Photo Contests: I have entered a few contests in the past. There were no entry fees involved. For fun I checked out American Photography photo contest. I thought wow, they want $20.00...

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I have entered a few contests in the past. There were no entry fees involved. For fun I checked out American Photography photo contest. I thought wow, they want $20.00 for the first entry and $5.00 for a second submission.

Personally, I think it's a money making venture and a scam. There is no way I would pay even a nickel.

What are your views on these kind of photo contests that want you to pay for a submission?

Harold

Joe Blow

F-Stoppers has an article.

https://fstoppers.com/contests/beware-fake-photography-contests-134775

And PetaPixel has a warning

https://petapixel.com/2018/03/13/photo-contest-judges-raise-alarm-didnt-judge-anything/

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Joe Blow wrote:

F-Stoppers has an article.

https://fstoppers.com/contests/beware-fake-photography-contests-134775

And PetaPixel has a warning

https://petapixel.com/2018/03/13/photo-contest-judges-raise-alarm-didnt-judge-anything/

Thank you Joe, it confirmed my suspicions. This is a good heads up for all. Cheers.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

I will not pay someone else for the privilidge of using my talent or the lack of it! They need to pay me!

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

DAN Phillips wrote:

I will not pay someone else for the privilidge of using my talent or the lack of it! They need to pay me!

Here here. It's like a chef that makes one of their best meals and the customer expects you to pay and tip them, to eat it. B^)

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Feiertag wrote:

I have entered a few contests in the past. There were no entry fees involved. For fun I checked out American Photography photo contest. I thought wow, they want $20.00 for the first entry and $5.00 for a second submission.

Personally, I think it's a money making venture and a scam. There is no way I would pay even a nickel.

What are your views on these kind of photo contests that want you to pay for a submission?

Harold

Agree.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

joer wrote:

Agree.

Cheers.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I avoid contests because almost all of them say that they have the rights to use your photograph - so you and thousands of others are giving them the rights to your best photographs for a slim chance to win something? I don't think so. They are preying on our egos to obtain a large bunch or photos which they can sell to a stock agency or who knows what... Of course, submitting our photos to this blog allows them to use our photos as well - I have never been aware of any use of our photos, however.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

sb wrote:

I avoid contests because almost all of them say th... (show quote)

I understand where you are coming from. I don't have plans on selling any photos to a stock agency. What I will say is that I have won a few contests. No brag, just a fact. My kids, family members and friends get a kick out me having my photos, in magazines, calendars and a Nikon book. It's all good and fun.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Feiertag wrote:

Personally, I think it's a money making venture and a scam.

Life is all about learning as you go.

I've gotten ads to buy book that would have my name included, like "America's Great Photographers." For a fee, they would include my name and a photo I took.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

jerryc41 wrote:

Life is all about learning as you go.

I've gotten ads to buy book that would have my name included, like "America's Great Photographers." For a fee, they would include my name and a photo I took.

So Jerry, what books are you illustrated in? B^)

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

When I was in photography school at The Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, many years back, I had 4 images that had been judged by my tutors as excellent in quality considering composition, clarity, selection of subject and technique. I sent the 4 of them to a photo contest and they were not charging to enter the images. NONE of them won not even a honorific mention.
After that I have never participated in any other photo contest. I have never been able to understand how the judges can select a winner among thousands of excellent photographs submitted.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well, if the sponsor collects entrance fees, they don't have to put (as much?) into the prize kitty.
Collecting entrance fees might even cover the entire cost of the contest.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

camerapapi wrote:

When I was in photography school at The Art Instit... (show quote)

I met John Gordon a photo judge (http://www.johngordonphotography.com/) a few years ago and we became friends. I asked him that same question, "How do you pick a winner among thousands of entries?" He stated that it was a process of elimination. If the photo did hold his interest for more than three seconds, it was tossed aside.

I'd love to see your four images.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Covering the cost of the contest is reasonable. If there is prize money etc. someone needs to pay for it and it takes judges a lot of time and effort if they collect, store and evaluate the works adequately. I don't have a problem for a minor fee. I would think it would also prevent someone from sending them 50 photos just for fun just because they don't have any skin in the game.