So what’s up with PDN and its annual photo competition?

Most professionals in the industry will tell you the benefits of entering photo competitions through out the year. It gives you the opportunity to show your work to the jury which is usually formed by important people in the industry.

Every year PDN announces its photo competition with a set deadline and every year the deadline is postponed to a later date to cash in more money giving the chance to more people to enter the popular competition.

Here’s a look at the 4 deadline announcements:

  • January 25th, 2012
  • Postponed to February 17th 2012 for an extra $10 on the entry price
  • Postponed to February 24th 2012 “due to demand”
  • Postponed to February 27th, 2012 “due to popular demand”

PDN isn’t the only one using this sneaky technique as Applied Arts, Flash Forward, Communications Arts all use the fake deadline marketing strategy. Following the original deadline they will either raise the price of an entry or tell you they had to extend for technical difficulties due to popular demand.

The strategy seems to be the norm for any “serious” photography competition. I’m not accusing PDN or any other competitions listed in this post of being evil-minded but to me it does bring some questions regarding the seriousness and intentions of these high profile competitions. With an average entry fee of $50 I’m assuming it is a good revenue for them and with the state of the publication industry they would be crazy not to take advantage of it.

I was just wondering if I am the only one who feel like we are being played and see if anyone else has anything to say on the subject.

And of course, as I have in the past (and won!☺) I did enter this year’s PDN Annual Photo Competition and will probably do the same in the future.

For more information on the subject read the A Photo Editor – My Guide to Photography Contests blog post.