How do people get their photos in magazines and calenders?

[enzodm]

Just start from stock sites, if you only want to be published in some place sooner or later - web sites, flyers, etc. E.g.: Stock Photos | Shutterstock: Royalty-Free Subscription Stock Photography & Vector Art (just one of the many, you can find also comparisons around). However, consider that you are selected to enter, it's not like self-publishing on Facebook.

 

[Dao]

I think it isn't a real answer to the question since there are so many variations.

Do you think a top tier Woman Fashion magazine(s) has their own photographers? Maybe yes. And do you think all the photos (not ads) inside their magazine are taken by their photographers? Maybe no.
What about other magazines or types of magazines such as interior design magazine, Rock and minerals magazine?

 

[JClishe]

I was approached by a publisher of childrens books to purchase a photo of mine that was on Flickr. The deal ultimately fell through, but the point is they found me because my photo was discoverable; it was posted online and I had tagged it with keywords that made it discoverable to anyone that was searching for it. So simply putting your stuff out there in a way that other people can find it is another approach.