Let’s be honest, most of us have spent far too long stressing over our Instagram grids. Is it all flowing nicely? Are the tones matching? Does that one post stick out like a sore thumb? And while a tidy grid might feel satisfying, it’s not the be-all and end-all when it comes to actually getting your business, venue and work seen.
One thing that often causes hesitation is the collab post. You know, when a photographer, like me, tags you as a collaborator and the post shows up on your feed too. I’ve noticed that some suppliers and venues get a bit twitchy about accepting these, worried it’ll mess up the grid or change the aesthetic. But here’s the thing, collabs are powerful. Like, seriously powerful.
Collabs = Double the Exposure
When you accept a collaboration post, it doesn’t just tag you, it shares the post to both your audiences in your feed. That means your followers see it, my followers see it, and the reach instantly doubles. Magic, right?
Even better, Instagram pushes collab posts in the algorithm. They get a lovely little boost into the Explore page as well as potential clients feeds, especially during the first 48 hours. That’s the sweet spot when engagement is at its highest and the algorithm is paying attention. So if you want more eyes on your work or venue, and let’s face it, who doesn’t, accepting that collab is a no-brainer!
“But I Don’t Want It on My Grid…”
Totally fair. Not everyone wants their feed interrupted by a post that doesn’t quite match their aesthetic. The good news is, you don’t have to keep it there.
Here’s what you can do:
- Accept the collab as normal
- Go to your profile, hold your finger on the post
- Select “Remove from profile grid”
Done. It’s off your main grid, but still live on your account. It’ll stay in your tagged section, show up in your followers’ feeds and explorer and keep all the engagement and visibility benefits. Plus, you’re still listed as a collaborator, so it helps build trust with potential clients and shows that you’re part of a wider wedding team.
Let’s Focus on What Matters
At the end of the day, we all do loads of weddings. We’re constantly sharing content, tagging each other, updating our feeds. No one’s scrolling back six months to see if your grid has a perfect checkerboard vibe, they’re looking at what you do, who you work with, and how you show up in a collaborative way.
So next time someone sends you a collab invite, don’t overthink it. Accept it, give it a boost, and make the most of that window when the post is getting seen by the most people.
Let the work, venue and team work speak for itself, and let your grid be a little less precious. It’s supposed to be a highlight reel, not a museum.
I will be totally honest here. I endorse collabs and I will alway's prioritise suppliers with content for their marketing when they collab on the posts I share.
