” by Gregory Kramer, “Things I Do in Detroit: A Guidebook to the Coolest Places By the Nain Rouge” by Dave Krieger, and “Torso” by Markus Cuff.
They are currently accepting book proposals from both agented and independent authors and photographers. They ask that you submit your proposal in PDF format via email for consideration. For general inquiries, you can also contact the team at KMW Studio Publishing via email. They ask that you allow up to two weeks to hear back from them.
11. Laurence King Publishers
Laurence King Publishers is a UK-based publishing company located in the heart of London. They strive to produce high-quality books about the creative arts. Their photography category boasts titles like “#NoFilter: Get Creative with Photography” by Natalia Price-Cabrera, “The Short Story of Photography” by Ian Haydn Smith, and “Bystander” by Colin Westerbeck and Joel Meyerowitz.
They are currently accepting unsolicited submissions and book proposals. You’re strongly encourage to review their submission guidelines, as there are specific requirements depending on the type of book you’re hoping to publish. The team at Laurence King Publishers are especially interested in projects about art and design, architecture, fashion and beauty, film, photography, painting and drawing, music, popular culture, nature, and popular science. All submissions can be sent via email.
12. Overcup Press
Based in Portland, Oregon, Overcup Press is a small independent publishing company that produces nonfiction titles about art, design, travel, and picture books. Some of their books include “99 Ways to Make a Pipe: Problem Solving for Pot Smokers” by Brett Storn, “The Tall Trees of Tokyo” by Matt Wagner, and “Tilikum Crossing: Bridge of the People” by Donald Macdonald.
They are currently accepting unsolicited submissions for manuscripts about travel, architecture and design, food and drink, contemporary arts and culture, music, and regional US Northwest subjects. They note that they are not currently accepting manuscripts for children’s books, fiction, poetry, religious books, and self-help. All submissions can be sent through their website’s online submission form.
13. powerHouse Books
powerHouse Books is an independent publishing company based out of Brooklyn, New York that is known for their distinct taste in fine art books, books about pop culture, fashion, and celebrities. Some of their most recent titles include “Leonard Bernstein 100: The Masters Photograph the Maestro” by Jamie Bernstein and Steve J. Sherman, “Cocoons” by Peter Steinhauer, and “Boxing” photographed by Larry Fink.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts and book proposals via their online submission form. They note that they only accept completed works, but are willing to provide you with detailed critiques for your project so you have a better idea on how to improve for the next time you try to submit. For more information, you can review their submission programme details.
14. Reaktion Books
Based in London, UK, Reaktion Books is a publishing company that specializes in publishing nonfiction books that was founded in 1985. They have an impressive photography category that boasts titles like “Liquid City” by Marc Atkins and Iain Sinclair, “Photography and Africa’ by Erin Haney, and “The Spoken Image” by Clive Scott.
They are currently accepting book proposals and ask that you review their submission guidelines carefully before proceeding. You should include your title, a synopsis of your project, a brief outline along with copies of any illustrations you hope to use, a brief author bio and resume, information on your intended audience, potential competition for your book, and an expected date of manuscript completion. Submissions can be sent either via email or regular mail.
15. Sasquatch Books
Sasquatch Books is a small publishing company based out of Seattle, Washington that works with Penguin Random House Publisher Services to distribute their books to a world-wide audience. They have an impressive collection of photography and art titles, including books like “The Northern Lights” by Daryl Pederson, and “The Art of Flora Forager” by Bridget Beth Collins.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts from both agented and independent authors and photographers, but they do note that due to the high volume of submissions that they’ve received, they will only reach out to those projects that have piqued their interest. Submissions can be sent via regular mail. You can review their submission guidelines for more information on book proposal requirements.
16. Spotted Cow Press
Spotted Cow Press is a Canadian independent publisher based out of Edmonton, Alberta. They publish a wide range of genres about a variety of different topics, including general fiction, poetry, history, and photography that revolves around the people and natural environment of the Great Plains. Spotted Cow Press publishes books in both print and ebook format to help their authors reach readers across traditional and electronic platforms. They are currently not accepting any new submissions at this time, but encourage you to check back at a later date.
17. Twin Lights Publishers, Inc.
Located in Rockport, Massachusetts, Twin Lights Publishers is a publishing company that specializes in photography books, primarily those to do with American landscape and sites of interest. Some of their upcoming titles include “Albuquerque, NM” by Knate Myers and Kent Winchester, “Atlanta, GA” by Chris Hamilton and Sara Day, and “Sacramento, CA” by Steve Pate-Newberry and Michelle Alberigi McKenzie.
They are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts and book proposals and highly encourage you to send your material via regular mail. They note, however, that due to the high level of interest and submissions, their editorial team will only reach out to those authors who they’re interested in working with. Be sure to include an SASE to have your material returned to you after consideration.
18. Twin Palms
Twin Palms is an independent publishing company based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico that’s known for producing high-quality and engaging photography books. They’ve published wonderfully curated titles like “Tones of Dirt and Bone” by Mike Brodie, “The Art of Ruin” by Robert Stivers, and “Libyan Sugar” by Michael Christopher Brown.
They are open to book proposals all year-round. If you’re interested in working with Twin Palms to get your photography book published, you can send your manuscript in PDF format to their editor. Due to the high volume of submissions they receive, their editorial team will only contact those authors with whom they’re interested in working with. For more information, you can visit Twin Palms’ contact page.
19. Far Country Press
Far Country Press is an independent publishing company located in Helena, Montana. They publish a wide variety of genres and topics, including adult fiction, children’s fiction, graphic novels, poetry, and photography books. They’re especially interested in projects having to do with Montana history, culture, and environment. Some of their photography titles include “Born Wild in Glacier National Park” photographed by Donald M. Jones, “Badlands Impressions” by Chuck Haney, and “Beartooth Country” by Mervin D. Coleman.
They are currently accepting book proposals from both agented and independent authors and photographers. If you’re interested in working with Far Country Press, you can submit a proposal via regular mail. Be sure to include an SASE to have your material returned to you. For more information, you can visit their submission guidelines page.
Do you know of any other photography book publishing companies? Tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.