Awards and Recognition, Career building or not? - CanPhoto Forums - Professional Canadian Photography Discussions

Peter Wm. Richardson · May 1/07, 11:13 AM

With all of the various awards being announced of late and with at least one of our own being a recipient, what are your feelings about the importance of entering competitions or receiving recognition from your peers as a business and/or career enhancement tool. Are there tangible benefits to being an industry recognized entity? Certainly, in photojournalism, winning a Pulitzer has vaulted many a career to the heights of stardom, but what of those somewhat less obvious but noteworthy nonetheless, accolades.

I have never been fortunate enough to be a recipient of a Pulitzer or any other noteworthy award, but I personally hold anyone who has in a different light than before. I think of them as having accomplished something of value, of worth, if you will and I feel that that deserves some respect and perhaps a touch admiration. A tip of the hat at the very least. But I must admit that I often wonder if they reap any financial reward from it, excluding, of course, any monetary prize associated with the win, in the first place. Pulitzers after all are worth about $100,00 US if I remember correctly.

So what do the rest of you think. Is an award a ticket to a brighter future or is it simply a warm feeling of accomplishment and respect from your peers and contemporaries. Is it a marketing tool or just a way of giving back to the industry, by sharing your skills with others?

Cheers,
Peter
Peter Wm. Richardson
Photojournalist
peterw@journalist.com

Alastair · May 1/07, 06:39 PM

A friend of mine won a Pulitzer Prize for news reporting at the Los Angeles Olympics. He's a darn fine photographer, that's for sure.

I think the awards shows are somewhat suspect. I always enter a few images into them, but I've only been shown in one that I can remember - the Applied Arts 2005 Photo annual.

I have a few friends who have had work win in CA and in other places, and it was great, but they all said that they sort of hoped for a landslide of interest and it never really materialized for them.

I think it's good to enter some competitions, but I can't rationalize several thousand dollars' worth of entry fees every year. Awards shows get expensive, fast. Very fast.

It's a good marketing tool, I think, but only in conjunction with all the other marketing that should be done (to agree with Peter and Barry from an exchange a while back...)

Peter Wm. Richardson · May 1/07, 07:55 PM

Hi Alastair:
You are absolutely right about the fees adding up. I used to enter a few shows, when I had the studios and even then it was expensive. I think that in the end, I got more from a couple of source book adds, than anything else that showcased my work.
Cheers,
Peter Wm. Richardson
Photojournalist
peterw@journalist.com

Mike Guilbault · May 6/07, 07:36 AM

Mostly, its the 'warm fuzzy' acknowldegement from your peers. But if you take advantage of the opportunity, it does lend credibility to your craft in general and to your own abilities. There are many way to do this, through posting on your website, a blog, an article in the local paper, etc.

I have a brag wall with a few awards and accreditations displayed and at the least, when a client sees that, they feel more comfortable hiring you. It also helps in justifying your fees, especially if you're not the cheapest in town. But his helps mostly for wedding photography. It's rare that a commercial client comes to my office to see this. Even portrait clients rarely come into the office until after the shoot. I do mention the awards and such on my website - so maybe they notice it there before contacting me, but no one has ever mentioned it.

One caveat... don't publicize every thing and every time, unless it's a major award. If it's a professional award of some kind, that's ok, but I wouldn't publish a monthly event or amateur event. If you're a professional, you should be competing with other professionals.

The fees do add up and there have been many times that I have not entered just because I couldn't afford it. At least with PPOC, most categories can now be entered digitally, so there's no more cost of prints.. which was the bulk of the costs.

Now I'm talking mostly about PPO/PPOC because that's where I enter. And the biggest benefit I find is from the actual competition itself.... if you attend the judging. This way you get to hear the comments of the judges and you can learn an incredible amount about your own work, but also what makes a good photograph from the judging of others' work. Accreditation judging is good for that too.

As far as monetary gains... there has been none from the actual competition. Usually a certificate, sometimes a trophy, but no cash. (Guess I'm just entering the wrong competitions!) I guess that if winning an award prompted an inquiry, or edged a client to hire you then there was a gain. Has it been more than the cost of entering the various competitions? Impossible to tell. The feeling you get when all your prints are not accepted - devastating! The warm fuzzy feeling you get when you win - priceless!

Peter Wm. Richardson · May 7/07, 09:34 AM

So Mike:
Where do we get to see your latest "warm and fuzzy feeling "winner ???
Cheers and congratulations again,
Peter
Peter Wm. Richardson
Photojournalist
peterw@journalist.com

Mike Guilbault · May 7/07, 08:41 PM

Thanks Peter...

http://mikeguilbault.blogspot.com/

Peter Wm. Richardson · May 7/07, 08:56 PM

Hey Mike!
A very dynamic photograph indeed. Very well deserved honours for sure.
Cheers and thanks for the link,
Peter
Peter Wm. Richardson
Photojournalist
peterw@journalist.com

May 1/07, 11:13 AM	#1
Peter Wm. Richardson Senior Member Peter Wm. Richardson North of Orangeville ON Last Online: May 10/13 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 576	Awards and Recognition, Career building or not? With all of the various awards being announced of late and with at least one of our own being a recipient, what are your feelings about the importance of entering competitions or receiving recognition from your peers as a business and/or career enhancement tool. Are there tangible benefits to being an industry recognized entity? Certainly, in photojournalism, winning a Pulitzer has vaulted many a career to the heights of stardom, but what of those somewhat less obvious but noteworthy nonetheless, accolades. I have never been fortunate enough to be a recipient of a Pulitzer or any other noteworthy award, but I personally hold anyone who has in a different light than before. I think of them as having accomplished something of value, of worth, if you will and I feel that that deserves some respect and perhaps a touch admiration. A tip of the hat at the very least. But I must admit that I often wonder if they reap any financial reward from it, excluding, of course, any monetary prize associated with the win, in the first place. Pulitzers after all are worth about $100,00 US if I remember correctly. So what do the rest of you think. Is an award a ticket to a brighter future or is it simply a warm feeling of accomplishment and respect from your peers and contemporaries. Is it a marketing tool or just a way of giving back to the industry, by sharing your skills with others? Cheers, Peter Peter Wm. Richardson Photojournalist peterw@journalist.com

May 6/07, 07:36 AM	#4
Mike Guilbault Senior Member Mike Guilbault Elmvale, Ontario Last Online: May 19/13 Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 236	Mostly, its the 'warm fuzzy' acknowldegement from your peers. But if you take advantage of the opportunity, it does lend credibility to your craft in general and to your own abilities. There are many way to do this, through posting on your website, a blog, an article in the local paper, etc. I have a brag wall with a few awards and accreditations displayed and at the least, when a client sees that, they feel more comfortable hiring you. It also helps in justifying your fees, especially if you're not the cheapest in town. But his helps mostly for wedding photography. It's rare that a commercial client comes to my office to see this. Even portrait clients rarely come into the office until after the shoot. I do mention the awards and such on my website - so maybe they notice it there before contacting me, but no one has ever mentioned it. One caveat... don't publicize every thing and every time, unless it's a major award. If it's a professional award of some kind, that's ok, but I wouldn't publish a monthly event or amateur event. If you're a professional, you should be competing with other professionals. The fees do add up and there have been many times that I have not entered just because I couldn't afford it. At least with PPOC, most categories can now be entered digitally, so there's no more cost of prints.. which was the bulk of the costs. Now I'm talking mostly about PPO/PPOC because that's where I enter. And the biggest benefit I find is from the actual competition itself.... if you attend the judging. This way you get to hear the comments of the judges and you can learn an incredible amount about your own work, but also what makes a good photograph from the judging of others' work. Accreditation judging is good for that too. As far as monetary gains... there has been none from the actual competition. Usually a certificate, sometimes a trophy, but no cash. (Guess I'm just entering the wrong competitions!) I guess that if winning an award prompted an inquiry, or edged a client to hire you then there was a gain. Has it been more than the cost of entering the various competitions? Impossible to tell. The feeling you get when all your prints are not accepted - devastating! The warm fuzzy feeling you get when you win - priceless! Last edited by Mike Guilbault : May 6/07 at 07:52 AM.