One of the things that can make submitting a wedding for publication so complicated is that each blog or magazine has a different way of going about collecting the images and information. This can seem really intimidating and confusing but generally the submission process involves sending information through the mail, communicating over email, utilizing the platform’s proprietary online upload system, or using an online publicity platform to aid in your submissions. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common formats, shall we?
By Mail
This format is preffered mainly by print publications who require high resolution images for magazine spreads. If a publication prefers this method they will most likely require high quality color scans, photocopies, or digital files on disk with a contact sheet. Be sure to check the publication’s website for required minimum dimensions or file size and label all materials with your name, contact information, the couples names and phone numbers, wedding date, and location (city and state). Most times your submission materials will not be returned so never send originals.
Examples of Publications who use this method: Grace Ormond Wedding Style and The Knot Magazine
Email is more or less the preferred submission format for online publications, but the way in which they want to receive your images can vary from site to site. Some publications will allow you to attach several low resolution images directly to your email while others prefer on of the other attachment methods listed below. Be sure to double check the submission guidelines in case they require a specific subject line for email submissions. Many bloggers set up email filters based on the subject line and if you do not follow their guidelines you won’t show up in the proper folders on their email client and your submission is much more likely to get lost in the shuffle.
Zip Folder
Once you determine the umber of images that you need to submit and the file size that is preferred by your publication of choice you can compress them into a zip folder before attaching them to your email. This keeps all of your files together and makes it easier for your reviewer to download them when all of your images are together in one folder.
Don’t stop after you compress the file, though. Be sure to rename your zip file with a name that will make it easy for the publication to locate your images when they are ready to use them for a feature. The file name archive.zip means that your submission gets lost on the editor’s computer. Getting lost means not getting published.
Name your zip files as “yourname_couplesnames_location.zip” This gives the editor all the basic information that they need at a glance.
Examples of Publications who use this method: The East Coast Bride
Link to Photographer’s Blog Post or Slideshow
Many publications will use a blog post from the photographer’s blog to do their initial review of an event and to decide if it is a good match for their publication. This is great news for you because you are probably blogging your images anyway so you don’t need to put forth much extra effort here.
One thing to keep in mind is that when you are using a blog post to entice editors to feature your content, they still want to see those great details just like they would on any other type of submission. Review your blog posts to be sure that you are including enough images for a potential editor to get a good feel of the wedding’s style, details, and personality.
Examples of Publications who use this method: Wedding Chics
Link to Proofing Gallery
Some publications will request that you send them a link to a proofing gallery featuring all of the images from the wedding that you are submiting for feature. Usually they are interested in seeing this information later in the game when they are laying out their features. Having all of your images on hand allows them to see if you have a vertical image of that stunning ring shot as well as a horizontal image which can help with their page layouts.
Examples of Publications who use this method: Weddings Unveiled, Martha Stewart Weddings
Cloud sharing
If your compressed folder is too large to send as an email attachment, publications will often advise you to use cloud sharing to send the file. You upload the file to an online “cloud” storage and then send the publication notification and they can log-on and download the file. There are many options to choose from for these servers, but some popular options are Dropbox or You Send It. Some publications may also ask you to use an FTP uploader to transmit the files to them. A good program for Mac is Transmit. With an FTP uploader the publication will send you a user name and password to access their remote server and upload your data to them.
Examples of Publications who use this method: Grey Likes Weddings
The Publications Proprietary System
Some of the publication who are larger and more popular (i.e. constantly flooded with submissions that would overwhelm a normal email system) have developed their own propritary systems for submissions. Usually you will upload a specified number of images along with information about yourself, the couple, wedding deatils, and vendors. Refer to the individual sites for specific requirements.
Examples of Publications who use this method: Style Me Pretty, Junebug Weddings
Online Publicity Platform
Online publicity platforms, like Two Bright Lights, are fee based services that help streamline the submission process by bringing many editors (TBL has 200 and counting) together under one roof. The big benefit of this service is that you only have to type in the information for each wedding and upload images one time. You can then submit to your first choice publication. If you are not accepted, all it takes is 3 clicks to resubmit to another publication. Easy as pumpkin pie, right?
Examples of Publications who use this method: Green Wedding Shoes, Capitol Romance
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