How to enter and win photo contests

PSA Journal, Feb, 2005 by Ken Deitcher

Do not enter any competition in which originals are requested and will not be returned. Competitions in which statements "all entries become property of ... and will not be returned or acknowledged" should not be entered. When sending your photos, pack carefully. Slides should be in transparency protectors and reinforced with heavy cardboard. Slides should be clean and spotted to show proper orientation.

Prints should be shipped between two sheets of heavy mat board. I suggest all submissions should be sent by certified first class mail, return receipt requested. This will enable you to trace your photos if lost and will show who accepted your work when delivered.

Many competitions do not cost money to enter. Many foreign competitions request International Reply Coupons to cover return postage. These are obtained through your post office. PSA requires a small fee to cover processing your submission and for its safe return by mail.

Many of the digital competitions can be entered by sending a CD or submitting the images via e-mail. This is very convenient and you do not send your original material. One caveat is that you should put a copyright label on all submitted digital images.

What to Enter

Many if not all competitions state the explicit categories requested. Select at least two to three times the number of images that you will be entering. Go over slides with an 8X loupe on a light box. Fuzzy, out-of-focus slides with scratches or slides which are over- or under-exposed, even slightly, should be rejected.

Nature should be just that--with no evidence of the "hand of man," meaning no telephone wires, cars, fences, man-made props, houses, etc.

Competitions are judged by an international panel of wen-known professional photographers. Look at what was previously selected, but do not imitate the photos of prior years' winners. Most competitions want variety.

If you have several "show stoppers" and high scoring photos in club competition, enter these as they have stood the test under fire and have shown their impact and interest in at least one competition.

Don't expect to get rich from your winnings and don't expect to win on the first try. It will cost more for your printing, developing, and postage than the value of your prize premium. If lucky, you can win big. Many camera manufacturers pay off big for Grand Prize, first, second, and third places. You can win top-of-the-line camera outfits plus major cash awards over $5000 to $10,000.

A great advantage to being a member of PSA is in being able to get answers to problem questions. If a member doesn't know, he will refer you to someone who does. As a PSA member, you can submit articles for and photographs for consideration for publication in the PSA Journal. You won't get paid for your article, but you will earn points toward Star Awards and will earn prestige in the organization.

Photo Club Competitions

Enter all that you are allowed: submit clean and well-mounted images. Do not submit for the judges, submit what you like and do well. When you are selecting images for competition you are really jurying your own images.