So perhaps you’ve been taking photos for quite awhile now. You’re pretty comfortable with your gear, and have been working up a portfolio of some of your best shots. Your friends and family are always complementing your work, and you’re starting to feel confident about your ability.
What to do next? Quit your day job and open your own studio? Start looking around for established photographers who are looking for 2nd shooters at events? All good ideas (except maybe the job-quitting one, but you never know). But the one that involves the least drastic change in income or livelihood is to start entering your photos into contests!
You’d be shocked at how many contests are going on out there. Every major photography magazine has annual and semi-annual ones. A ton of the photo forums out there are running themed contests as well as timed competitions or specific subject matters. A lot of the publication contests offer cash prizes or camera gear, while most of the forums operate solely on a Read the rest of this entry »