The Wedding And even Ts issue
Appealing to the
TAsTemAkers
How five of the leading wedding blogs choose the photographers they feature,
and how to decide where to submit your best work. By Holly Stuart Hughes
Blogs featuring photos of real wed- dings have become, for photog- raphers, the preferred platform for showing their work to poten- tial customers. Photo stories on blogs link to photographers’ Web
sites, making it easier for future brides to contact photographers directly. “I think most photographers now would rather be online than
in print,” says Colorado-based photographer
James Christianson. “I can’t remember the
last time I met with a bride who had a folder
of tearsheets.” Anne Robert of New York City
notes, “I love being published in a magazine
just to have work in print, but you don’t get
nearly the inquiries” as from blogs.
Blogs post images of real weddings—
submitted by photographers, wedding planners or
brides—as a way to provide real-life inspiration
to readers searching for ideas on dresses, décor
or venues. To be accepted for publication, images have to include all the credit information
for vendors, from florists to invitation designers. Wedding blogs also host paid directories
of photographers and other vendors, though
in some cases, listings for photographers are by
invitation only.
While having work on a wedding blog can
mean useful exposure for a photographer, deciding where to submit your work is a marketing decision that should be made strategically.
The hundreds of blogs on the Internet try to
distinguish themselves with a distinctive style
and point of view. Understanding who a site’s
readers are and the information they’re seeking
can determine whether or not the site is a good
fit for your brand and can connect you with
brides who will appreciate your work.
We asked wedding photographers across the
U.S. which blogs have helped them the most in
their careers, and selected five sites they mentioned most. We then asked the blog editors to
explain their submission guidelines, and what
they look for when choosing the wedding photos they feature.
The Wedding Chicks
www.weddingchicks.com
Founded: 2008
Who seleCTs pho Tos: Jocey Canrinus, co-founder
s Tyle: Creative weddings, with an emphasis on do-it-yourself. “We
feature real weddings, highlight the latest in bridal fashion trends, and
offer comprehensive do-it-yourself projects ranging from favors to free
printable stationery to edibles and more,” says co-founder Amy Squires.
FrequenCy oF sho Wing pho Tos: Two real weddings per day
submission requiremen Ts: Fifty to 75 images, shot within the year,
tied to the season of publication.
Fea Tures and direCTories: Vendor Guide, listing advertisers, and a
Hand Picked Vendors guide vetted by the editors.
© THE WEDDING CHICKS
With its emphasis on rustic, homey, personal details and do-it-yourself projects, The Wedding Chicks strike
a balance between showcasing creativity in weddings and creativity in photography. Co-founder and editor Amy
Squires says that in evaluating submissions from photographers, “We want to see stunning imagery of the dress,
are the kind of brides I want to reach.”
Photographer Erich McVey of Salem, Oregon, began
following the site when he and his fiancée were planning their wedding. He now pays for a listing on the Hand
Picked Vendor guide and has had weddings featured on
the site. McVey believes the site’s design and esthetic are
a good fit for his brand. “I love shooting weddings that incorporate unique details, thoughtful touches and a lot of
heart in the overall design. The Wedding Chicks continually feature this type of wedding.” McVey also appreciates
that the site features no more than two weddings per day.
“When a wedding I submit is featured, I know that it will
be the first wedding visitors see when they visit the site for
at least 24 hours.”
© YAN PHOTO
Wisconsin photographer Emily Steffen was contacted
by Brides magazine when an editor there saw her work on
The Wedding Chicks. She says The Wedding Chicks’ savvy
about social media helps increase her exposure. Thanks
to the site’s emphasis on “homey, not overly trendy weddings,” Steffen says, “the kind of brides they’re reaching
