Entering Photograph Contests For Fun and Profit
Yes, photo contests are for just about anyone-especially if you are:
Working as a professional photographer.
A professional photographer.
Someone with a keen eye for a great shot.
Just bored with your routine.
Unlike poetry or cooking contests (where there's a definite level of skill involved) almost anyone can start taking pictures with a camera. With digital cameras getting better and better, there's really not much you have to learn. Photography has truly become a 'point-and-click' affair.
Why should you enter a photo contest?
I'm glad you asked that! Contests are a great way to:
a) Win money or prizes.
b) Show off your abilities. Your winning photo could be published in very high profile photography books or magazines.
c) Be judged by your peers, experts and critics in your field.
d) Receive amazing benefits including the opportunity to talk to editors, well-known photographers, equipment manufacturers, etc.
e) Get your '15-minutes of fame' or at least receive instant exposure.
The prizes for photographs range from minimal cash prizes to fully equipped photo studios from a few free rolls of film to exotic photo adventures.
Here is a short list of some of the prizes being offered from current and past contests:
* Survey wolves, bears and chamois when you participate in a Biosphere Land Rover Expedition to Slovakia's Tatra Mountains.
* A 22 day overland adventure in Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar
* A Grand Prize valued at over $8,500 that includes a Nikon camera and lenses, flash system, notebook computer, printer, software and tons of other extras.
* A Grand Prize worth $9,300. Including: a trip to the Northwest Territories and a Nikon Digital camera kit.
Besides winning prizes, entering photograph contests afford you an opportunity to build your own real-life portfolio and depending on the contest, becoming a winner. Even if you just finish near the top you could launch your photo career.
So why are you hesitating?
How to Begin the Process
Get started by selecting a contest. Then visit this extensive 'list of photo contests' (link to your website's photo contests page) at www.proofpositive.com. Here you will find dozens of on-going photo contests. The list is continually updated, so visit often.
Once you've decided upon a contest, note the entry deadline on your calendar. You can enter an existing photo or schedule a time to take the "winning photo." Be sure to read all the contest rules, complete the necessary forms, send in or upload your photo and wait for the announcement that YOU are the winner.
Insider Tips for Entering Contests
Every contest is different. There are different eligibility standards as well as different rules and entry regulations. One of the first things you have to do is determine whether or not you are qualified for the contest. Here are a few other tips:
Follow all the rules and read all the instructions! This is vital! Ensure that you know the theme of the contest (scenic landscape, people or animals, travel photos, etc. ). It's surprising the number of people who submit a favorite picture of a beloved pet to a nature- or scenic-themed contest. Most contests limit the number of entrants and how many submissions each one can enter.
Scout the contest website for past winners, and take a look at the pattern with which judges select winners. Photo contests aren't exactly 100 meter sprints; the judges are subjective (beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that), and while they do their best to be objective and impartial, it's imperative that you have an idea of what they consider 'winning' material.
Carefully read the terms and conditions of participating for each contest you decide to enter. Some contests require you to give up the copyright to your work or photo just by entering the contest. Why would you showcase your work if you don't retain legal right to it? Make certain you read all the fine print before you submit your entry!
That's it! Just register, get exposure for your work, and collect great prizes!
