Photority

I have several blog entries here on Photority.com about photography contests so it is just but right that I also post some guidelines or tips on how to win photography competitions.

Haje of Photocritic.org listed 7 tips on how to win photography competitions.

• Stick to the topic
• Know the rules – then break them
• Keep it simple
• Tell a powerful story
• Technical perfection in pair with strong vision
• The X-Factor
• Develop your own style

BetterPhoto.com, a website the regularly holds photo competitions, has published the following contest guidelines on how to win a photo contest

• Know the ropes
• Look sharp
• Picture perfect exposure
• Get digital, if need be
• Get creative / be artistic
• Name and describe your photos
• Don’t distract the viewer
• Study the winners and keep your chin up

Brian Small, an experienced and full-time bird photographer also shared photo contest tips that are practical and should be very easy to follow.

• Follow all the contest rules
• Review all the categories and try to anticipate which ones will have the most entries and which will have the fewest.
• Conduct a research on what entries have won previously and use it a reference for your own entries
• Be selective. Send only your best entries even if it does not meet the maximum number of entries.
• If entries are to be returned, include a proper postage for the return and have it already applied to a pre-addressed return envelope.
• Try to enter only those photographs that are technically well done. Look for sharp focus, good composition, excellent color and contrast, beautiful lighting, a pleasing background and an interesting subject in your entry.
• Submit an entry that depicts action.
• When submitting multiple entries to a single category, submit three different and unique photographs instead of a single subject taken at a different angles or poses.
• Be realistic about your expectations. There are other contestants and you may not win.

In case you decide to join one or more of these photo contests, a knowledge on how a judge views each entry will come in handy so go ahead and read the full articles. Have fun and keep on improving your shots.