Ten Top Tips for Winning Photo Contests

Title: Angel Awakening
caption: If one looks closely enough, one can see angels in every piece of art. ~Adeline Cullen Ray


The above photographic montage will be entered in a contest in July. I have based my decision on this entry on the ten tips below. I am already thinking this will be a winner.

Can you win photo contests? I would think so. I have had winning entries in over 50 percent of the contests that I have entered, both locally and internationally. So are there secret keys to success? Yes, so please don't share these tips it is our secret.

This is what I do with every contest.

1. Read all the rules carefully: Be sure what you are getting yourself into. Some contest are just a sham to have your copyright. So be careful. Once you have read the rules comply. And, make sure you use the exact format the contest requires.

2. Look at the past winners: Here you can find exactly what the contest is interested in. Do you have photos of similar quality? Study the past winners for compositional elements, color, subject, and representation. Then study again. These people were not winners of a lottery. They fulfilled the expectations of the judges. And, if a contest put out by a company, or organization: How does your photo play thematically into the message or mission of the contest sponsor?

3. Look at the judges: Not always but often the judges are listed. Now, you need to search and seek out their photographs. Study their photographs carefully. Find in their photographs salient traits and style. Study carefully and you will unearth their taste. Study their bio and their writings. The more you know about who is judging you the better you will be in choosing the photograph to enter. If they write about light, composition or other photo attributes: Then these are the secret keys in unlocking their interest your submission. I would not say mimic their style, but I would say try to present what they would appreciate in a photograph.

4. Go through your photographs carefully: Set up folders of candidate photos based on you would think the judge would pick. Pick perhaps a hundred. Put all your candidates in a folder called "winners." Yes, you need to think positively. Pick out the top ten and put in another folder called "the winners."

5. Get appraisals from others: Now this is the real test. Invite some friends over for evening of photo appraisal. Go over everything you learned in researching tips two and three. Ask them to play the role of judge and show them the folder called "winners." Ask them to pick out the top ten that makes the grade. Once done, compare with your own top ten picks. How many choices were the same? Now, you should have a good idea of which photos to use in the competition.

6. Decide if you should start from scratch: Now decide if your photos really have the mustard to compete. Be honest. If the photos are not competitive you have a camera and editing tools. Armed with what you know it is time for a photo outing and get what you need.

7. Examine your selections: Put your selected photographs back into your editing program. Enlarge you photograph and check every small detail of the photograph. Decide if it can be improved. Attention to detail is an important key. You should offer the most technically correct photograph that you can. Perhaps you have learned a new technique of improvement since you last edited your photograph that you can now apply.

8. Title and caption: Taking the knowledge you have learned in tips two and three, carefully decide on a title and caption. Sometimes the decision of a title and caption for me can take longer than actually editing the photo itself. Do not take the importance of this lightly.

9. The unavoidable bell curve: Realize you are trying to push you photograph to the very best end of the bell curve. If you have followed these tips you are getting to the good end. Ninety percent of the photos submitted will be rejected quickly. You should now have a photo in the top ten percent. One little tip, is to submit early. It may be okay to submit your taxes at the last moment, but photo contests are a very different matter.

10. Be a winner: You are a winner if you followed these steps. You have improved your chances of winning the photo contest dramatically. So sit back and wait for the notification. Don't be disappointed if you lose. Look at the winner and his photos. Congratulate them in your mind. My experience is being a winner 50 percent of the time. Try again and know you are going to succeed.

Ten Top Reasons Photographs Say WOW

Beyond all the rules of photographic is the intangible WOW. WOW happens at lightening speed in the viewer's mind. They know WOW and perhaps they can not explain why they were WOWed.

So how can the photographer achieve WOW in the viewer's mind? To reach this intangible are some tangible hints.

1. The medium is the message: Marshall McLuhan theorizes on the effect of media on the mind. In the Wikipedia explanation is a good start in understanding the relationship of the viewer's mind in response to media. And of course photography is a medium.

2. Tonal quality: Tonal quality can add sensual undertones. These can be over stated or under stated. And, I suppose this relates to style. Even in Black and White photography the tones of transition can have a deep effect on the viewer mind. In color photography, I try to achieve a pleasing smoothness to acquire that eye candy feel. Other photographers delve into harsher tone transitions. The real point is to offer something unique that is not found in snap photography. Tonal quality is an evolving process for me, and it has been part of the evolution of my style.

3. Style: Style is the fingerprint that an artistic photographer places on his photograph. Style can be achieved from the compositional elements, the post processing techniques and even the camera settings, or the kind of camera a photographer uses.

All of these elements really have a bearing on style. And each good photographer develops his unique approach. Many photographers try to emulate work.

Imitation may be the best flattery, but learning from others then evoking your own style should be your goal. Style is a process that grows with the photographer. As I look through my photographs, I definitely see a progression. I have posted most of my work on Flickr and a time line of development can be noticed.

4. Atmosphere: What photographs are likely to send a viewer into orbit?

I have found that atmosphere can be a deciding quality. A foggy scenes taken in the woods, a mountain landscape or a river scene adds immensely to the visual appeal of the viewer. I look for these atmospheric events to add accent to my photographs. I know when nature interacts it positively affects the WOW.

5. Interaction: When people or animals interact in your photographs you tell a story.

You have one frame to tell a story. Your subject can interact with others or even the viewer. A one frame story does not have to be the whole story. If it leaves something unsaid the better. Letting the viewers interact with their own musings is the ultimate in making a photograph interactive.

6. A sense of mystery: We always enjoy the imponderables. If our photographs can inspire a viewer to reflect we will hook the viewer.

I really can just can't tell you how to do a photograph with a sense of mystery. I can give you a hint. It is all in how the photograph leads the eye. If you can lead the eye into a deeper more provoking space you may achieve the sense of mystery.

7. A sense of disbelief: In good novels an author who can suspend the sense of disbelief can consume the reader.

The same is true for the artistic photographer. No photograph is an exact representation of reality, even snap shots. Reality is changed from three dimensions to two. Colors light and contrast are different from what reality presents. How effectively a photographer makes this transition depends on his ability to suspend the viewer's sense of disbelief.

8. Thematic Photography: Thematic photography helps a photographer develop his specialty and evoke style.

Thematic photography can broadly span the photography a person does. Nature, politics, sports, journalism and even wedding photography can promote certain styles.

Personally, I present two themes in my photography. I find it interesting that each have evolved separately. My style in nature photography is different than my race car photography. Themes help build a photographer's evolution in creating style and his own personal WOW factor.

9. Conceptual Photography: The idea here is to covey a concept.

As a nature photographer I am constantly emphasizing the importance of nature. Photographs are subliminal messages.

Other photographers have other messages in the photographs. I do not always agree with their message, but I appreciate the style and delivery. Every time you can inspire a viewer to think you are tapping into the WOW factor.

10. Originality: Perhaps you have gleamed from my last nine points an emphasis on originality.

If your photographs fall into a general commonality with others you are not exploiting the WOW factor.

Photoshop tutorials tend to lend to that commonality. And while I do suggest you explore these, you might try striking out on your own plowing new ground of creativeness. After all, only if you are different will you truly tap into the WOW factor of your viewers.

Ten Top Cures For Photo Block

If you are not out photographing you are not refining your craft. I am amazed at the many used DSLRs out there with a very small number of shutter clicks. In a day I usually do more shots than some people put on their camera in two years. So if you are one of those who has a camera gathering dust, here are some suggestions.

1. Always take your camera with you. Having your camera handy will make you more apt to use it. And, you just might run across that 100,000 dollar shot.

2. Look at the clouds. In photography the sky is not the limit. When you find those beautiful cloudscapes look for a place to take a picture.

3. Go to Parks, Zoos, Events. I am always finding new places to shoot, and returning to places I have shot before. Not only will you have an enjoyable trip you may get some of those awe inspiring pictures.

4. Listen to the Birds. Now, this might seem crazy, but when I hear those birds sing I just have to get out with my camera and spot birds and take pictures.

5. Post a picture a day. No matter what photo sharing network you belong to make it a habit to post a picture every day. For every photo I post I take a hundred. I can take a hundred pictures in less than hour. If I am at an event it is not unusual for me to take 500 pictures in an hour. One of those is likely to inspire me to process the photo. Have a shutter and click it.

6. Take your camera to work. I know some may not be allowed to take pictures at work. But if you can do. And, on the way to from work and at lunch you might find some exciting photo opportunities.

7. Compose pictures in your head. No matter where you are or what you are doing think about how you would compose a shot. If you do not have a camera with you, compose away. And, remember always to have your camera with you.

8. Pick a theme for the day. I am a photo opportunist and shoot whatever I find. Sometimes however I go out in the day and think lets do some macros, or river shots. I use these as guides but this does not limit the subject matter that I might find interesting.

9. Take a ride out in the country. There is nothing like exploring new places. Take that road that you have never been down before. Do some serious exploring, and if you can get lost. I personally find new and interesting sights while lost.

10. Go out on bad weather days. Snow, rain, fog, all make great photo shots. Don't be a sunny day shooter. All days are prime days to take photos.

Top Ten Things to Monetize your Photos

1. Remember the idea emotion not emulsion. “Kodak sells film, but they don't advertise film. They advertise memories.” This thought from Theodore Parker is a good reminder of how you should approach photo sales. The more a photograph means to someone the more it is likely to sell. People connect sentiment with photos and this should not be lost to the photographer. A personal approach with all of your clients should be one of your highest priorities. Wedding and event photographers have captured this idea intently.

2. Do what ever it takes to make sure your site is personable and friendly. Some gallery sites I have seen show the pictures, but do they show your character. Let people develop a sense of you by being as sincere and honest as you can.

3. Use Twitter. If you do not have a Twitter account you should have one. Networking with potential customers can add a positive impact on your sales. Follow me if you like. Besides photographers, I try to network with possible clients and users of photography.

4. Make people aware of your reputation. This can be accomplished with an about page. It is your resume be honest and do tell them about your accomplishments. Attribution is an important factor in making sales.

5. Once you have a client continue to follow up with them. You should not do this to the point of being obnoxious but to a degree to show them you care. Sometimes I will send them a gift out of the blue, just to let them know I am still thinking about them.

6. Make cards and postcards. I find these are big sellers when you exhibit your work. It can make the difference between a flop and a success. You can capitalize on the impulse buyer who may not want to spend on a signed limited edition print. I make mine at Zazzle were sales from online offset my costs for what I offer at exhibits.


7. Folding cards and stamps. These could be particularly useful for Wedding photographers. You can make customized Wedding invitations with stamps at Zazzle.

8. Make calendars. I make calendars for both promotion and for sales. I like QOOP for their nice large linen calendars, and Zazzle for the smaller calendars I offer.

9. Tell people about the promotions that your third party sellers are offering. For the next two days Zazzle will be offering a half off promotion on posters, if you enter this coupon on check out ZAZZLEPOSTER. Zazzle offers frequent coupons that can really cut your costs. And, they are also great for your customers.

10. Enter contests. When you win contests it reflects positively on your ability as a photographer. If you do not win, look at the winners what did differently. Not only does this improve your photography it helps you to be known in wider circles.