Remember the days when wedding receptions came with huge centerpieces and a disposable camera at each place setting? Or, if the newlyweds were on a budget, a disposable camera at each table? That was long before digital cameras, camera phones and other recording devices were standard equipment on people.
Back then, you snapped photos of funny or emotional moments that transpired at the wedding reception, and then printed them out and presented them to the bride and groom in a scrapbook or as past of some other photo gift, be it a mouse pad, tote, blanket or keychain. Today, many wedding guests use their cellphones or PDAs to record memorable moments of a ceremony or reception and may or may not remember to pass the images on to the newly married couple.
If you document spectacular shots at a friend or family member’s wedding, it would behoove you to send the pictures to the happy couple. In addition, you might consider entering your prized shots into wedding photo contests.
Tis the season for summer nuptials… and these popular wedding photo contests that you may consider entering:
The Wedding Professional Directory Contest: The group hosts an Annual Professional Creative Wedding Photo Contest, which is open to its members and nonmembers. Photos are judged on clarity and creativity, among other factors.
The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association: This group’s contest is divided into seven categories, including, but not limited to: “Trash the Dress” portrait and “Off-camera flash/strobe.” However, you have to be a member to enter the contest.
Wedding and Portrait Photographers International: The group hosts four competitions each year, including an album contest, which is open to members and nonmembers.
Other ways to earn a few bucks on wedding pictures is to enter them in local photo contests for amateur shutterbugs. Each year hundreds of newspapers across the country host wedding photo contests. Other contests are run by regional bridal magazines, photo clubs and wedding dress shops.
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