FEATURED: EVERY LAST DETAIL | WORKFLOW WEDNESDAY | ASHTON KELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY | MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Yesterday was an exciting day! Dave and I took the day off and spent it preparing for our engagement session in Philadelphia with our photographers, Lauren and Tim Fair. We had an absolute blast with them, and they made it so easy for us to feel comfortable in front of the camera. I think it’s safe to say we are both looking forward to working with them again on our wedding day, which is rapidly approaching! I’ll be sharing more from that experience and more of the images when they are ready in a few weeks, but today’s topic is actually about something else!

Having been distracted yesterday, I didn’t get to share a tidbit of news! Yesterday, we were featured on Every Last Detail and the shoot they picked was one we’ve eagerly waited to show off. Don’t worry, it was totally worth the wait to see our images gracing the social media and blog of ELD. Happy dance!

So… speaking of features… I wanted to use this Workflow Wednesday to pass along a few tips about submitting for publications:

1. Detail Heavily.

Remember when you are planning or shooting your next intended submission, to put special focus on the details. Ensure there are enough of them to support the story and capture them with care. Blogs take time to publish unique content so they can appeal to the brides who are browsing their website for inspiration.

2. Be Original.

Try to set your shoot apart, or use a trending detail differently. A leading cause for having your submission rejected is that the content mirrors another feature they’ve recently accepted too closely. Make sure there is something about your design that will intrigue the editors.

3. Study!

Have a clear idea of the publication you want to submit to, and study the types of images they typically pick. This will prepare you when shooting so that you know what they are looking for. If you have already executed your shoot, take time to study different publications to see where the images you’ve taken might best fit. Each blog or magazine will have a style of their own, so be sure your artistic editing, color palette, or theme would appeal to their audience before sending it in.

4. Credit Everyone.

Most publications are looking for a lengthy list of collaborators. Having at least seven vendors to source can help your chances of being published. Editors love an opportunity to shine a light on a large group of creatives, so be sure to reach out and collect an awesome team for your next shoot out! If you didn’t have a lot of help, don’t worry. There are tons of great blogs out there looking for DIY content, too.

5. Sharing.

This is the big kahuna!

BEFORE PUBLICATION – Share very little! If you’re overly excited, perhaps consider a bridal shot or something from the distance. The key before submitting is to keep the session in the dark. The less that is seen, the better the chance you will have at being accepted to an exclusive publication. Specifically if your details are unique, you want to try and make sure they go straight to an editor. Try to get them edited and submitted as quickly as possible, so you’re waiting as little as possible.

It’s important to note that upon submission, you could wait weeks or even months to hear back, depending on the source. Most have a pretty efficient system that allows a consistent turnaround, but others have been known to drag their feet and leave you teetering on the unknown. I have had many moments where I had to decide to pull a submission I had waited months to hear back about, and left wondering if they would have checked it the next day. This also leaves you at risk to “season out” and miss the opportunity to be featured because it is no longer season relevant. This is important to sidebar and mention today, of all days, because this is exactly what happened to Stephanie and I on this very shoot we did last August.

AFTER PUBLICATION – Share everywhere! Be sure you use the link from the publication and spread it like wildfire. Post it to your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and more. You’ve waited long and worked hard to see the finished product shown elsewhere, so be sure to share it everywhere. Editors also LOVE vendors who cross-promote them, and they will remember you next time. ;)

Want to see our full feature at Every Last Detail and all the vendors that made it happen? Click here. A big thank you to Stephanie Scholl Events for putting all of this together. I loved working with you and can’t wait to do so again, soon! <3

Join us next week for another edition of the Workflow Wednesday series! Something you want to see answered? Leave a comment on the blog and i’ll add it to our list to blog! Cheers!

-Ash