Getting Started in Competition

TNPPA Annual Competitions

Competing in image competition is one of the best ways to improve your skills as a photographer.

TNPPA hosts two image competitions each year. During the Spring Workshop, we hold an Annual Image Competition. This competition is for digital entries only and is judged by a mixed panel of PPA Approved Jurors, PPA jurors in training, and experienced industry professionals. Judging is based on PPA's Twelve Elements of a Merit Image.

If you are a PPA member and plan to participate in MIR (Merit Image Review) or IPC (International Photographic Competition) this is a great competition for you to test your images before submitting them to PPA!

During the Fall Convention, we hold our collage competition which is for print entries only. Makers submit an 11x14 print composed of at least two images. Please see our Collage Competition Page for more information.

Whether you are a full-time professional or just getting started, Image Competition is one of the best ways to improve your technical and creative skills.

Read on for important details about participating!

Image Competition FAQ

Getting Started

What are the requirements to participate?

First and foremost, you will need a thick skin! Putting your work on display to be judged can be an unnerving process. Sometimes things will go your way, and sometimes they will not. If a judge does not resonate with your image, it does not mean they don't like you! It just means perhaps you missed the mark. Approach competition to learn and you will never be disappointed! Judging is based on the 12 Elements but subjectivity plays a role in any artistic endeavor. The best learning tool at your disposal is the ability to use advice or commentary constructively.

Who is Eligible?

All are encouraged to participate. Membership in TNPPA is not required.

If you wish to earn merits toward a TNPPA degree or to earn awards at the Fall Convention, you must be a current Active, Out-of-State, Senior, or Lifetime Member. We also offer a single award for the highest scoring image from a Student or Aspiring member.

What type of images do I submit?

Image competition encompasses a wide range of photographic specialties. Don't shoot portraits? No problem, we have room for landscapes, architecture, pets, nature, artists, and more!

Visit our Categories page for detailed information.

Image Credit: Erin Denny

DEADLINES!

Please visit the Official Rules page for information on relevant deadlines for the current competition.

Oh no, I missed the deadline! Can I enter late?

Paramount to the competition are integrity and fairness. We do not accept late entries under any circumstance. Late entries will not be refunded.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Images submitted to printcompetition.com are time-stamped and will be verified before the competition. Please be aware of the deadline date and time to allow enough time to fully upload your work.

Image Presentation: Finishing/Digital Mats

All images must include a presentation. For detailed instructions on digitally matting your images, check out our helpful video.

Single Image Prep

FILE SIZE:

Uploaded files must be sized to 4,000 pixels on the long edge and saved as a high-quality JPG. Image files must contain an embedded color profile of sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998. The total size of the image includes your matting and guide images where required.

NAME YOUR FILES:

Your filename should be the Title of the Image.

Your name/studio/initials should not be included in the file name or the entry will be rejected.

Use an underscore as a placeholder for a space in the title.

Examples

The_Break_Of_Day.jpg
My_Best_Entry.jpg
See_Spot_Run.jpg

Always double-check your file names!

UPLOADING IMAGES to printcompetition.com

When uploading your images be sure to enter your title exactly as it should be read aloud to the judges.

Use of special characters is allowed in your title. For example: If you want your title read as a question you may use a question mark in the title and it will be read with a question inflection.

Important** The file name and title must match (except for special characters) to ensure the image is introduced with the correct title.

Album Prep

File Size:

All page/spread files must be sized to 4000 pixels on the long edge and have an embedded color profile of sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998. Files should be saved as high-quality JPGs. The total size of the image includes your matting and guide images where required.

Each page/spread file may contain as many images as you desire.

An album entry shall contain a minimum of 5 pages/spreads up to a maximum of 36 pages/spreads.

All page files must be compressed into a single ZIP file.

File Name:

The ZIP file must be named as follows:

Album_Title_Category Abbreviation

(use underscore for spaces: Album_Kaylee_Senior_Album_A-1.zip).

The name/initials/studio of the maker should not be included in the file name or the entry will be rejected.

Page Filenames should be named as follows:

Title_ two-digit page number.

For example:

Cover: Kaylee_Senior_Album_01
First Page/Spread: Kaylee_Senior_Album_02
Second Page/Spread: Kaylee_Senior_Album_03

When uploading your zip file to www.printcompetition.com, you will need to upload a JPG of your album cover in addition to uploading your album in a zip file. Your album cover should be included in your zip file as page 01.

Entry Fees and Critiques

All entry fees and critique payments will be made on the printcompetition.com platform.

Visit the Official Rules page for up-to-date pricing for entries and critiques.

The price for critiques is per image and should be indicated with the checkbox on printcompetition.com when you upload your entries.

New for 2025: Critiques may be ordered up to 24 hours after the competition judging begins. This will allow makers the opportunity to make an informed decision about choosing to purchase a critique.

Live Judging

TNPPA's Annual Image Competition is held during the Spring Workshop event. Please visit the Official Rules page for dates and times.

Watch Online:

Premium subscribers to printcompetition.com may log on to their Game-Day app to view the images and hear judges' audio streamed live. We cannot guarantee streaming quality due to variations in internet connections.

In-Person Watch Party:

A monitor or screen will be set up at the front of the room for participants to view images as they are judged. The screen is typically not calibrated and images may not appear exactly as seen by the judges.

Scoring System

Judges are looking for the 12 Elements of a Merit Image as defined by the Professional Photographers of America.

In brief, these are:

Impact • Technical Excellence • Creativity

Style • Composition • Presentation

Color Balance • Center of Interest • Lighting

Subject Matter • Technique • Story Telling

Image Competition Scoring:

The purpose of the TNPPA Annual Image Competition is to educate photographers in the art and science of photography. We provide a platform for image assessment and critique with trained industry professionals and approved jurors.

Images are scored numerically as follows:

Exceptional 95-100
Superior 90-94
Excellent 85-90
Deserving of a Merit 80-84
Above Average 76-79
Average 74-75
Acceptable 70-73

Photographic Entries

Images scoring 80 and above earn 1 "A" merit toward your TN State Certified Degree.

Images scoring 76-79 earn one-half "A" merit toward your TN State Certified Degree.

Artisan Entries

Images scoring 80 and above earn 1 "A" merit toward your TN State Artisan Degree.

Images scoring 76-79 earn one-half "A" merit toward your TN State Artisan Degree.

The 13th Element

For those seasoned in print competition, your image title is often referred to as "The 13th Element." While it is not a part of the 12 Elements, it is directly related to impact, storytelling, creativity, and presentation. A great title is often the "icing on the cake" that can bring your score to the next level by evoking an emotion on the judging panel. Never underestimate the power of words when paired with your image!

BoldBrush Newsletter - Titles Matter

Image Usage

Maker grants permission to TNPPA to share submitted competition images for marketing purposes on the TNPPA website and/or social media accounts. Maker will be credited and/or tagged where appropriate. Images are typically not shared until after the Fall Convention concludes in late Summer/Early Fall.

All image copyrights remain with the maker and all reasonable requests to refrain from sharing will be honored. If you wish for your images not to be shared, please contact the marketing committee chair or email admin@tnppa.com.