In the realm of art through photography, one can find plenty of photography contests. When you are new to photography and want to strengthen your skills, entering a photo contest is a great way to do this. Beyond expanding your knowledge, you can also increase the visibility of your work to a greater audience. If you want to win the next photo contest that you enter, here are a few things to consider:
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.
Pay strict attention to any theme associated to the photo contest. If the subject is pets, you aren't going to send in a picture of a building, will you? You may have some photos that you are particularly proud of already in your repertoire, but if they don't closely fit the theme they will be disqualified from the photography contest, regardless of how good they may be. In this case, simply take new photos to fit the theme, and brush up on skills in the process.
3. Do a little homework on former judges and winning submissions. Most photography contests aren't one time wonders- they are held at some sort of frequency, albeit monthly, yearly or semi-annually. The intention here is not to copy the work you see in your research; simply knowing what has won in the past will help you find a starting point. Knowing about the judges will help you figure out what interests them, what styles they appreciate more and what work they do beyond judging.
4. If it tells a story, use it. When you submit photographs that evoke an emotional response in its viewers, not only do the viewers appreciate it more, but they personally connect with it. Submitting a technically sound photo isn't necessarily wrong, but many times the winners happen to be less technically proficient and more emotional in nature.
5. Though obvious, aim for the best possible shot. Photographs that tell a story may win over technical masterpieces, but even an emotion-ridden photograph that is out of focus or of poor composition will be overlooked.
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.
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.
Pay strict attention to any theme associated to the photo contest. If the subject is pets, you aren't going to send in a picture of a building, will you? You may have some photos that you are particularly proud of already in your repertoire, but if they don't closely fit the theme they will be disqualified from the photography contest, regardless of how good they may be. In this case, simply take new photos to fit the theme, and brush up on skills in the process.
3. Do a little homework on former judges and winning submissions. Most photography contests aren't one time wonders- they are held at some sort of frequency, albeit monthly, yearly or semi-annually. The intention here is not to copy the work you see in your research; simply knowing what has won in the past will help you find a starting point. Knowing about the judges will help you figure out what interests them, what styles they appreciate more and what work they do beyond judging.
4. If it tells a story, use it. When you submit photographs that evoke an emotional response in its viewers, not only do the viewers appreciate it more, but they personally connect with it. Submitting a technically sound photo isn't necessarily wrong, but many times the winners happen to be less technically proficient and more emotional in nature.
5. Though obvious, aim for the best possible shot. Photographs that tell a story may win over technical masterpieces, but even an emotion-ridden photograph that is out of focus or of poor composition will be overlooked.
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.
About the Author:
Learn more about photopraphy contests. Stop by Kristaria Dawson's site where you can find out all about photo contest opportunities near you.
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