When it comes to growing your destination wedding photography brand, does getting your work published in some of the best wedding blogs actually help your image? 

Take it from us. Lilly Red Photography has been featured in 40+ publications, multiple times. We’re not saying that to showboat. We’re saying it because it truly does make a difference in getting your brand name out there and building your brand’s image. 

When you learn how to get your wedding published, you’ll be able to use the publication’s badge on your website to let your readers know where you’ve been seen. That goes a long way in building trust and credibility with the kind of couples you want to work with. 

And that begins to change, as well! You’ll find that the more you’re featured in these kinds of publications, the more your ideal clients reach out to work with you.

Interested in Learning How to Get Your Wedding Published? Use Our Top 7 Tips: 

Getting your wedding published might feel like a massive goal that only other photographers reach. But that may be because you need to refine your submission process! 

Use these 7 top tips to help you raise your chances of getting accepted into the publications you know your ideal destination wedding client looks at:

1. Don’t Submit Your Wedding Photos to Every Publication

It might sound counterintuitive, but you shouldn’t submit your wedding photos to every publication you can get your hands on – just to have your work featured. 

You may get accepted into certain ones, but those publications may not be the ones that your ideal clients are looking at. Sure, that might not sound like the end of the world – but! It may have more repercussions than you think. 

For one thing, it could have been effort spent on submitting a higher quality proposal to a publication that your ideal client does look at. 

And on top of that, if your wedding photography is featured in a publication that your ideal client doesn’t look at or doesn’t feel represents them as a couple, and you post the badge of the publication on your website, you could be sending the wrong message to your ideal client. 

So, instead! Make a master list of where to submit wedding photos for publication. Then, go through each one and make sure they match your style of photography. Also make sure they feature work that will resonate with your ideal client. For example, if your ideal client loves adventurous destination elopements, then Chic Vintage Brides might not be the publication they look at.

Curious about a master list of different publications to submit wedding photos to? We share one in our Ultimate Styled Shoot Guide!

2. Focus On What the Publication Wants to See

To get your wedding published, you’ll have to focus on what the publication wants. The great news about this, though, is that these blogs and magazines will tell you what they want to see. 

The majority of the best wedding blogs and magazines out there have submission guidelines, editorial styles, and even editorial calendars so you can make sure you maximize your chances of getting accepted. 

All you have to do is search for the name of the publication and add submission to the end of the search. For example, if you’re wanting to get published with Martha Stewart Weddings, search for “Martha Stewart Weddings submission.”

You can search for these, too:

• Harper’s Bazaar weddings submission
• Style Me Pretty weddings submission
• Vogue wedding submission

Once you have the editorial styles in hand, then follow them to a T!

3. Collect All of Your Vendor Tags and Notes Before the Wedding

When you submit your wedding photos to publications, you’ll have to give the editors notes so they can create a blog post about it.

But trying to get notes from all of the different vendors and getting their vendor tags so you can give them credit for their hard work is extremely difficult to do after the wedding. At that point, vendors are focused on other weddings and they have to move on. Even the couple has to go back to “real life” once the wedding is over. 

So the best way to get all of the notes and tags you need is to reach out to vendors before the wedding takes place. Their whole focus is on that wedding, so it’s the best time to collect them.

4. Focus on the Right Wedding Photos to Submit. Don’t Take Up Room with the Wrong Ones

You won’t get to submit an entire destination wedding gallery, even if the location is absolutely epic! So that means you have to be incredibly intentional about the photos you do submit. 

The main purpose of the best wedding blogs is to get their readers to imagine what their wedding will be like – not to fall in love with the couple in the photos. 

So, for the most part, you can forgo adding photographs of family and friends at the wedding. Use those valuable spots in your submission to showcase plenty of details and decor. Readers can envision what their wedding will be like when they see those – and that’s what the editors want. 

5. Be Trendy…and Give Your Unique Spin! 

When it comes to how to get your wedding published in some of the best wedding blogs, it’s all about standing out instead of blending in. 

Normally, in almost any other industry, the way to do that is to be a little trendier. But with weddings, so many of them love to stay trendy. 

Don’t get us wrong! We recommend staying up on the trends and submitting weddings that are on the trendier side because that shows that you’re up-to-date and modern. And because they’re catering to couples that are currently planning their wedding, editors don’t want to showcase outdated events.

But! We also want you to provide your own unique spin instead of copying other photographers’ work or even getting too inspired by other photographers’ work. That only makes yours blend in. 

So create your unique style! And incorporate it into your wedding photography work. You can practice your unique style by planning styled shoots (which you can submit to wedding publications!) and curate your portfolio to attract your ideal clients, too.

6. Show That You Truly Care About the Blog…Here’s How: 

So many publications, from Vogue to Style Me Pretty, receive hundreds of wedding photography submissions each week. But these top wedding blogs are wanting to narrow down who they accept submission from. 

Many of them are turning to wedding professionals and photographers who are members of their blog. 

Use your list of publications that match your style and that your ideal client loves to look at, and become a vendor member. You’ll be more likely to have your wedding photography work accepted.

7. Grab the Editor’s Attention Right Away – This One Doesn’t Come from Your Photos! 

When we hosted a workshop with Green Wedding Shoes, they told us that they receive around 400 submissions per week. And as more photographers and wedding professionals join the industry, those submissions have more than likely increased! 

That means you have to grab the editor’s attention from the moment they open up your proposal. 

And surprisingly? That doesn’t come from your photos. It comes from your words! The reason for this is because, although your work is fabulous, there are just as many amazing photographers who are submitting their work, too. 

So finding other ways to stand out when working to get your wedding photography featured is crucial. And creating a stellar headline to hook your editor’s attention will go a long way. Use words that you found in their editorial style and try to use some of those (if they fit) in your title for the wedding you’re sharing. 

Bonus: How do you get your wedding featured in Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar?

Featuring a high-profile couple in your wedding publication submission can certainly pique the interest of editors and elevate the overall allure of your work. The presence of a celebrity or influential figure introduces an element of exclusivity and glamour, making your submission more enticing for top-tier publications. These renowned publications thrive on showcasing the latest fashion, trends, designs, and the captivating world of celebrities and VIPs.

However, it’s important to note that having a VIP or famous couple is often a prerequisite for these exclusive publications. Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and other high-end publications often intentionally omit submission forms from their websites. This is because they typically work through industry connections, PR firms, or directly with the couples themselves. Therefore, not only is it essential to have a high-profile couple, but you also need the right industry contact who can facilitate the submission process.

Remember, they’re also looking for stunning visuals, unique storytelling, innovative wedding concepts, and a clear demonstration of your distinctive photography style.

It’s worth acknowledging that the bar for these publications is set incredibly high, and their exclusivity can sometimes feel daunting or even unfair. However, these are trendsetting platforms with elevated standards, and their selectivity is part of what keeps them at the forefront of the industry.

But don’t be disheartened if these ultra-exclusive publications seem out of reach. There are numerous other fantastic publications that might be a great fit for your work. These platforms can offer significant exposure and the opportunity to showcase your unique style and storytelling to a wide audience. So, keep honing your craft, creating stunning imagery, and seeking out the right platforms to share your work. Your passion and dedication will shine through, and the right opportunities will come.

Learning how to get your weddings published in publications – whether they’re large or small – is a major win for your brand! You’ll never forget the feeling when your work is first accepted, especially when it’s accepted in a dream publication.