Ever dream of seeing your photographic talents recognized?  Do you have some really good images and you want to put them out there for the world?  The world is awash with photography contests, the internet especially.  This article is going to explore the good and the bad of contests.

First the bad. 

Why the bad first?  Because there are so many scams out there involving photography contests you should be aware of them first.  Get smart about who you are sending your images to, and on what grounds, and you will have a lifetime of enjoyment submitting your images around the world.  Send them to the first person who claims they will make you famous or rich, and all you will wind up is bitter and poor.

The first rule of any photo contests is to check out the organization running the contest. Can you Google them? Do they have very clear contact information posted? Look them up in the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and see if they have any complaints (if they are not listed in the BBB, that is not a warning sign. They just might not have any complaints!). 

The second guideline – what are their expectations, and what are yours?  No contest is going to make you rich or famous, at least not overnight.  Are their prizes unrealistic?  Does their contest information have ‘imagine if…’ words peppered through them – like ‘you are called up on stage. Amidst thunderous applause and a standing ovation, you are declared the Amateur Photographer of the Year and are presented with one of the largest Grand Prizes ever awarded in an amateur photography contest’ type of imagery.  This is a direct quote from a currently (and perpetually) running contest online and it is nothing more than a scam.

The third warning, never enter a contest that states your image will appear in a book, and ask you to buy the book.  It doesn’t matter if they make you buy the book or just suggest it.  If you think this will count as you being published in a legitimate publication of any sort, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to you as well. It’s one of the oldest scams in photography contests, and sadly it is just that.

The good.

Ah, the good.  This is my favorite part.  You want recognition, you want to know that your images hold water.  There is a place for you to be recognized, many of them. 

Contests are listed in a variety of places, the best of which are in consumer photography magazines such as PDN, Shutterbug, American Photo.  Check specialized organizations such as Nature Photographer or some other area you are looking to submit in.

The number one rule is to follow the rules!  Each contest has it’s own set of rules and not following them will hurt your chances considerably.  The contest organizers are taking the time to judge your work, take the time to follow their guidelines.  They established them specifically to make it easier to handle the volume of entries they receive and to be fair judges to everyone.

See if you can look at past winners of the contest.  What was the style like, the composition and the quality?  How do your images compare? Are you submitting your image in the right category or contest?  If the past winners were mostly vast landscape images, and you specialize in urban scenes, you are probably not entering the right contest.

Alternatives to contests.  For photographers, there are a number of places you can go and be recognized on a more personal and intimate way.  One suggestion is to see if there is a local camera club in your area.  Camera clubs were the original way of photographers to get together and discuss al levels of photography and many still exist and are very strong.  Most hold monthly photo contests where they rate your images, give feedback and support, and help you build your portfolio of images. Not only will you be able to enter contests regularly, you’ll meet some great local photographers who you can bounce ideas off of and gain support from. 

The other area to look are local juried art shows.  You can find some by calling your local arts council, many counties around the country have arts councils, and all states do.  They will help you uncover call-to-entries where you can submit your prints and have them judged. 

In many cases, your images can even be available for sale in the gallery where the show is taking place.  Most juried shows have a fee associated with entry, which helps defer the cost of running the show.  This is an industry standard, as well as taking a percentage from any sales they generate (they typically take 40-60% of the sale price, so if you need to place a value on your work, make sure you account for the commission).

Following these basics will give you a lifetime of pleasure in having your photographs publicized and recognized.  Best of luck –

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Terry Michael started working with a photojournalist while in high school, and over the years has worked for a variety of national media clients, including AOL and NBC. He currently operates a studio in New York that specializes in wedding and fine art photography. His work
has been shown in galleries throughout the northeast, and he has also been featured on the television series "Whose Wedding is it Anyway?" which airs on the Style Network.