Whether it makes sense to participate in photo competitions depends largely on your individual goals.
Anyone who believes that a competition will automatically give their career a big boost, more workshop participants, higher sales or additional orders could be disappointed. Many well-known photographers have taken part in such competitions without it having significantly advanced their careers.
With my first and only participation in a photography competition, the Minimalist Photography Award in 2020, I won three honorable mentions with four submitted creations. Although this participation gave me valuable experience and some attention, it did not significantly advance my specific career goals. I also did not experience a great feeling of happiness.
It didn't lead to more orders, more purchases or more workshop participants. For me it was a learning process and an exciting experience that I enjoyed. I just realized that it wasn't for me.
So it depends largely on your own goals and the associated costs and effort as to whether it is worth participating in competitions.
Speaking of paying: In the same year, Photographize asked me if I would like to appear in the yearbook " [HUNDRED] Best Selected" . I felt honored and thought at the time that this would have a positive effect on my work. I know that many illusions will now be shattered, but that also costs money. Yes, I had to pay US$100 to be included in this book. At the time, I thought that might give my career a boost, but today I am convinced that it will do me no good personally.
My main problem with photography competitions is that you almost always have to pay an entry fee. While I understand that these fees are necessary to fund the competitions, it leaves a bad feeling when you pay to enter and then win a prize. It can also be demotivating when expectations are not met.
"Many good photographers take part in such competitions and are constantly disappointed. You have to be able to deal with that."
I know of a few cases where photographers invest a lot of money every year to enter as many competitions as possible. In the end, they sometimes win because the jury is influenced by the sheer volume of entries in as many categories as possible and by the high investment. This shows that such wins are not always due to the quality of the work.
"I think it's particularly important that participation is free. This avoids the uncomfortable feeling that you have to pay for a chance at recognition and ensures that the focus is on the quality of the work and not the financial investment."
I appreciate photography competitions that have some specific characteristics. A broad jury that covers different perspectives and tastes is very important. Competitions with different categories are equally important, as this allows for a more diverse assessment of the submitted works. Limited entries per participant can help to promote quality and prevent profits being achieved through quantity alone. I also think it is important that only one award can be won per participant - everyone should have a chance. A high prize money is attractive, but it is also important to have a staggered award system in which not only one main winner is awarded, but also several smaller prizes. Audience awards are also a valuable aspect, as they allow direct feedback from the public.
I think it is particularly important that participation is free. This avoids the uncomfortable feeling of having to pay for a chance at recognition and ensures that the focus is on the quality of the work and not the financial investment. It should also be possible to submit in several categories, but the number should be limited. This gives artists the opportunity to show their versatility without being limited by monetary considerations.
Another important aspect is to take part in lesser-known photography competitions. This can be very rewarding, especially if they are free and offer high prize money. The competition is often less fierce, which increases the chances of winning. This can be a sensible strategy, especially if these competitions are sponsored by well-known brands. Of course, the other details I mentioned are also important, but it is worth keeping an eye on these lesser-known competitions.
I was recently asked by ColorPro, in connection with their ColorPro Awards, if I could give some tips for digital art. You can find my suggestions under "Pro Tips" on the ColorPro Awards website.
I think this competition is worth supporting because the range of participants is very broad (photo, video, digital art and AI) and everyone can take part without incurring any fees.
The collaboration with the companies involved in this photo competition on my entry was very pleasant. I notice that there is a lot of passion behind the project, which is another reason for my support.
There are corresponding categories and the jury is broadly based. This contest is particularly suitable for those who have little chance of visibility or are simply looking for a new challenge.
Major global photography competitions 2024
There are several major global photography competitions in 2024. I will introduce you to the most important ones here and analyze their advantages and disadvantages.
Sony World Photography Awards Why it's important: One of the largest and most prestigious photography competitions in the world. Offers widespread recognition and significant prize money. Pros : Wide media coverage, networking opportunities, prize money and exhibition opportunities. Cons: High competition, increased pressure, entry fees can be expensive.
International Photography Awards (IPA) Why it's important: Known as "the Oscars of photography" due to participation in the Lucie Awards. Very high prize money and international exhibition opportunities. Pros : Great recognition, high prize money, worldwide exhibitions, publication in the annual book. Cons: High entry fees, strong competition.
Nikon Small World Why it's important: Leading photomicrography competition highlighting images from the micro world. Pros : Large prize money, no entry fee, wide recognition in the scientific community. Cons: Very specialized niche, only light microscope photos allowed.
iPhone Photography Awards Why it's important: Dedicated to smartphone photography and offers numerous categories. Pros : Low entry fees, opportunity to submit many images, recognition in the growing smartphone photography scene. Cons: Limited to iPhone and iPad photos, no big cash prizes.
ND Awards Why it's important: Recognized competition with separate categories for professional and amateur photographers. Pros : High prize money, publication in ND Magazine, various categories. Cons: Entry fees, great competition.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Why it's important: Promotes humorous wildlife photography and supports conservation. Pros: No entry fees, fun and unique categories, support for the Born Free Foundation. Cons: Focus on humorous images, less serious recognition.
Monochrome Photography Awards Why it's important: One of the largest competitions for black and white photography with extensive categories. Pros : High prize money, publication in the annual book, acceptance of digital and analogue photographs. Cons: Entry fees, specialized niche.
Istanbul Photo Awards Why it's important: Relatively young competition that has quickly gained recognition, organized by the Anadolu Agency. Pros : No entry fees, high prize money, focus on news and sports photography. Cons: Limited categories, less known outside of news photography.
All About Photo Awards Why it's important: No thematic restrictions and inspired by Henri Cartier-Bresson's quote about photography. Pros: High prize money, publication and exhibition opportunities, no category restrictions. Cons: Entry fees, broad themes can make judging difficult.
BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Why it's important: Focus on celebrating biodiversity and protecting nature. Pros: Large prize money, exhibition at the California Academy of Sciences, various nature-related categories. Cons: Entry fees, specialized topics.
MonoVisions Photography Awards Why it's important: Recognizes the best black and white work of the year with big prizes. Pros: Big prize money, recognition for series and single images, extensive categories. Cons: Entry fees, specialized niche.
Fine Art Photography Awards Why it's important: Celebrating artistic freedom with over 20 categories. Pros : High prize money, different categories for professionals and amateurs, great recognition. Cons: Entry fees, broad topics can make judging difficult.
Prix Pictet Why it's important: One of the most important competitions focusing on sustainability and societal issues. Pros : Great recognition, financial prizes, focus on important global issues. Cons: Very specific topics that are not relevant to all photographers.
Minimalist Photography Awards Why it's important: Specialized competition focusing on minimalist photography and art. Pros : Recognition in a specific niche, publishing opportunities. Cons: Entry fees, limited audience, biased judging panel.
World Press Photo Contest Why it's important: One of the most prestigious competitions in the field of photojournalism. Pros : High recognition, professional opportunities, publication. Cons: Focus on photojournalism, high competition.
ColorPro Awards Why it's important: The ColorPro Award provides a broad platform for photographers, videographers, digital artists and AI creatives to showcase their work in various formats to an international audience. Pros : No entry fees, different categories for photography, videography, digital art and AI, great prize money, broad jury and diversity of submitted works. No entry fees. Little competition. Cons: Since the competition is relatively new, it might not yet have the same recognition as established competitions.
Pros and cons analysis of photo competitions
Pros
Recognition and visibility
Competitions provide platforms to present work to a wide audience. Participation can lead to media coverage and exhibition opportunities. Recognition through prestigious competitions strengthens one's CV and credibility.
Financial benefits
Many competitions offer prize money, which can be a nice additional income. Sponsorship and repeat business can be generated through increased visibility.
Network and contacts
Competitions are often combined with networking events and award ceremonies.
Contacts with gallery owners, curators and other artists can open up valuable opportunities.
Cons
High participation fees
Many prestigious competitions charge high entry fees, which can represent a significant financial risk. Not every competition offers good value for money.
High competition
Participating in global competitions means having to compete against a multitude of talented artists, which can lead to frustration and discouragement, especially when repeated submissions are unsuccessful.
Unrealistic expectations
Many artists expect that participation will lead to instant fame and financial gain. The reality is often different; recognition and financial gain rarely come overnight and do not depend on winning prizes.
Time and effort
Preparing and submitting work requires significant time and effort, and this effort can distract from the actual creative work.
Conclusion
Participating in photography and art competitions can be a valuable experience, giving artists the opportunity to showcase their work to a wider audience and compete with other creatives. It is important to have realistic expectations and carefully consider which competitions fit your own goals and resources. Winning an award does not make you famous or successful overnight. Whether it is worth taking part depends largely on your individual expectations and goals.
A strategic choice and a clear goal can make the difference between a rewarding experience and a disappointing investment. However, it is always worth visiting these sites to get inspiration and new creative ideas.
For a detailed analysis of photo competition prize money based on 2022 and 2023, I recommend Skylum's blog post: Prize Money Check .
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