Win Your Next Photography Contest
Photography contests abound in the world of photography. A photo contest is a great way to enhance your skills as a photographer. It can also be an avenue to get your pictures out there to be seen by more people. Here are some points that you should be aware of to help you win that photography contest.
1. Pay attention to the rules before you enter. You are familiar with fine prints in product pitches and sales advertisements, but photography contests have fine print too. While the fine print is in tiny type that you may find easier not to read, paying attention to the information inside this area can make or break your ability to win the contest. This section will give guidelines for your submissions, such as size, type and how many prints you can enter. It will also tell you the disposition of your entries; there are times where your submissions become the property of the photography contest organization. This will mean that your photographs may be used on the internet or wherever and whenever they please, with no royalties to you.
2. Let your entry be consistent with the theme of the contest. There are some photographers who just pick the best picture in their archive and hope that the judges will use their imagination to connect it to the theme. However, judges will usually disqualify a picture if it is too far from the contest theme. It would be better and be more challenging if you would take new photos that stick to the theme. Your creativity and skills will be further honed by doing this.
3. Research on past winners and judges. There are some contests that are held annually. Research their past winners to find out what stands out. While you don’t want to copy their work, it can be a starting point for you. If the contest is sponsored, research on the sponsoring company and what they are focused on. Finally, if the judges are already named, find out more about the judges – what kind of work they do, what style they like or even what kind of images they would appreciate.
4. It is wise to use photograph submissions that tell a story. Just as a good story will draw the reader in, photos that cause emotion in the viewer will score well because they allow the viewer to connect. There are many cases where technical merit has been placed second to the ability for a submission to elicit emotional response.
5. While we just mentioned that technically excellent photographs may not win over those that tell a story, you still want to submit a piece that shows technical proficiency. If it is out of focus or of bad composition, it will surely not win.
6. Don’t give up. Yes! Don’t give up! Keep entering one photo contest to the next. If you win, this will serve to increase your credibility and skills. If you don’t win, just keep on going. Joining a photography contest will enhance your skills more. It will help you to develop technically and will continue to raise the bar high for you.
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