ACE is now closed for enrollment.
The next round will open in 2026 with new lessons and updated insights for an industry that never stands still.
Until then, join the waitlist to be the first to know when doors reopen — and get early access to sneak peeks of what's coming.
A Course on Editorials by Alana Ocano
A different kind of course for a different kind of photographer
NEW FOR AUGUST 2025: the editorial landscape + case study for wwd
Enrollment: $599 - includes lifetime access
This round of ACE introduces a new foundational section: The Editorial Landscape — a candid look at how the publishing world really works, what publication tiers mean, how to protect your name, and why getting published in the right place matters. These lessons go beyond creative skills and teach you how to think strategically about your place in the industry.
You’ll also get an exclusive, in-depth WWD case study, sharing exactly how I landed that editorial—and a detailed breakdown of how I turned a mid-tier editorial into a top-tier feature for Vogue. This round offers ultra-exclusive, up-to-date content designed to give you a strategic edge and insider insights you won’t find anywhere else.
If you’ve ever felt like editorial photography is gatekept or impossible to break into...
I want you to know — you're not wrong. But I also want to tell you it’s more within reach than most people let on.
When I first started getting published, I didn’t have industry contacts, a traditional education, or representation. I built my career through trial, error, and relentless pitching — until one 14-page editorial changed everything. It opened the doors to dream clients, consistent work, and a place in this industry on my own terms.
I created ACE: A Course on Editorials to be the kind of resource I wish I had — something transparent, practical, and rooted in real experience. Since launching, it's helped photographers around the world publish with Vogue, Elle, L’Officiel, and more — often for the very first time.
The course is $599 and includes lifetime access and over 20 hours of step-by-step guidance.
If you're ready to understand how editorials actually work, how to shape your portfolio, pitch effectively, and get your work seen, ACE is here to walk you through it all.
What past students are saying
Honest words from photographers around the world who've taken ACE.
Whether they’ve landed Vogue features or finally pitched their first editorial, ACE students have experienced real momentum.
- Ana Elizabeth Aguila, Ireland
- Florencia Olsson, Argentina
- T.B., Europe
Topics covered
An honest deep-dive into what editors are looking for
Working through emotional blocks deterring you from pitching
Curating your current portfolio and social media to attract your target publications
Useful tools to help you plan your editorial
Gathering the right team
Editorial submissions vs. approved pitch
Styling + Pull letters
Finding the right contact information from magazine editors
Creating the editorial pitch e-mail (+ real examples)
Exploring differences between entry-level, mid-tier, and top-tier publications
Case studies of previously published work including: WWD, L’Officiel México, Cover of L’Officiel Belgium, Elle Ukraine, and Models.com — and how all of these editorials led me to paid commercial work.
Let's eliminate all the uncertainty
And begin getting your work published.
Course Details
Once you enroll to ACE (A Course on Editorials), you will experience:
Immediate access
Immediate and lifetime access to all course materials
Pre-recorded audio + video lessons
All lessons in this course consist primarily of pre-recorded audio lessons that you can listen to at your own pace, and on the go.
IRL examples
Examples of real correspondence with magazine editors and pitches that I have used to get my work published. This is my favorite part!
Curriculum
8 Parts of Editorial Instruction
An Introduction
An introduction to me and how I got started with photography without having had any traditional education in the field. Lessons on how I discovered my aesthetic and a candid analysis of beginning work.Precursors to Editorials
All about alignment, understanding editorials, and inner work. These lessons touch on auditing our current portfolio to suit the aesthetic of our target publications, overcoming emotional blocks, and where the industry is right now.Everything about Editorials
Understanding budgets, developing an editorial concept, styling, pull letters, gathering a team, models, and location.The PDF
Insight into what to include in both your Pitch and Submissions PDFs to get noticed by editors. Lessons examining my own PDFs both for pitches and submissions.Getting in Touch with Publications
Pitching procedures and tricks on finding editors' e-mails.The E-Mail
Learn what to include in THE Pitch + Submission e-mails, a closer look at my own pitch and submission e-mails, knowing when to follow up. 360° E-mail Templates included.-
NEW: The Editorial Landscape
A deep-dive into the politics, power dynamics, and unspoken truths of the publishing world.
Case Studies
In-depth case studies of my own published work including L'Officiel, Elle, Models.com
After this course
you will have:
A foundation to build upon
You will gain the necessary knowledge to start crafting editorials with a high likelihood of being published. Your profound comprehension of editorials will equip you to bring your artistic ideas to fruition.
Confidence to pursue your target publications
As you begin practicing the pitching methods from the lessons, your self-doubt will gradually fade away. The spark within you will intensify, driving your creative boundaries to new heights.
The knowledge to elevate your editorials
The knowledge you've acquired in this course will continue to fuel your desire for self-improvement. You'll develop the eye to keep experimenting and finetuning your skills.
"It was refreshing to hear the real side of getting published"
"Alana's editorial course is a game changer for photographers aiming to be published in print but unsure where to start. The insights on communicating with editors and setting up production logistics were invaluable. Her transparency about the industry, especially regarding magazines, and sharing her personal struggles made me doubt myself less. It was refreshing to hear the real side of getting published—far from the glamorous image we often see. After taking the course, I immediately took action by connecting with stylists and set designers, and focusing on more ambitious storylines for my shoots!"
FAQ
You’ve got questions. I've got answers.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for photographers who would like to get their editorials published, whether that be in print or online.
Why are you creating this course?
Because I know what it feels like to believe in your work and in its potential, but also feel stumped with breaking into an industry that seems sealed tight. A part of me enjoyed the challenge of figuring out how to get in touch with editors, but spending hours trying to get in touch with publications and not getting any responses felt too draining at the end of the day. I really wish that from the plethora of photographers whose work I love, one of them offered something like this. Hearing their honest perspective on how editorials work, would have made the biggest difference to me, and saved me so much time and mental energy. I created this course so that you can begin embarking on your own editorial journey. Here I unpack my industry knowledge so that all you need to worry about is the creative aspect.
Will I earn money shooting editorials?
I would like for anyone that is taking this course to be aware that editorial/published work in and of itself is NOT a lucrative part of the industry. Typically IF a publication has a photographer budget for editorials, it's a non-negotiable fixed amount set by the publication.
The photographer then decides how to spend this amount for all associated costs (equipment rental, film rolls, assistant, development, post production, etc.). These amounts are usually not the equivalent to what you would charge commercially OR for a full day of work. The power of editorials lies in the freedom to express yourself as creatively as possible and demonstrate your skills working with a team, without compromising your unique style. This is precisely what leads to paid work and what has gotten me most of my jobs.
What level of photography must I be in to join this course?
This course is designed for photographers that already have an existing body of work in their portfolio and demonstrated knowledge of camera technicalities. All topics covered assume understanding of how to work a camera and shooting people. There will be no lessons covering technical photography skills.
Must I already have fashion work in my portfolio to take this course?
Previous fashion work is not necessary, but it is a huge plus. In this course, you will learn how your current portfolio can impact whether a shoot proposal/pitch gets approved within a fashion publication context. If your body of work does not currently reflect fashion-related work (i.e. shooting with models, or with teams), then you may need to spend time developing or revising your portfolio before you begin pitching/sending out proposals.
How many spots are available in this course?
Unlimited spots are available.
How long will I have to access this course?
Once the course is purchased, you will have lifetime access to this course.
Will I get future updates of ACE after purchasing?
When you join, you’re purchasing access to the current version of ACE — including all materials, bonuses, and any updates made within that round or year. Future editions of the course may evolve with new content, and while past students sometimes receive loyalty perks or upgrade options, access to future versions isn’t automatically included.
How much 1:1 support will I receive?
Unless explicitly stated as a part of a promotion or sale, there will not be any 1:1 support offered. I have designed this course to be as comprehensive as possible, but if anything included in the course needs clarification or additional information, please e-mail me at hello@11thedit.com
What if I'm not satisfied with the course?
Because this is a digital course with lessons presented mainly via audio files (which can also be downloaded), I do not offer any refunds. Please refer to the Terms of Service before purchasing.
I am certain that the information I have provided in this course will be useful to you, but in the case of any issue or you have a situation that you would like to bring up, please contact hello@11thedit.com
About the founder
Hi! I'm Alana.
I'm a California-born photographer and director working between Paris and New York. Since as far as I can remember, I always felt a strong affinity towards fashion and documenting imaginary narratives. Fashion photography became and continues to be my perfect medium of creative expression.
Within these last few years working within fashion, I have noticed an enormous lack of resources related to getting our work published in magazines as well as establishing a presence in the industry. It can oftentimes feel elusive and like so much of the information is being gatekept, making it perpetually challenging to grow and become the professionals we so deeply desire.
My goal is to provide a space where knowledge is shared, connections are made, and photographers like you can thrive in the fashion industry. ACE is my way of paying it forward, offering the tools and insights I wish I had when I was starting out—so we can all grow together.
Let's keep in touch.
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