Comments on: Fake Photo Competitions – Avoiding These Scams

By: A Williams

A Williams — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:02:27 +0000

A man I know has been told he has just won 1st. prize in a comp. connected to Sigma. The prize is for two people to go on a years assignment to 50 countries world wide taking photos all expenses paid etc.
The contact appears to be in Germany. He has not been asked for money in any way yet. The trip is to start in October in the USA and then go to S.America and so on.
The costs and arrangments for such a trip are mind boggling and I wonder if there are 50 countries that you could get into as well as safely out again.
Has anyone heard of this competition? I would value your comments.
Thank you

By: Kathy Wesserling

Kathy Wesserling — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:20:31 +0000

Member of both Better Photo and of Digital Image Cafe. The former does not award prizes, and the winners are often “regulars” – mainly, because those people are outstanding photographers. Rarely, does a substandard photo win. Good place to view all entries and learn what works and what doesn’t (comparing similar images is a great learning tool.) Lots of advertising for courses, but not necessary to take. $49/year.

The latter has a great critique corner and wonderful prizes for Photo of the Month (8 categories) and Photo of the Year (8 cats, also.) Like the other site, many of the same photographers win consistently, but so do new members. Basically, blind judging by volunteer panel; Monthly (from all the POTDs) is judged by an outside Pro.$30/year.

Cream rises to the top, period. Unless, it’s a popularity vote site – even with ‘blind’ entries, members start recognizing styles and will vote for friends.

If you’re only looking for big money/prizes, go ahead and enter contests (from Nat.Geo, Outdoor Photog, etc.) You’ll really learn what makes a great photograph; and your chance of winning is minute.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 10:31:29 +0000

This site http://www.boulevardofphotographers.com is a scam. I entered my photo in it and a few weeks later they said I had been chosen by a select reviewer to enter this book. The book is 69.00 plus shipping then you can pay even more if you want a plaque with your name, photo, and the contest. Its best of 2010 photography. I got so excited felt special. Then I started thinking…shouldnt they be paying me????? I sent them an email asking this. I didnt tell them its okay to publish it. I am going to reply to them say it isnt okay and take myself off the mailing list. Do not fall for this scam either. Thankyou for this site for giving me a heads up on photographers. It sounded just like this scam.
liz

By: Crystal

Crystal — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:37:56 +0000

Me too, they wanted me to pay for air fare and accomodations to attend the award ceremony too, glad I didn’t fall for it!

By: Lea Foster

Lea Foster — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:40:07 +0000

I don’t consider Photographer’s Forum a scam–around half of the entries are finalists with only a hundred or so that go on to actually be considered honorable mentions or higher. The finalists do get printed in the book and the book is a nice one–hard cover–you do need to pay for it–they do not pressure you into buying the book. They also award a very nice 5×7 certificate to each finalist. Considering the top prizes are sponsored by Canon, Nikon or Sigma–I don’t think these companies would be sponsors if this were a scam.
I have entered the past two years and have been a finalist and yes, I have purchased the book–but with my own free will. I hope this helps.

By: Wiko

Wiko — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:32:24 +0000

I sent my photo to the Serbin Communication (Photographer’s FORUM) 2010 Annual Spring Photo competition. Today I received a letter stating that my photo has been chosen as Finalist and will printed on their Best of Photography 2010 book. But in order to get the book, I must pay USD 55. Is this a scam? Appreciate your reply and advice. Thank you.

By: thrasher4

thrasher4 — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:05:39 +0000

I didn’t get an email saying that I won but I got one saying my photo will be published. Don’t know if the contest is real or not.

By: thrasher4

thrasher4 — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:27:35 +0000

Also Boulevard of photographers,Photo Laureates says that you retain and keep the rights to your photos and the book says “No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopy,otherwise without the permission of the publisher. All photographs contained herein are under copyrights of their respective authors.

By: thrasher4

thrasher4 — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:16:46 +0000

I got my book in the mail today from Photo Laureates and wwwBoulevardofphotographers.com I paid $79. It’s a beautiful book but it’s not worth $79. The contest may or may not be real. Well,if I really got ripped off,I’m glad they only go $79 from me. My creditcard statement says it’s from Great Britain but the book was shipped from Indiana. Thrasher4

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 01 May 2010 14:54:51 +0000

Ha. This scam was done to me a couple years ago, but thank God I was cheap and didn’t fall for it. They said my photograph was among the best they had ever seen, and I was offered some award and ceremony in like Las Vegas, and, of course, had to pay loads of cash. I never did it ‘cuz I knew my photo was not that good. lol