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Entries must be received by February 15, 2012
The SCAWP Wedding Photos of the Year annual competition accepts only digital entries. Photographs may have been originally shot on film or with a digital camera, but the entries must be submitted in digital form.
There is no fee to enter the contest. The contest is open to all full- and part-time wedding photographers permanently residing in the state of South Carolina. All photographs must have been taken between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011. Photographs may have been taken outside of the state of South Carolina.
This is a contest for individual photographers. Photographers may not enter photographs by second shooters or other members of their studio as their own entries!!
Each entrant may submit a maximum of 20 entries in the "Singles" categories. An eight-photo entry in the "Wedding Day" category does not count towards the 20 entry maximum. Do not enter the same picture in two singles picture categories. The same photo may be entered in a singles category and "Wedding Day." An entry may be only one image-not a composite of several images.
Judges to be announced.
Choosing a code
Choose your unique photographer's code. This is important because you will use this code in naming all your files. Use a lower case five-letter sequence. Every photographer must have a unique code. Do not spell words or names or use initials, and if you are preparing entries for multiple photographers, be sure their codes vary. Do not use a code that might reveal your name or studio. This ensures the photos will be judged anonymously.
A photographer's code might look like this: bdwrz (don't use this exact code).
Preparing Your Images
We recommend using Adobe Photoshop to prepare your images, although it is not required. We will accept Macintosh or PC-formatted disks but prefer Macintosh disks and files created on a Mac. The image orientation must read in normal viewing position, with top of the image actually being at the top. We will not flop or rotate photographs.
DO NOT include any borders, logos, watermarks, or any other identifying marks on the photos.
DO NOT include any borders, logos, watermarks, or any other identifying marks on the photos.
Sizing your photos
Scan or adjust image size to twelve inches at its longest side and at 72 dpi (make sure the dpi is set to pixels per inch). Improperly sized photos will not be accepted.
File Compression
Save and compress the file using JPEG compression set to 10, or high. Use the optimized JPEG option if available. The resulting RGB file size will vary. Images not compressed properly will be disqualified. We strongly advise that you do not recompress (re-jpeg) an already compressed file. This will degrade image quality. Optimum image quality will be achieved by originally scanning to our specifications. Only JPEGS will be accepted.
Naming your files
Name your picture files beginning with the prefix category number, followed by your unique photographer's code, followed by sequential two-digit numbers corresponding to the number of photos you are entering in that category. End it all with .jpg (Sounds complicated, but it's not).
Examples:
A single photo entry might have a file name like this: 04bdwrz01.jpg (04 is the category number, bdwrz is the photographer's code, 01 is your first entry within this category, and .jpg is the mandatory suffix). Other entries within the same category would be 04bdwrz02.jpg and 04bdwrz03.jpg.
Single Category Numbers
Please note some categories have changed!
Create a folder called "Singles bdwrz" (using your code, not "bdwrz.") Place the twenty singles entries in the folder, making sure your files are properly named.
01. Bridal Portrait/Groom Portrait- A posed photo of EITHER the bride in gown, or groom in wedding attire, taken either the day of the wedding or another day.
02. Couple Portrait- A posed photo of the wedding couple, taken either the day of the wedding in formal attire, or before the wedding day, in non-formal attire (such as an engagement portrait).
03. Getting Ready- Any non-portrait photo taken on the wedding day before the start of the ceremony.
04. Ceremony- Any non-portrait photo taken during the ceremony.
05. Reception- Any non-portrait photo taken after the conclusion of the ceremony.
06. Group Portrait- A posed photo of three or more people, taken during the wedding day. This photo can include members of the bridal party, the wedding couple, the wedding couple's families, etc.
06. Group Portrait- A posed photo of three or more people, taken during the wedding day. This photo can include members of the bridal party, the wedding couple, the wedding couple's families, etc.
07. Detail- A close-up photograph that emphasizes an inanimate object, rather than a person. Think a close-up photo of the rings, or cake, etc.
"Wedding Day" category
Choose your best wedding of the year and choose your best eight photos from that day. Your eight photos count as just one entry. You are allowed only one entry into the "Wedding Day" category, however your entry in the "Wedding Day" category does not count against your total of 20 entries in the "Singles" categories. The same photo(s) in your "Wedding Day" entry may also be entered into a "Singles" category and also your Portfolio.
Name the files WDbdwrz01,WDbdwrz02, etc (using your code, not "bdwrz"). Place the eight files comprising your single "Wedding Day" entry together in a new folder. Title the folder "Wedding Day bdwrz" (using your code, not "bdwrz.")
Name the files WDbdwrz01,WDbdwrz02, etc (using your code, not "bdwrz"). Place the eight files comprising your single "Wedding Day" entry together in a new folder. Title the folder "Wedding Day bdwrz" (using your code, not "bdwrz.")
South Carolina Wedding Photographer of the Year
The Photographer of the Year is determined by the winner of the portfolio competition.
Portfolios may contain a maximum of 20 entries. Photographers wishing to be considered for Photographer of the Year should place all the photos in their Portfolio entry into a folder marked with photographer’s code and word "Portfolio" (ie, "bdwrz portfolio). Portfolio entries will be judged separately from Category entries so you must make copies of the category entries you wish to be considered in your portfolio entry. You may simply duplicate your category entries, placing the copies in your portfolio folder.
Submitting your entries
You may either mail your entries on CD/DVD or FTP your entries. Make sure you have a separate folder each for "Singles", "Wedding Day" and "Portfolio." More than one photographer's work may be placed on a CD as long as each photographer's entries are placed separately in a clearly marked folder. Use the photographer's code to name the master folder for each photographer.
If mailing your entries, label each disk and case with your unique photographer's code and your name. Before sending us your disks, verify their integrity by making sure they are readable and not damaged. The contest chair reserves the right to disqualify any disk that is unreadable, or defective.
No disks or files will be returned.
The mailing address is:
Jeff Blake
2330 Lucas St.
Cayce, SC 29033
The FTP information is as follows:
hostname: ftp.jeffblakeweddingphotos.com
username: scawp@jeffblakeweddingphotos.com
password: scwpoy09
After you mail or FTP your entries, email Jeff Blake at jeff@columbiaweddingphotos.com with your five digit code in the subject line, and include the following information in the body of the email:
Your name
Your address
Your phone #
Your five digit photographer's code
Your web site address
AWARDS:
Judges will award a first, second, and third place in each category. At their discretion, they may award up to two honorable mentions in each category.
At the conclusion of the judging, the judges will be name the South Carolina Photographer of the Year and Runner-Up.
Prizes may be rearranged without notice.
Best in Show will be awarded to the judges favorite of the first place winners (other than Wedding Day).
Each winner will receive an 8x10 certificate, suitable for framing. First-place prizes will win prizes from the vendors listed above.
Winners, and all those entering, will notified by email when judging is completed. Winning entries will be displayed here, on this web site. Each winning photo will contain a link to the winning photographer's web site.
DEADLINES
Enter early! Deadline for receipt of entries is Tuesday, February 15, 2012. No entries will be accepted after that date. No exceptions can be made. Entering early will allow us time to check and possibly correct errors in your entry and will help compensate for any delivery problems. The contest chair reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not follow rules listed here.
THERE WILL BE NO NOTIFICATION OF ENTRY RECEIPT.
Questions?
If you're confused by these rules you may contact us for clarification. Please don't wait until the contest deadline week to get your questions answered. By far, the best method of communication is e-mail.
Contact contest chairman Jeff Blake at jeff@columbiaweddingphotos.com
Jeff Blake is a Columbia, South Carolina, wedding photographer. He was a newspaper photojournalist for twelve years. View his website here.
Jeff Blake is a Columbia, South Carolina, wedding photographer. He was a newspaper photojournalist for twelve years. View his website here.
2011 South Carolina Wedding Photos of the Year and WeddingPhotographer of the Year Contest Rules
South Carolina Association
of Wedding Photographers