We're not likely to run a photo of someone wearing a fanny pack on a trail, nor are we likely to use a photo showing someone cooking on a two-burner stove set up on a campground table. This is especially true for gear photos. At least one person should be in every shot to give a sense of scale to the equipment. Avoid shadows on faces. Remember that hats with brims usually cast shadows across people's eyes, and we don't like that.
Sunglasses are usually undesirable.
Packs should fit the hiker properly, and features like bottle holders should be utilized. Tents should be fully staked out and the fly should be tight. Smaller products, such as purifiers, stoves, and headlamps, should be shot in use. For each issue our photo editor sends out via email a list of photos we need for upcoming articles. We require a stock list and a leave-behind example of your work.