21 Jan January 2016 International Image Competition!
Since its inception in 2009, NAPCP has created a collaborative community that educates and inspires child photographers. Our success lies ultimately in the success of our members, of whom we greatly value.
As you prepare to enter the January 2016 International Image Competition we want to make you aware of the new Competition Rules & Guidelines.
Based on extensive research, member feedback, and many discussions with industry leaders, we have adjusted our guidelines to be more comprehensive and detailed. Here are just a few of the key changes you will find in our new 2016 Competition Guidelines:
• To create consistency in scoring overall, and especially for our prestigious Photographer of the Year Award, NAPCP will be moving to an annual Judges Panel. This panel consists of 6 people, a mix of certified judges as well as award-winning and respected industry leaders, that will serve for both our January and July 2016 Image Competitions.
• New detailed guidelines addressing the topics of composites, purchased layers & actions, and copyright have been included.
• Purchased Critiques are explained in detail and will be formatted in the same way as our judging criteria, touching on each subject. (Impact, Creativity & Style, Technical Merit)
• Recommended age ranges have been added to each category, with High School Seniors having a single category (no longer combined with Tween)
There are many more details included in our new guidelines, and we recommend giving them a thorough review before submitting your images. Our hope is that this new platform allows for the continued education and success of our members, as well as the potential for continued improvement as our International Image Competition moves forward for many years to come.
Above photo credits clockwise from top left: Becca Wohlwinder, “Freedom Isn’t Free” • Lucy Literna, “Flow” • Katie Rain, “Odd Man Out” • Suzanne Taylor , “Prayer.”
We could not be more excited about our talented panel of judges including Rachel LaCour Niesen, Tim Walden, Luke Edmonson, Deb Schwedhelm, Christine Pobke, and Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai! To learn more you can find bios and portfolio links here!
ABOUT THE IMAGE COMPETITION
The National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP) recognizes the accomplishments and creative excellence of its child photographer members. Image competitions reward talent with medallions, priority listing on our directory, vendor endorsements, member points, titles and professional recognition.
Our prestigious Photographer of the Year award will be decided based on specific defined criteria, as well as combined scores from both the January and July 2016 Image Competitions.
DEADLINE & FEES:
The NAPCP January 2016 International Image Competition will open at 12 Noon EST January 21, 2016 and close at 11:59PM EST February 18, 2016.
Members will receive a total of 2 Competition Credits per Competition with their Membership. Additional Competition Credits can be purchased for $25 each. Competition Credits can be used in any single competition, and cannot roll over to the following competition. A Critiquing Fee of $25 will apply for any member who wishes to receive professional feedback on submitted photos.
CATEGORIES:
There are eight categories available for submissions, outlined below. Entrant should choose the category with recommended age guidelines that best suits the overall feel, impact, and story of each image.
1. Maternity
2. Newborn (Up to 6 weeks)
3. Baby (6 weeks to one year)
4. Toddler (13 months to 3 years)
5. Child (4 years to 15 years)
6. Seniors (16-18 years)
7. Siblings
8. Family
JUDGING CRITERIA:
1. Impact (40%) – the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. Story Telling also plays a part in overall Impact. This refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. What message does the viewer read, and what story does the image depict?
3. Creativity & Style (30%) – important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. The photographer’s style can be defined simply through their use of light, color, or any element that enables the audience to connect with the image. Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.
3. Technical Merit (30%) – the quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, focus, appropriate depth of field, sharpness, exposure, composition and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the image.
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