4 Reasons to Enter a Photography Competition, and How to Prepare for It

Entering a photography competition can help you grow as a creator. Let's discuss the other benefits of entering, as well as tips to prepare.

Photography is one of the most rewarding hobbies, and if you stick with it long enough, you can potentially turn it into a fulfilling profession. If you want to grow your skillset and push yourself to think outside the box, consider entering a photography competition.

These days, you’ll find several photography competitions to enter. Some focus on a particular area geographically, whereas others explore specific genres—and a selection of them are a little more open-ended.

Keep reading to discover four reasons why you should enter a photography competition and how you can prepare accordingly.

Why Should You Enter a Photography Competition?

Before we talk about how you can give yourself the best chance of winning a photography competition, we should look at why you should even consider doing so in the first place.

1. Increase Exposure

If you’re serious about growing an audience as a photographer, you should try to get as much exposure as possible. Some larger photography competitions have thousands of eyes on the contestants’ work; if you finish in the top three, you could receive significant attention.

Even if you enter a local competition instead, you have the chance to gain more exposure within your immediate area. Photographing your hometown has several benefits; over time, you can carve yourself a niche in which you’re the biggest player.

2. Harmless Fun

Regardless of whether photography is your hobby or how you make money, try making having fun your primary objective. Even if the images you submit aren’t nominated for awards, you can still enjoy the process.

Entering a photography contest is also a good way to try a new genre of photography, such as portraits. Through your experiences, you might discover a style that you genuinely like and want to pursue further.

3. Build Your Network

Building a network is one of the most crucial things you can do as a creative. Getting to know more people within your industry opens more doors for work opportunities, and you might also meet some lifelong friends along the way.

Entering a photography competition allows you to potentially meet the judges and learn from people who likely have years of experience in the creative field. Moreover, you can connect with other contestants and potentially collaborate with them in the future.

4. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

As any successful person can attest to, spending too much time in your comfort zone can result in less growth than you would have wanted. To reach the next level, you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Entering a photography competition can be a daunting experience. You’ve got to deal with other people critiquing your art, and you’ll also need to think a little more conceptually about the stuff you produce. The feedback you receive can give you the confidence to tackle more difficult tasks going forward.

How to Prepare for a Photography Competition

Now that you know why you should enter a competition, we can give you some advice to ensure that you’ve prepared as much as you possibly can.

1. Think About Location and Composition

When entering a photography competition, you’ll usually get a brief explanation outlining the different aspects you need to consider. Once you’ve thought about those, you’ll need to think about the most important areas—such as location and composition.

The place you choose to capture your images can dramatically impact the message you want to convey. Similarly, the composition can help you stand out; instead of thinking about your shots at eye level, try getting creative by crouching down, looking up, and so on.

You can also incorporate theories like leading lines to give your photos more of an interesting look.

2. Consider the Lens and Camera Body You Want to Use

Any camera is better than no camera, but gear can play a crucial role in determining the results of your images. Ideally, you’ll have options to choose from when picking the equipment for your big shoot.

If you’ve got a selection of lenses, consider how each one will impact how your pictures pan out. In some cases, you might want a wider-angle lens—but others may require something more telescopic.

If you don’t already have the camera body and lens that you think will work best for the photos you want to capture, you can always rent gear from someone else for the day.

3. Shoot in Different Lighting Conditions

Most photography is about light; if the conditions aren’t right in this respect, you probably won’t achieve the type of picture you want.

When preparing for a photography competition, consider shooting at different times throughout the day. Golden hour is a popular time to shoot, but don’t dismiss blue hour or even midday.

If you live somewhere with unpredictable weather, try photographing in each of these different weather conditions. You’ll have a much better final choice to submit by broadening your horizons.

4. Create a Shortlist of Photos to Choose From

Once you’ve taken the photos for your contest, you’ll probably have a small selection that you’re happy with. Create a shortlist of at least five pictures from these, and submit whichever you’re the proudest of.

If you’ve taken photos in the past that you think fit the bill for what the competition is looking for, you can also add these to your shortlist. You can use whichever images you don’t submit on other platforms like Instagram and Twitter, and build hype among your friends and followers ahead of the event.

Entering a Photography Competition Is an Excellent Way to Grow

Entering a photography competition is an excellent way to expand beyond your comfort zone and improve your craft. You can use the contest as an opportunity to try new genres of photography or showcase your expertise in an area you’re competent with, along with potentially meeting new people.

To give yourself the best chance of winning, you’ll need to carefully read the contest’s brief and ensure that your image meets its requirements. Consider shooting in different conditions and creating a shortlist before submitting; you can also experiment with various lenses and camera bodies.

Even if you don’t win, entering a photography competition is a chance to have fun while doing something you enjoy.