I get a lot of submissions. And I mean a LOT. So many in fact, that most people might break down and cry if they saw my inbox in the morning. However I LOVE it and I enjoy looking at every single one – really really truly do so don’t stop them coming! However there are some common mistakes made with submission-sending and I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a few that I see over and over and over to try and make the process of getting your wedding or photo shoot featured on Rock n Roll Bride a smooth one for both of us.

So, here are my top tips which will most certainly give you more chance of getting featured.

♥ I put up a submissions guidelines page quite a while ago now. Please please please read this before you send me anything.

♥ I hate emails that say ‘Hi check out my website, I’d love you to feature some of my work!’ I’m sorry but I reeeally don’t have the time to look through your entire site and pick something. Send me something specific that suits the Rock n Roll/alternative style of my blog.

♥ As a general rule I usually only feature professional wedding photographs. ‘Uncle Bob’ and diy photography usually don’t make the cut. However don’t be put off submitting just because you didn’t have a professional photographer. I have featured weddings in the past which were just shot by friends and family and I would still love to see your wedding!

♥ I feature weddings, engagements, day after shoots, bridal shoots, trash the dress shoots, boudoir shoots and even the odd random- yet-way-too-awesome fashion shoot. I do not feature maternity shoots, senior shoots, baby shoot, bar mitzvahs, christenings and family sessions.

♥ Please use my name and get it right. My name is KAT…not Kate, not Katie, not Kit. Keep your email personal and I’m more likely to read it. If I get a submission that looks like it’s been sent to every blogger in blogland I will more than likely just delete it. Keep your email personal and I’ll give you the time of day.

♥ With your initial submission please don’t send me a million images. I only ask for about 10-20 small images to gage the style of the wedding or shoot.

♥ In your initial submission just send me a few key details – who you are, the style of the wedding/shoot etc. I’ll be honest; I look at the photos first and read the info later so don’t feel like you have to go overboard with the info in your initial submission. Save yourself some time! If I want to feature you I’ll email you and ask for all the info I need.

♥ I always ALWAYS reply to every single submission I get, whether that is to say yes or no. I’m a little bit obsessive about staying on top of my inbox and if you haven’t heard from me within 48 hours then I probably haven’t got your email. Please feel free to chase it up.

♥ Do not not not submit your wedding/photo shoot to more than one wedding blog at a time. Blogs are like magazines and most of us will only feature weddings that have not been featured on any other blogs. Like every blog I want to keep Rock n Roll Bride fresh and unique. If your submission is rejected then of course feel free to submit it to other blogs.

It is OK to feature the wedding on your own blog, however always let me know where else the images have been published online and I will make the call on a case by case basis.

♥ Huge images make me cry. After your submission has been accepted I will ask for a zip file of images (you can also send them via yousendit, dropbox, flickr etc.) The perfect size for my blog is 1000 pixels (on the longest side) and only 72dpi is required for an online image. If you send them too small I can’t use them and if you send them high res I want to tear my hair out a little bit.

♥ I like detail shots as much as the next blog but I also love to see happy, excited faces in my inbox. Unlike a whole lot of other blogs the people are the main focus for me…their uniqueness and their wedding joy. Don’t leave out the portraits.

♥ I hate selective colour. Sorry but I will never ever feature it.