As a fully committed shutterbug, I’m constantly seeking ways to advance my career, because I soon want to be a professional photographer. I have the technical skills and I’m gaining more experience everyday, and although its taken many years I can finally say I’m satisfied with my gear. The only thing I’m missing is a captive audience with whom I can share my work. That is: that’s what I was missing before I discovered the true power of online photo contests to advance careers.

Over the last few months, I’ve entered my photos into countless photo contests. These contests are invaluable because they allow me to build social capital with other photographers, companies and potential clients. Many of the contests are hosted by companies offering snazzy prizes; others by publications looking for photos to go with their features; and others simply for the prestige and glory of having the best photo in a certain category. Submitting my work to these various sites and contests allows me to get my name (and photos) onto the computer monitors of people who might be interested in hiring me.

Another advantage of entering online photo contests is that I’m able to connect with other photographers like me, share resources, compare ideas and composition styles, and network! The social capital I’ve developed online has been invaluable. When people say it’s all about who you know, they’re not lying. These types of loose connections have tremendous potential.

Here are a few of my favourite photo contest sites:

Lenzr is a serial photo contest website that offers fair prizes for your photography. It’s a community where business sponsors art, which is pretty unusual these days. What’s more, it’s a unique social media experience that allows users to submit their photos, and then invite other members to the Lenzr community to vote and decide who wins! It’s totally social and a lot of fun. This powerful little contest is extremely accessible to photographers of all skill levels, and has creative fun “themed” contests on an ongoing basis.

For example, there are currently three Lenzr photo contests running – all of which will be wrapping up in a few days to make way for some new contests! The prizes for these are just as quirky as the themes themselves.