Press trips have always been a thing. But the last five
years or so the popularity of brands taking bloggers/ influencers abroad on
press trips has vastly increased. Whether you call them blogger/ press trips.
They are essentially, brands taking people with a platform away to represent and
promote their brand.
I am so fortunate that over the last three years I have
managed to secure press trips all over the world from Dubai to Mexico and many
European destinations. A lot of these trips have been sponsored by brands
including fashion, beauty and travel brands. Where I get to experience things I
probably never would have.
I am extremely grateful for these opportunities; honestly, I
don’t think any one can imagine how grateful and overwhelmed I am every time I
receive an email of such. It makes me feel so chosen and so seen in an industry
filled with successful like minded females.
But, there’s one thing about press trips that is never
really spoken about. And that is when you go on a trip with people you don’t
really know. A lot of times I am with my blogger friends or I get to bring a
plus one, but for the majority of the trips that I have been on, I don’t know
ANYONE. Not the PR taking us on the trip, nor any of the influencers, and that
my friend, is absolutely daunting.
I’ve mentioned many times before that I was never the
confident girl growing up, and I’d never go out my way to make friends as I was
so shy, but being in this industry has made me grow confidence to the point
where I can go away for a week with people I have never met, never spoken to
and have a really enjoyable experience.
I am so lucky that each trip I have been on I have been
surrounded by like minded, friendly people who are willing to help take my
images, willing to speak to me, and for us all to have a truly wonderful time.
I have learnt to make conversations with people out of
nothing and this is a skill that I will be able to carry into the rest of my
life. But, it does make me think.
Going on these press trips can be so daunting. I mean, I
flew out to Mexico, on my own, without a group chat, without a phone number and
then loosing my driver. Luckily, by the time I arrived in Mexico the group chat
was set up and I had managed to find my driver (he had waved at me as I was
leaving the airport, but I just thought it was a friendly guy).
It takes a lot of courage to do this, and it is like going
on a girl’s holiday where you get to do these amazing things and create these
wonderful experiences and memories, but instead of your girls from back home, you’re
with people from all around the world, which you may never see again…
It’s like a holiday romance, except without the romance and
a lot of pictures, a lot of deep meaningful discussions about politics,
religion, life and culture. It’s so hard to explain, and on a lot of these
trips I wish I was able to bring someone from back home along with me, so that
I am able to relive the experience with them.
Even though I generally do not get to see these wonderful people again, I tend to try and stay in touch via Instagram, and those that are in London, I try to meet up and catch up with.
Have you ever been on a press trip, what has been the
hardest thing about it for you? Have you ever declined a trip because you felt
too nervous to go on one? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
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