| You can increase your chances of winning baby | | | | look at the gallery of past winners. That will give |
| photo contests by paying attention to details and | | | | you a good idea of what types of photos |
| realizing that winning begins before the photograph is | | | | the judges seem to prefer. |
| even taken. The advice and tips below are courtesy | | | | Composition of the photo is of primary importance. |
| of judges, contest rules and experienced mothers. | | | | The baby is the focus of the contest and should be |
| One of the most important things to remember is | | | | the only person is the photo. Also, since the judges |
| that the entire experience can be fun and rewarding | | | | want to see how adorable your baby is, they really |
| by following these few tips. | | | | need to be able to see the face. Avoid big hats, |
| Baby Photo Contest Tips: | | | | sunglasses or profile photos, instead take photos of |
| 1. Read the fine print of the contest rules | | | | the baby facing directly into the camera. |
| 2. Contests that offer a monetary prize, usually have | | | | The baby should take up most of the space in the |
| an entry fee, so consider entering free baby photo | | | | photo. In other words use the zoom to close in on |
| contests | | | | the baby’s face and avoid having too |
| 3. Never use makeup on the baby; natural is always | | | | much background. A little background can add flair |
| better | | | | and interest, but too much can be overwhelming. |
| 4. Only submit quality photos; grainy, poorly done | | | | This zooming process can also be accomplished using |
| photos never win | | | | your computer’s photograph manipulation |
| Taking Quality Baby Contest Photos | | | | software. |
| There really is a trick to taking winning photos for | | | | Is the baby photo contest being held close to or in |
| baby contests. Just because you have a beautiful | | | | conjunction with a holiday? If so, consider |
| baby, doesn’t mean that anyone else will see | | | | incorporating the holiday into the photo; pumpkins |
| that if the photo is terrible. In order to win a baby | | | | near Halloween, bunnies near Easter, etc. This can |
| photo contest you need to make your photo stand | | | | give you the winning edge, especially if you can take |
| out. | | | | a “spontaneous” pose. |
| The key to winning is a cute baby AND a nice, high | | | | If you are unsure of how to take quality photos, |
| quality photograph. Some contests’ judges are | | | | check your digital camera booklet to learn how to |
| quick to identify those photos that are posed and | | | | set your camera to the highest quality settings. Also |
| just as quick to disregard them. Instead of spending | | | | visit the website of your camera’s manufacturer |
| time trying to get the perfect pose, keep a camera | | | | for photo-taking tips. The worst thing you can do |
| nearby so that you are able to take advantages of | | | | is to submit a grainy photo orone where the |
| those spur-of-the-moment, one-of-a-kind | | | | baby’s eyes are red. |
| photo opportunities. | | | | Following these few guidelines will increase your |
| Other contests’ judges are less focused on the | | | | chances of winning baby photo contests by ensuring |
| pose of the baby. Those are the contests where | | | | that you submit quality photos. It will also take the |
| the winners are often obviously posed. The | | | | stress out of the process and make it fun and |
| best idea is to check the contest’s website to | | | | possibly even rewarding. |