A Wedding Photographer’s Guide to Selecting Wedding Submissions 

So you want to get your wedding featured in an online publication or magazine. But before you even sit down to get started, there’s the big question: which wedding gallery do you choose?

If you’re like most photographers, you’ve got a portfolio full of beautiful weddings that are all gorgeous in different ways. This can make choosing one feel completely overwhelming. 

The wedding publication landscape has fundamentally shifted—especially in the past few years. More platforms (especially higher-end outlets) are moving toward pay-to-submit models. Even publications accepting free submissions are flooded with hundreds of weekly submissions, making editors increasingly selective.

Once you’ve chosen the right gallery using the criteria below, you’ll need to know the actual submission process. Learn the step-by-step process in my guide on how to get your wedding featured.

This means it’s not just about picking your favorite gallery—it’s about objectively assessing which wedding meets specific editorial criteria. The strongest submissions have compelling stories, distinctive details, and photographic variety (ie – a strong mix of horizontal and vertical imagery).

In this blog post, I’m breaking down exactly how to choose which wedding to submit.

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What Makes a Wedding Gallery Submission-Worthy?

Not every beautiful wedding is right for publication, and I know that can be hard to hear. Editors aren’t just looking for pretty photos—they’re curating content that inspires their specific audience. Here are some common elements that strengthen a gallery’s chances of getting featured:

Strong detail coverage

Honestly, if I had to pick just one element that could strengthen a wedding submission, it’s this one. And I’m not just saying that because I love details—it’s what editors actually prioritize the most, and it’s where a lot of real wedding submissions fall short.

Think about it this way: when a couple is reading a featured wedding, they don’t want to scroll through dozens of photos of another couple. They want to imagine themselves in those images. They want to see the details that will inspire their own wedding: the florals, the table settings, the unique touches that made the day special. The couple and family portraits supplement the story, but shouldn’t be the main feature.

When assessing your galleries, look for ones with clean, well-styled shots of flat lays, florals, signage, attire, table settings, paper goods, rings, and venue architecture. Actually count your images—if you have 10 couple portraits for every 1 detail shot, the balance isn’t right for editorial needs.

Distinctive, intentional details

Details are important, but quantity alone isn’t enough. Editors see countless weddings every week, and generic details blur together. They want ones that stand out (ie – hand-dyed linens in custom color palettes, florals inspired by the couple’s story, design elements that feel fresh or unexpected, etc). The details don’t need to be expensive or elaborate, but they do need to be thoughtful and memorable. If the details could belong to any wedding, it’s going to be harder to capture editorial attention.

Comprehensive photographic variety

In order for your wedding submission to stand out, you need the full visual story beyond just details. Look at your gallery objectively and ask yourself, “Do I have environmental shots, guest moments, and emotional captures alongside my details and portraits? Or did I focus heavily on just one or two types of shots?”

A unique, compelling story

The detail photos are important, but the couple’s story matters just as much. Publications want real depth beyond “they’re in love.” For example, did the couple meet at the location where they’re getting married? Are they incorporating meaningful cultural traditions or family heirlooms? Did they design their own elements? If you’re struggling to articulate what made this wedding special beyond the visuals, consider looking at other galleries with stronger stories.

Vertical and horizontal image variety 

Most publications today prioritize social and mobile content, which means they heavily favor vertical images. Look through your gallery and pay attention to how many vertical images you photographed. If your gallery is 90% horizontal, even a compelling wedding might not work well for a lot of publications. Editors need options in both orientations.

💡 Pro Tip: If your gallery is light on vertical images, you can crop some of your horizontal shots to vertical orientation. Look for shots with centered subjects or negative space so you won’t lose important elements when cropped.

Fresh, current galleries 

When assessing your galleries, prioritize recent work. Submitting weddings from the past 1-6 months gives you the best shot at getting published. Editors want current content that aligns with seasonal trends and feels relevant to their readers. Galleries older than a year need to be truly exceptional (never-before-seen design ideas, incredible storytelling, etc) in order to compete with fresh submissions.

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How Do I Objectively Evaluate My Own Galleries?

This is where I see a lot of wedding photographers struggle, and, to be honest, it’s understandable why. Sometimes you’re too close to your own work to evaluate it objectively. You’ve likely spent hours perfecting every image, and you know the story behind each moment, so you need someone with fresh eyes who hasn’t lived inside this gallery like you have. That’s where outsourcing your wedding submissions can help. However, if you’re evaluating galleries on your own, here are a few ways you can get as close to objective as possible:

Write out the story first, before looking at images

Try describing what made this wedding unique in 2-3 sentences as if you’re explaining it to someone who wasn’t there. If your description feels generic (“beautiful couple, stunning location, perfect day”), this might not be your strongest submission choice for higher-tier publications.

Actually count your images by category

Go through and tally the photos from each portion of the day: getting ready, detail shots, first look/couple portraits, guest interactions, ceremony, cocktail hour/dinner/cake reception, etc. Galleries that perform well with competitive publications have solid representation across all categories.

Do the scroll test

Imagine you’re seeing these images for the first time in your social feed. Would they make you pause? Are the details surprising enough to save? Does the story make you want to keep reading? This is the same gut-check editors are doing when they review real wedding submissions.

Look for technical consistency across the entire gallery

It’s easy to focus on your favorite images, but try to look at every single one with editorial eyes. For top-tier publications, the entire gallery needs to be consistently strong. This means that a few standout images mixed with weaker ones most likely won’t make the cut.

Check the calendar

How old is this gallery? Fresher galleries (1-6 months) tend to perform better with outlets planning content around current seasons. If yours is approaching or past a year old, consider whether it might be better suited for publications that prioritize timeless content over trends.

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How Do I Match My Gallery to the Right Publication?

Deciding where to submit your wedding is just as important as choosing which wedding to submit. As you’re evaluating your galleries, start thinking about which publications would be the best fit. The right publication match will increase your chances of getting featured and ensure you’re reaching the couples you actually want to attract.

Choose a publication whose audience matches your ideal client

Speaking of attracting couples, one of the biggest benefits of getting published is reaching potential couples who resonate with your work. Look for publications that attract the same audiences you want to book—whether that’s location-based, aesthetic-driven, or values-aligned. A feature in the right publication brings you inquiries from couples who are already your perfect fit.

Study what they’ve recently featured

Before putting together your wedding submission, spend some time looking at weddings your preferred publication(s) has showcased in the past 3-6 months. Are they drawn to moody, editorial imagery or bright, airy aesthetics? Do they favor intimate gatherings or larger celebrations? Does your gallery genuinely fit their style, or does it feel like you’re forcing a match?

💡 Pro Tip: Pay attention to locations too. Many publications won’t publish back-to-back weddings at the same venue or destination, so even if your gallery is a perfect match, it needs to align with their editorial calendar. If they just featured a wedding at your venue last month, your submission might not get accepted—and that’s not a reflection on your work, it’s just timing.

Read their submission guidelines thoroughly

I know it seems obvious, but really read them. Note the publication’s aesthetic preferences, geographic coverage, content focus, and specific submission requirements. A publication celebrating adventurous outdoor elopements prioritizes completely different elements than one spotlighting luxury wedding celebrations. Make sure your gallery truly aligns before submitting.

Once you’re ready to submit, here’s what to include in your wedding submission to follow those guidelines properly.

Check their exclusivity requirements

Most publications want first rights and don’t allow simultaneous submissions (most exclusivity time frames are around 60 days, though it could be longer or shorter depending on the publication). This means you need to choose the publication that’s the best fit for your gallery and goals—not just the one with the biggest name recognition.

Keep in mind that some publications also have exclusivity periods for the submission itself, meaning you’ll need to hear back from them before you can submit elsewhere. Going into the submission process with this information helps you plan strategically rather than waiting weeks or months before you can pursue other options.

Match your gallery to the right publication tier

Different publications have different levels of selectivity. Top-tier outlets like Junebug, Vogue, and other major wedding magazines are incredibly competitive and often require paid submissions or direct contacts. But mid-tier publications can be just as valuable for reaching your ideal clients and building your portfolio of published features.

Be realistic about where your gallery will perform best. If you’re just starting to pursue publications, aiming for strong mid-tier placements first is a smart strategy. You can always work your way up to those top-tier outlets as your portfolio grows.

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What If None of My Galleries Feel Quite Ready?

If you’ve gone through your recent work and nothing seems to meet the criteria for the publications you’re targeting, use it as information, not as an indication of your worth as a photographer. It simply shows you what to focus on moving forward.

Think about your next weddings, not just past ones

During upcoming wedding planning conversations, listen for couples incorporating unique details, meaningful stories, or distinctive design elements. When you identify a potential submission candidate early, you can plan your photography with editorial needs in mind from the start.

Start with publications that match where you are right now

There are plenty of great publications at every level. Starting with outlets that align with your current work lets you build your portfolio of published features and gain confidence with the submission process. As your portfolio grows, you can pursue more competitive publications.

Look for patterns in what’s missing

If your galleries are consistently light on details, make that a priority at your next wedding. Not capturing enough vertical images? Prioritize them on your next shoot. If stories aren’t coming through in your images, start having deeper conversations with couples during planning about what makes their wedding personally meaningful.

Need help telling those stories once you’ve captured them? Here are some ideas for how to write compelling blog posts that can easily be turned into wedding submission stories.

Getting published is a journey, not a one-time achievement. Look at every submission as an opportunity to learn more and refine your work. 

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When Should I Get Help Choosing Which Gallery to Submit?

If you’re stuck between galleries and genuinely can’t decide which has the strongest chance, strategic support removes the guesswork. Here are a few signs that an outside assessment would be valuable:

• You keep changing your mind between the same 2-3 galleries 
• You’re targeting publications with submission fees where the stakes feel high
• You’re struggling to separate your emotional attachment from editorial evaluation
• You want help building out your backlink strategy
• You’re new to submissions and feel overwhelmed
• You don’t have the time to submit yourself 

Someone who reviews galleries regularly and understands what different publications look for can quickly identify which of your options has the best chance—and where to submit it for maximum impact.

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How to Choose Which Wedding to Submit FAQs

Should I submit my favorite wedding or the one most likely to get published?

Sometimes, your favorite wedding might not be the strongest submission candidate, and that’s okay. What matters for publications is story strength, distinctive details, shot variety, and alignment with their audience—not how much you personally loved shooting it.

Approach submissions strategically rather than emotionally. Choose the gallery that meets editorial criteria and matches the publication’s style. Save your personal favorites for your portfolio and social content, where you have total creative freedom.

How many galleries should I review before choosing one?

Look at your most recent 6-12 months of work if possible. This gives you enough variety to find strong candidates while keeping the evaluation manageable. You don’t need to review your entire archive—just focus on recent work first.

As you’re looking through, pay attention to weddings you absolutely loved and want to book more of, as well as weddings that had standout details or compelling stories. These are your best candidates because they not only meet editorial criteria but also represent the work you want to attract more of.

Can I submit the same gallery to multiple publications?

Not simultaneously (in most cases). Most publications have some type of exclusivity (usually 60 days), so it’s best to submit to your top choice first. If they pass, you can submit elsewhere. Just be sure to read each publication’s guidelines carefully about their exclusivity requirements.

How many submissions should I do per month?

Focus on quality over quantity. Rather than trying to hit a certain number, submit your best work to publications that truly align with it. The goal isn’t just getting published anywhere—it’s getting featured in publications that attract more of the couples you want to book. Strategic placement matters way more than volume.

Can I submit proposals or styled shoots instead of full weddings?

Most wedding publications prefer full weddings or elopements because they offer complete storytelling—getting ready through the celebration. However, some niche blogs or local magazines do accept proposals or styled shoots, especially if they’re exceptionally well-executed and tell a strong story. If you’re considering this, research the publication’s past features to see if they’ve published similar content before reaching out.

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Ready to Submit?

Choosing the right wedding to submit is both an art and a science. It requires honestly evaluating story strength, detail uniqueness, and shot variety while being objective about work you’re emotionally connected to. And let’s be real, that’s incredibly hard to do.

If you’re doing your own submissions, focus on galleries with strong stories, distinctive details that feel fresh and intentional, strong coverage with plenty of vertical images, and alignment with publications whose audiences match the couples you want to attract. 

If you’ve worked through this guide and you’re still stuck between a few galleries, getting an outside perspective could make all the difference.

At Sonder Studio, I help wedding photographers get featured by handling the entire submission process—from selecting the right publication to crafting the story that gets editors to say yes. And if you’re genuinely stuck choosing between galleries? I’ve got you. I’ll give you honest feedback on which wedding has the strongest chance so you can move forward confidently.

Ready to get your work featured? Explore my wedding submission services or reach out to discuss your galleries, and let’s get you published.

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Check out some of our other wedding submission resources