Top 5 Ways to Get Published on a Big Wedding Blog

When it comes to getting your name out into the industry as a wedding photographer, it can seem a bit daunting, especially as a newcomer to the field. You may try social media ads, such as Facebook or Google+, however, pretty much every photographer dreams of getting even just a mention on one of the big wedding blogs. You’ve heard the names: Style Me Pretty, Wedding Wire, etc. All of these can seem like a farfetched dream for some of us, but with some hard work, determination, and perseverance, soon enough you’ll see yourself floating across the web pages of some of the greats. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 ways to get published on a wedding blog, no matter how experienced you are.

 

1.Set Realistic Goals

As much as some of us want to be overly ambitious, now is not the time to set unachievable goals. Especially if you are new to trying to get published, making a goal that you can’t realistically achieve will only lead to disappointment. When I first started out, I was young and stupid, and made goals that I look back on with regret. Maybe you’ve looked at some blogs and really love Style Me Pretty, and are dying to get published. Style Me Pretty, and blogs like it, are reserved for the best of the best, so be prepared to hear “no” at first. That’s okay! Start out with a goal to be published with them in 1-2 years. That’s a pretty realistic goal, especially if you are continually working to improve. If you try to tell yourself you will be published in a month, that’s only setting yourself up for failure, and will only hurt you in the long run.

 

2.Start Small

As I mentioned above, it’s easy to get overly ambitious and shoot for the stars. While, of course, it’s important to pursue your dreams, it’s also important that you pace yourself. Rather than shoot for the big blogs, start off with some of the smaller ones! For example, blogs like Borrowed and Blue and The Knot will take submissions much easier than Style Me Pretty. So start off with those! The submission process itself can be extremely long, so using these smaller ones can be good practice to get yourself accustomed to the process, as well as get some exposure to build up on. Getting published is a bit of a snowball effect. Once you’ve gotten yourself well known on some of the smaller sites, it will be easier to build up and get the ball rolling onto bigger and better!

 

3.Research

I cannot stress this point enough. Getting published on a blog is very similar to applying for a job. For both of these, it is so important to go and research the company you are trying to get into. For wedding blogs, go look up who started them, who runs them, when they began, their history even. People love to feel like they are important and well known, so go ahead, be a suck up, and show off. Even look up how they format their features, how many pictures, what other people’s bios look like. All of these factors are extremely important, and will make you stand out amidst the seas of submissions.  Look up previous features, and try to notice patterns and choices in aesthetic. Really do your homework, and I promise you will see the pay off.

 

4.Match Your Aesthetic to Your Dream Blog’s Aesthetic

Speaking of doing your homework, it’s important to really nail down their aesthetic. Really delve into all of their features and favorites, and understand what it is that they are looking for. Once you’ve done that, take a look at your own work and make sure that it reflects this as well. More often than not, I’ve heard of photographers who send in work that conflicts what the blog usually posts, and then wonder why they weren’t published! An example of this is to check and see what kind of shots you are getting. If you shoot only barn sessions, then getting onto a blog that never features a barn session will be a bit difficult. I understand that it may be hard to find clients outside of your normal line of work, so another route to try may be a styled shoot. Styled shoots are great because you get to network with other vendors, as well as get some really solid portfolio pieces for yourself. If you have no idea where to begin for a styled shoot, that’s okay too! We’ve got you covered right here!!

 

5.Don’t Get Discouraged

Last but not least, the most important thing to remember throughout the entire process is not to get discouraged. I mentioned before that you will get plenty of “no”s, and believe me, you will. Big blogs only publish the best of the best of the best, and it can sometimes feel impossible to even compare to them, but that’s okay. No matter how good you are, it’s important that you understand that someone is always better than you. This is something that can be applied to pretty much every aspect of life, so take it and make sure you remember that. The more you work to improve your craft, the better the payoff will be in the long run.

 

Conclusion

Being in this industry can be intimidating, scary and hard, but it is incredibly rewarding. Hopefully the advice I have for you will help in your journey to getting published. I’m no expert in the world of getting published, but through a lot of work and dedication, I’m slowly getting there. Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!

 

Thanks for reading Top 5 Ways to Get Published on a Big Wedding Blog. Check out some of my wedding photos at The Market At Grelen Wedding | Virginia Wedding Photos, Delta Plantation Wedding Photos, Belmond Maroma Cancun Wedding among others.  And some engagement photos as well like Wormsloe Engagement Photos and Savannah Engagement Photo Session | Forsyth Park to name a couple. Also, go to our General Wedding FAQ and our Engagement Session FAQ posts for information about how to prepare for your photo sessions. We have other posts that can help you in your wedding preparations in our Journal Page. Don’t forget to check out my homepage for my newest wedding photography work.

As always, be sure to follow us on Instagram to stay updated with our newest adventures!

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