There are plenty of photography competitions to enter, no matter what genre you like. But do they help you improve your photography skills or are they just for bragging rights? This video takes a look at photography competitions and what can help you improve your photography.
When photographers want to improve their photography skills, they often come across competitions where they can judge themselves and have the ability to measure their progress as photographers. In a previous Q&A video, William Patino was asked if photography competitions are beneficial and he responded that he did not think they were beneficial to most photographers.
After receiving feedback on his answer, Patino revised it to address the issue more fully. Patino advised that he doesn’t think competitions are right for everyone. Sometimes, it’s just the stage a person is at in their photography journey that makes them prohibitive. For example, someone who has only been pursuing photography for a few months entering a competition with seasoned professionals might be more discouraging than helpful.
Patino also discusses some things to look out for in competitions and advises that if you enter a competition, choose wisely. Choose competitions that are judged by photographers and judges you respect in your genre. Also, be aware of image copyright infringement, as by entering a competition you are giving up the rights to your image.
While Patino clarifies his answer from the previous Q&A and acknowledges that competitions can have their place, the other tips he offers in this video are helpful. They range from who is the best judge of your photography to steps you can actually take to improve your photography.
As someone who has entered many photography competitions in the past, I found the perspective presented in the video interesting and agreed with many of the points. Competitions can help you, but you have to understand exactly what you are entering into a competition for.
