In this edition of Ask the Photo Business Coach, I answer the question, “What’s the truth about photography contests?”
Beate Chelette
Beate Chelette is the PhotoBizCoach and dedicated to educating photography professionals about the business behind the art of photography so that the next generation of photography industry professionals can be successful. She is an International speaker and teaches the photography business through the PhotoBiz Intensive, an online course. Beate became a multimillionaire when she sold her stock photography licensing company to Corbis that is owned privately by the world’s most successful entrepreneur, Bill Gates. Chelette’s experience is impressive and includes a BA in photography, being a Photo Editor at German Elle, a producer and rep and she ran a global stock syndication. During her career she worked with some of the world’s biggest names in photography such as Lord Snowdon, Helmut Newton, Tim Street Porter, George Hurrell and Gilles Bensimon and has a client list that includes such staples as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Mervyn’s, Levi’s, Wrangler, Glidden Paint, Coldwell Banker and many more.
“Your photography is only as good as the business behind it.” ~ Beate Chelette
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Ask the Photo Business Coach: What’s the Truth About Photo Contests?
April 25 | By Beate Chelette | Posted in Video Blog Posts | Print This Post
9 Responses to “Ask the Photo Business Coach: What’s the Truth About Photo Contests?”
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April 25th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Excellent, keep up the good work.
April 25th, 2011 at 11:52 am
Contests freak me out for the most part. I've done very few because so many are simply rights grabs looking for free images. I think it is important to read the terms and conditions of any contest though. I do like the idea of the label "award-winning" photographer. I've won contests but never really used that label.
Good video.
April 26th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
All I shoot are concerts, and I won the People's Choice award in PDN/Billboard's Ultimate Music Moment Photo contest in both 2009 and 2010. It is nice to be able to say that I'm an award-winning concert photographer, but I can't say that this has helped me too much. But bragging rights are bragging rights though, which is why I'm commenting here
April 27th, 2011 at 11:08 am
@Rich, good point. When winning you have to have a marketing campaign to launch to maximize the win. The entire point is to have a reason to contact (potential) clients.
April 28th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
I can see the value in winning a reputable contest (particularly for advertising work) but what I would say is that if you are trying to develope a carreer/business, it is more important to concentrate your time on contacting new clients and then keeping them happy. They are the people who give you work. Contests by comparison are entered by thousands potentially, and there is only ever one winner (or one and a few runners up).
April 28th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
@Peter, wait, so you don't enter contests because you expect to loose!
Unless you think you can win yes, don't waste your time. If you don't believe in your work, don't waste your time either.
Contests are a marketing measure. Cold calling, client relations and networking are business strategies. Two very different things.
Beate
May 2nd, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Participate in competitions gives me the opportunity to explore my artistic side and get away a little of the routine. It gives me a parameter for what ordinary people like and sometimes you get surprises. Personally, I participate in competitions because it gives me the opportunity to have a reputation locally and internationally. Try to exploit these Awards to attract customers and keep up dated my networking.
Not easy to win, but feels good when you do and I agree, this is a Business strategy opportunity.
May 3rd, 2011 at 12:41 am
Usually the winner of a photo contest is the sponsor. Study the rules and if they fit your aspirations, go for it. Did you know, the great operatic star, Luciano Paveratti, got his start by winning a singing contest in Italy where he was an elementary school lteacher?
May 5th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
I enter several contests a year, big ones and small ones. I have yet to win, place or show. I often think it's not the photography that wins but the photographer. Promoting a known quantity has certain guarantees.
Whether the game is rigged or not, I will still enter contests, because I believe in my work and I think like an old miner; one day I'll hit the mother lode.