Some editors are more likely to accept your submission (as long as it\u2019s a fit aesthetically) if you have beautifully written content ready to go. This saves them the time of writing something themselves. For others, the images are only half of the feature. While we live in a world where we often tune out words and just focus on the pretty\u2014hello, scrolling through Instagram mindlessly\u2014words are what really bring weddings and styled shoots to life. Words are what give them meaning. Each submission\u2019s story is an opportunity to \u201csell\u201d your styled shoot or wedding before the editor even sees the photos.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here’s an example:<\/strong><\/h3>\nMy mom (owner of the wedding venue, The\u00a0Corner\u00a0District)\u00a0and\u00a0a group of vendor friends teamed up to put together a shoot that was reminiscent of my grandparents\u2019 wedding. They had just celebrated their 65th\u00a0anniversary and were in town visiting. We brought them by the venue to “pick something up”, then surprised them with their wedding recreated. We had a duplicate of their wedding cake (that we later brought home so they could eat it to celebrate), my grandmother’s restored wedding dress that a model later wore for the shoot, their wedding portraits,\u00a0and\u00a0fun vintage details that reflected the era\u00a0and\u00a0their wedding design.\u00a0There were tears, laughter, and even my grandpa whipping out his smartphone to take pictures to show to their friends. It was such a special day\u00a0and\u00a0so much fun to show them what my mom\u00a0and\u00a0I do for a living, in a way that truly meant something to them! We made sure to get some\u00a0portraits of them, too\u2014the perfect\u00a0memento of all that has blossomed from their love\u00a0and the\u00a0happiness of reminiscing on their wedding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"st](\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0018_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"st](\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0039_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"st](\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0062_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe blurb above is more or less what I sent to editors to try to get this styled shoot published. And here\u2019s the response I got: \u201cYou know I am in love with this! So sweet! I would love to feature it!\u201d If it wasn\u2019t for my story, the editor might have just seen some pretty pictures with super vintage details and wondered, \u201cwhy are there portraits of someone\u2019s grandparents mixed in here?\u201d<\/p>\n
How do I write a great description?<\/strong><\/h3>\nFirst, go through the photos one by one and jot down things to include in the submission description. I know what you\u2019re thinking. . . yes, it does take a long time. However, it will help you recall the details. I do this for my wedding PR clients and it helps me craft a beautiful story\u2014and I wasn\u2019t even at the wedding or styled shoot. You can do it, too.<\/p>\n
Remember that sometimes it\u2019s the smallest details that make the biggest impact. If it was a real wedding, what special details or personal touches did the couple include? Did they name their signature cocktails after their beloved pets? Perhaps they used vintage china from the bride\u2019s great-grandma in the d\u00e9cor. Don\u2019t forget to include these types of details.<\/p>\n
Styled shoots can be a little trickier as there\u2019s likely not a real couple to talk about. However, when designing this shoot, you must have had an inspiration couple in mind. So talk about them! I have a client (hi, Skylar Caitlin of Chancey Charm Houston) who is amazing at using an inspiration couple to both pull off stunning shoots and also \u201csell\u201d them to publications. Here\u2019s a snippet as an example:<\/p>\n
\u201cOur\u00a0couple\u00a0would want to bring Old World glamour to the natural Texas countryside. By tying in subtle French\u00a0inspiration\u00a0and natural styling, our design goal was to meld their love for European travel with an appreciation of their Southern upbringing. For a venue, I knew instantly there was no other choice than The Clubs at Houston Oaks. They have a 15th century chapel on property that was brought over from France and serves as their main wedding ceremony site. The entire property is full of these meticulous details that I cherish as a designer and played perfectly into the\u00a0inspiration couple\u2019s profile.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve written the description\u2014now what?<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnce you have a beautifully written design statement for your shoot, you can reuse this content over and over. Repurpose it for each submission you send to a publisher (tweaked per each outlet\u2019s submission guidelines or preferences, of course). Use it on social media when sharing the photos after the article has run. And use bits and pieces on your website when showcasing the photos. The time it takes to write a thoughtful description will be time well spent, friends!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For more information on\u00a0Something New for I Do\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0wedding PR expertise,\u00a0get in touch<\/a>! We would love to chat. And don\u2019t forget to check out my last two posts: 6 Tips To Get Your Shoots and Weddings Published Every Time<\/a> and Why It\u2019s Important to Read The Fine Print When Getting Published<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Any wedding planner or photographer who works on getting their real weddings and styled shoots published knows that the submission process can be a lengthy one. First, you have to cull the perfect set of photos for each outlet you submit to (well, at least you should for the best chance of getting published). And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":13419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing-branding"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-768x1150.jpg",768,1150,true],"large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-684x1024.jpg",684,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe blurb above is more or less what I sent to editors to try to get this styled shoot published. And here\u2019s the response I got: \u201cYou know I am in love with this! So sweet! I would love to feature it!\u201d If it wasn\u2019t for my story, the editor might have just seen some pretty pictures with super vintage details and wondered, \u201cwhy are there portraits of someone\u2019s grandparents mixed in here?\u201d<\/p>\n
How do I write a great description?<\/strong><\/h3>\nFirst, go through the photos one by one and jot down things to include in the submission description. I know what you\u2019re thinking. . . yes, it does take a long time. However, it will help you recall the details. I do this for my wedding PR clients and it helps me craft a beautiful story\u2014and I wasn\u2019t even at the wedding or styled shoot. You can do it, too.<\/p>\n
Remember that sometimes it\u2019s the smallest details that make the biggest impact. If it was a real wedding, what special details or personal touches did the couple include? Did they name their signature cocktails after their beloved pets? Perhaps they used vintage china from the bride\u2019s great-grandma in the d\u00e9cor. Don\u2019t forget to include these types of details.<\/p>\n
Styled shoots can be a little trickier as there\u2019s likely not a real couple to talk about. However, when designing this shoot, you must have had an inspiration couple in mind. So talk about them! I have a client (hi, Skylar Caitlin of Chancey Charm Houston) who is amazing at using an inspiration couple to both pull off stunning shoots and also \u201csell\u201d them to publications. Here\u2019s a snippet as an example:<\/p>\n
\u201cOur\u00a0couple\u00a0would want to bring Old World glamour to the natural Texas countryside. By tying in subtle French\u00a0inspiration\u00a0and natural styling, our design goal was to meld their love for European travel with an appreciation of their Southern upbringing. For a venue, I knew instantly there was no other choice than The Clubs at Houston Oaks. They have a 15th century chapel on property that was brought over from France and serves as their main wedding ceremony site. The entire property is full of these meticulous details that I cherish as a designer and played perfectly into the\u00a0inspiration couple\u2019s profile.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve written the description\u2014now what?<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnce you have a beautifully written design statement for your shoot, you can reuse this content over and over. Repurpose it for each submission you send to a publisher (tweaked per each outlet\u2019s submission guidelines or preferences, of course). Use it on social media when sharing the photos after the article has run. And use bits and pieces on your website when showcasing the photos. The time it takes to write a thoughtful description will be time well spent, friends!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For more information on\u00a0Something New for I Do\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0wedding PR expertise,\u00a0get in touch<\/a>! We would love to chat. And don\u2019t forget to check out my last two posts: 6 Tips To Get Your Shoots and Weddings Published Every Time<\/a> and Why It\u2019s Important to Read The Fine Print When Getting Published<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Any wedding planner or photographer who works on getting their real weddings and styled shoots published knows that the submission process can be a lengthy one. First, you have to cull the perfect set of photos for each outlet you submit to (well, at least you should for the best chance of getting published). And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":13419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing-branding"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-768x1150.jpg",768,1150,true],"large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-684x1024.jpg",684,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"
Once you have a beautifully written design statement for your shoot, you can reuse this content over and over. Repurpose it for each submission you send to a publisher (tweaked per each outlet\u2019s submission guidelines or preferences, of course). Use it on social media when sharing the photos after the article has run. And use bits and pieces on your website when showcasing the photos. The time it takes to write a thoughtful description will be time well spent, friends!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For more information on\u00a0Something New for I Do\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0wedding PR expertise,\u00a0get in touch<\/a>! We would love to chat. And don\u2019t forget to check out my last two posts: 6 Tips To Get Your Shoots and Weddings Published Every Time<\/a> and Why It\u2019s Important to Read The Fine Print When Getting Published<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Any wedding planner or photographer who works on getting their real weddings and styled shoots published knows that the submission process can be a lengthy one. First, you have to cull the perfect set of photos for each outlet you submit to (well, at least you should for the best chance of getting published). And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":13419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing-branding"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-768x1150.jpg",768,1150,true],"large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography-684x1024.jpg",684,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/A_1952_St_Louis_Love_Story-0013_Tiffany_Loera_Photography.jpg",900,1348,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"