One of the most common things other photographers ask me about is how to submit photos for publication. But before I dig into the bits of advice, I first want to tell you about my experiences with having my work featured. When I first started submitting my work I figured it would be free advertising; to have my work in front of hundreds of brides would certainly be a good thing and lead to inquiries, right!? Well, yes and no. I have had some inquiries as a result of a feature in a blog, but I’ve never booked a bride from a feature. I’ve heard of other photographers having better success with this, but I just want to be honest with you about my experience.

However, I’ve come to learn that there is more value in having work featured than seeking out inquiries. I have (thankfully) realized that showing my brides that I’ve been featured in blogs/magazines is like having a reference. I’ve heard of horror stories where brides invest in a “photographer” only to never hear from them again, never get their photos, or it turns out to be a scam altogether. So I feel that having my work featured is another way to show that I am a serious photographer and it provides (some) validation and security for my clients. I’m not saying it’s the end all, be all… but every little thing helps!

And finally, I love to submit my work to particular blogs because I really enjoy their content and I’m so happy and honored to support them by sending my work to them! I’ve found that blogs (especially ones that resonate with your brand & style) attract other wedding creatives alike. It’s a wonderful place to discover, network with, and reach out to other creatives!

So, having said that, here are my tips for submitting your work!

1. CHOOSE WISELY. Make sure the work you are submitting will fit in with the content that the publication love to feature. Find out what they love and then send them something they can’t resist!
2. EXCLUSIVE vs. NONEXCLUSIVE. Some publications are exclusive, meaning they want to be the first and/or only publication to feature the photos. Nonexclusive publications typically don’t mind if the photos are published elsewhere. Make sure you are aware of the preferences of the editors you are submitting to.
3. READ THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. Publications can get hundreds of submissions every week and even every day. Don’t let them throw out your submission due to a technicality. Make sure you submit your photos with the guidelines they request.
4. FIND OUT WHO YOU’RE WRITING TO. Editors are humans just like us, so why not address your emails/submissions to them accordingly? Put yourself in their shoes for a minute… You’re at your computer all day sifting through tons of submissions from great photographers from all over the world. Wouldn’t you want someone to acknowledge you and thank you for your time and work?
5. CHOOSE THE BEST PHOTOS. Often times editors want to see a small sample of photos, and then they will ask to see more if they’re interested. Be sure to provide a nice variety of your best shots. Make sure the shots aren’t too similar; if you have a few shots that are very similar to each other, only pick the best one. It also might help to provide a variety of horizontal and vertical images.
6. WRITE. Many publications want a little blurb to go along with the submission. If you’re at a total loss, browse around the publication and check out what other photographers have written. This might give you some ideas to get you started and can serve as a guide for the content type, perspective, length, etc. of what to write. I’m obviously not endorsing copying someone else’s work. But just as you would study the photos that the blog likes, you can study the written portion of a submission that the blog likes!
7. ONE AT A TIME. It is respectful to only submit to one publication at a time. If your first choice declines, you can then submit to the next publication. A note; if you use Two Bright Lights, the editors can see if you submit to more than one blog at a time!
8. BE PATIENT. Look to see what their response time typically is – this is usually listed in their submission guideline info. If their quoted time has elapsed it’s perfectly ok to reach out & follow up with them, but make sure you’re polite and professional. Keep in mind they’re very busy.
9. SEEK FEEDBACK. If your submission is not selected for publication it’s perfectly acceptable to seek out feedback from the editor. If you respectfully and professionally ask them what you could’ve done to better your chances, they will likely be happy to give you some feedback and they’ll likely appreciate your dedication.
10. SUBMISSION SERVICES. If you don’t have any experience getting published consider using a service like Two Bright Lights. It might be a good way for some photographers to get started. I used TBL for the first year I was submitting my work. It definitely helped to streamline the process, but eventually I determined that I could submit directly to the editors saving myself the money for a TBL membership.

I hope this helps & answers your questions about submitting your work!