Competitions

 Getting involved in competitions can be a way of breaking into the industry through both recognitions and experience of competing. The process of getting involved in competitions also is beneficial because it gives you experience even if you lose. The competing process helps us to improve our practice and we gain experience in other technical processes which benefit us in the future. IF you win, then your options are increased through prize money and recognition. 

Companies which conduct competitions can vary from local newspapers, local photography groups to bigger organisations such as AOP and Sony-a rule of thumb being, the bigger the industry hosting the competition, the greater the reward due. 

Examples such as-

Photo Contest, Photography Contests & Photography Competitions (photocontestinsider.com)

Student competition | World Photography Organisation

AOP find a photographer (the-aop.org)

Join Redeye | Redeye

Many offer also tips in competing for photographers and different categories to compete in. As well as online competitions, local photographic society's offer competitions to members. This gives you an opportunity to gain some valuable feedback and meet people with similar interests in your area. 

Blackpool Photography Group

It is advisable to do research into the competitions and to understand rights of photographic property. For example, intellectual and property rights need to be established before entering. 

I am going to enter a few competitions in 2023 to test the water. 

                                                     photography competitions - Bing images

Update. 
I have entered 12 competitions this year in total. I am enjoying the experience and noticing what judges want from the winning images. I am also getting good at having a stock of images which I can use for competitions. For example, if a competition comes up for night photography, i can use images taken this year of Blackpool at night. I will carry on taking part in competitions.