What to Do With All That Beautiful Content? Submit Your Photos for Publication!
You didn’t just survive wedding season—you crushed it. Now’s the moment to submit your photos for publication, draw ideal customers, gain recognition, and land features of your work in top bridal magazines where it belongs.
Stop letting your best shots sit in folders. When you submit your photos, you’re not just chasing features—you’re building a name, a brand, and a client base that aligns with your creative vision. Brides aren’t just dreaming on Pinterest—they’re looking in bridal magazines for someone like you.
Why Submitting Your Photos Is a Game-Changer
When you consistently submit your photos for publication, you build trust. Publications—whether digital blogs or bridal magazines—give you the kind of exposure money can’t buy. This is how you gain recognition while reaching clients who already love your aesthetic. It’s also one of the smartest ways to draw ideal customers to your brand. After all, couples who connect with your style through a magazine or blog feature are already sold on your vibe.
Want even more good news? These features create backlinks to your website—which Google loves. More backlinks = higher rankings. And that means more couples can find you online.
Don’t know what backlinks are? You SHOULD! I’ve written a guide called SEO 101 for Adventure Elopement Photographers that tells you the importance of SEO – specifically discussing backlinks and keywords.
Midnight Gown rental, also available for preorder/purchase. Photo by Natalia Galius
Step-by-Step: How to Submit Your Photos for Publication and Get Noticed
1. Research Each Publication
Before you submit your photos, study the vibe. Every publication—from indie wedding blogs to luxe bridal magazines—has a unique voice. The more your content matches their aesthetic, the higher your chance of being accepted. This is also key to making sure you draw ideal customers who align with that look and feel.
2. Curate a Standout Gallery
Don’t send the full wedding gallery. Choose the best storytelling shots that showcase emotion, detail, and style. Editors want a story. Whether you’re pitching an elopement, styled shoot, or traditional wedding, make your submission count. Great storytelling helps you gain recognition while making your work unforgettable.
3. Write a Compelling Pitch
When you submit your photos, include a short but powerful pitch that explains what made the shoot special. Include the couple’s backstory, venue info, inspiration, and favorite moments. Strong pitches catch attention—and bridal magazines love a meaningful narrative.
4. Check the Requirements
Every publication has different guidelines. Before you submit your photos for publication, make sure you meet their exact specs. One skipped detail could cost you the feature—and the chance to gain recognition or draw ideal customers through their audience.
5. Be Original
Creativity wins. Don’t just copy trends—set them. Fresh, distinctive work is far more likely to get picked up and shared. And the more unique your work, the more likely you are to draw ideal customers looking for exactly what you offer.
6. Understand Exclusivity
Most publications, especially major bridal magazines, want exclusivity. Read their policy before you submit your photos elsewhere. If you’re not willing to wait, pitch to blogs or local outlets that offer quick turnaround or limited exclusivity.
7. Get Published Locally
Don’t overlook local bridal magazines and publications—they’re gold for regional brand-building. When you submit photos for publication in your area, you draw ideal customers who are actively searching for vendors near them.
Photo by Sarah Lotus Dress rental is Skye by The Wild Love Collective and is also available for preorder/purchase.
Where to Start Submitting
One of the best tools to submit your photos for publication is Two Bright Lights. It’s a streamlined platform where you can upload galleries, pitch to editors, and even let publishers discover your work. Many of the bridal magazines mentioned below accept submissions through their platform.
✨ Pro Tip: Keep a spreadsheet of where you’ve submitted, dates, and exclusivity status to stay organized!
Final Thoughts: Why This Matters
If you want to grow your business, boost visibility, and attract dream clients, submit your photos. Make it a routine, not a one-time thing. This simple strategy helps you gain recognition, draw ideal customers, and get featured in the bridal magazines that shape the industry.
Your work deserves to be seen—so start sending it out into the world. And when you get published? Come back and tell me where. I want to celebrate every feature with you.
Where to Submit Your Photos for Publication
Now that you’re ready to submit your photos for publication, let’s talk about the best places to start. Whether you’re dreaming of a feature in iconic bridal magazines or want to showcase your work in modern, niche wedding blogs, these publications are the perfect launchpad to gain recognition and draw ideal customers.
Here’s a curated list of top publications actively looking for submissions:
Boho Weddings
If your shoot leans into boho, rustic, luxe, or whimsical vibes, submit your photos here. Boho Weddings loves authentic, creative weddings that blend different styles beautifully.
➡️ Submit here
Wedding Chicks
A stylish destination for the modern bride. Submitting here is a brilliant way to gain recognition and draw ideal customers looking for inspiration with a fresh, fashionable twist.
➡️ Submit here
Green Wedding Shoes
Perfect for offbeat, trendsetting couples. GWS editors love unique adventure elopements and jaw-dropping details. Submit your photos for publication if you want your creativity to shine.
➡️ Submit here
Junebug Weddings
Junebug celebrates distinctive personal style and unforgettable storytelling. If you want to gain recognition from a creative community and draw ideal customers, this is a must.
➡️ Submit here
Style Me Pretty
Classic meets modern with SMP. Their audience craves clean, beautiful photography with wow-factor design details. Submitting to them can lead to massive exposure in top bridal magazines.
➡️ Submit here
Bonus Tip: Submit Photos for Publication Locally, Too
National features are amazing, but don’t forget to submit your photos for publication in local and regional bridal magazines. Getting published close to home is one of the fastest ways to draw ideal customers who are searching for vendors right in your area. Local couples trust familiar names—and when they see your feature, you’ll already have built that connection.
Some great local and regional options include:
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Wedding Day Magazine (Midwest Brides) ➡️ Submit here
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Pacific Weddings (Destination and Hawaii Brides) ➡️ Submit here
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PNW Weddings (Pacific Northwest) ➡️ Submit here
How to Maximize Your Submissions
Here’s how to set yourself up for success when you submit your photos:
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Curate a focused gallery (less is more).
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Match your style to the publication’s aesthetic.
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Craft a memorable pitch telling the couple’s story.
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Double-check submission guidelines before sending.
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Respect exclusivity periods.
By following these simple steps, you can consistently gain recognition, build backlinks, boost your SEO, and most importantly—draw ideal customers who value your style and want to work with you.
Ready to get started? Pick a few favorites from the list above, submit your photos for publication, and watch your visibility skyrocket.
And when you get published? Tell me where you land! I would love to celebrate your success and cheer you on.
MunaLuchi Bridal
MunaLuchi Bridal is the leading multicultural wedding publication catering to women of color. They accept styled shoot submissions along with real weddings, engagement sessions, and proposal stories. Submit here.
Pretty Pear Bride
Pretty Pear Bride looks for photos showcasing plus-size brides with extraordinary photography. Submit here.
Grace Ormonde Wedding Style
Grace Ormonde is the leading influence in the world of luxury weddings. Their focus is on high fashion, but they do accept styled shoot submissions. Submit here.
Martha Stewart Weddings
A classic in the wedding industry, Martha Stewart Weddings mainly publishes real weddings. Submit here.
The Knot Magazine
The Knot Magazine accepts submissions via Two Bright Lights. Their profile for submissions is here, and you can read more about their process here.
Style Me Pretty
Style Me Pretty is your go-to destination for all things pretty. When it comes to submissions, they say, “Every. Single. Day. We are asked, “What are you looking for?” Style Me Pretty most definitely has a look. A feel. Pretty. Fresh. Clean. Classic…with a twist. Those that we carefully choose to publish on-site have something extra. A sparkle. A hint of wow without being over the top. Rooted in the classic but with a fresh, modern approach.” Submit here and read these tips.
Ultimate Weddings
Ultimate Weddings features real weddings, styled photoshoots, blogs, and article content from all faiths and cultures and couples of all shapes, sizes, races, and sexual orientations. Submit here
Brooklyn Bride
Brooklyn Bride accepts real weddings, showers, engagement parties, day-after sessions, rehearsal dinners, tablescapes, inspiration shoots, and even products like invitations, jewelry, cake toppers, etc. Submit here.
Once Wed
Their focus is on simple, classic, elegant, understated, and original weddings and styled shoots. They love celebrations that are surprising, inspirational, and are a true reflection of the couple getting married. They look for unique details, like a fantastic venue or one-of-a-kind dress. Submit here.
Carats & Cake
Carats & Cake is the premier network representing the best of the wedding industry. Launched in 2013, the platform is an edit of the best of weddings across the country to allow couples to find vendors and venues in their location of interest. Submit here.
100 Layer Cake
Remember to include detail shots or anything noteworthy about your submission. Their readers love content that is romantic, trend-setting, creative, handmade, unique, or any combination of the above. Submit here. They also accept submissions via Two Bright Lights.
The Perfect Palette
At its heart, The Perfect Palette is a blog that explores the color palette possibilities for weddings and parties. From styled shoots to color tips, The Perfect Palette is all about sharing creative and colorful styling ideas. Submit here.
Ruffled
Submissions are selected based on photography style, event styling, decor details, and story. They’ve also written extensively about what they want from styled shoots. Submit here.
Bridal Musings
Bridal Musings features real weddings, styled shoots, and films that can be described as one (or all) of the following: chic, stylish, creative, beautiful, or romantic. Submit here.
Belle The Magazine
Belle The Magazine aims to be a resource for the sophisticated, fashion-forward bride with an eye for luxury details and creative ideas. In their words, “My ideal editorial content includes extravagant weddings and engagement sessions that are lush, glamorous, luxurious, and absolutely breathtaking.” Submit here.
Whimsical Wonderland Weddings
Whimsical Wonderland Weddings is a friendly & inclusive wedding ideas blog featuring weddings that are not necessarily traditional but utterly gorgeous & filled with love. Submit here.
Wedding Sparrow
They specialize in film photography as we think it emotes simple, raw, and unadorned feelings and style. Wedding Sparrow only accepts submissions from its members, but details are available here. Submit here.
Nearly Newlywed
NNW doesn’t specify their aesthetic preferences, but my impression is a classic with a touch of whimsy. Since NNW is a dress-centric site, I’d recommend submissions focus on bridal wear. Submit here.
B’LOV’ED
Their readers love to see plenty of details, floral designs, tablescapes, and other creative décor inspirations. B’LOV’ED celebrates diversity and welcomes various styles, including modern elegance, boho chic, vintage glamour, botanical beauty, and minimalism. They also love destination weddings with a WOW factor. Submit here.
Bespoke Bride
They prefer submissions to be detail-heavy and as colorful and bright as possible. Submit here.
Photo by Wild Elopements Photography
Weddingbells
They only feature styled shoots online (not in the magazine). If you would like to submit for the website, please upload your images, a list of vendors, and a description of the inspiration behind the shoot via the actual wedding submission page. Submit here.
The Un-Wedding
The focus of Un-Wedding is on non-traditional, bold, quirky, and unique choices. Submit here.
Love & Lavender
They aim to inspire our readers with unique ideas, styles, colors, and themes that they can incorporate into their own wedding day. In short, weddings with pizzazz! Submit here. They prefer submissions via Two Bright Lights.
Glamour & Grace
Glamour & Grace loves all things chic with vintage touches, handmade details, and phenomenal photography! They are focused on heirloom and handmade details, so please make mention of any unique details that would be of interest. They also feature select unique or vintage-styled engagement sessions, bridal shoots, anniversary sessions, or boudoir.shoots. Submit here.
Every Last Detail
Every Last Detail only accepts submissions from members. Learn more here.
Brides Magazine
Such a prominent magazine, Brides Magazine, only accepts real weddings, Submit here.
Southern Bride
Southern Bride also accepts real weddings and has a separate link on their site for that too. Contact Bridal Editorial or email submissions to submission@southernbride.com.
Inside Weddings
Another big magazine that prefers real weddings, but you can contact their editorial section here. Submit here.
Bridal Guide Magazine
Bridal Guide accepts both styled shoots and real weddings. They highlight all aspects of a wedding day: detail shots, great candid moments, beautifully posed portraits, and more! Submit here
Submitting your photos for publication is the best thing you can do for your business. Not only do you gain a wider audience, better targeting your ideal clientele, but backlinks to trusted online publications. Backlinks are one of the most important things you can do for your SEO.
Good luck getting published, hopefully, multiple times! Leave me a note below WHERE you got published; I’d love to hear from and celebrate you!
Ready to Level Up Even More?
📈 Download my free guide, SEO 101 for Adventure Elopement Photographers and learn how simple tweaks like submitting your photos for publication and building backlinks can skyrocket your website traffic and help you draw ideal customers consistently.
➡️ Grab the free SEO 101 guide here!
📚 Need an even bigger boost?
My book, ELOPE: A Modern Guide for the Free-Spirited and Adventurous, is packed with real elopement stories, planning inspiration, and destination ideas you can use to elevate your portfolio, pitch new styled shoots, and keep your creativity flowing.
➡️ Get your copy of ELOPE here and add another powerful tool to your business toolkit!