International Photographic Competition
Why Participate?
You’re good at what you do, and we know it. Don’t wait for others to realize it on their own—go for it!
Participating in PPA’s photo competitions gives you the opportunity to show your stuff (literally). And it provides opportunities to get better at what you do. After all, the critiques offer ways to improve your images, and you’ll walk away filled with ideas and inspiration to fuel your creative soul.
And, as with everything, practice makes perfect. The more you compete, the better you’ll get at it! Like most acquired tastes, once 
you get on the award-winning bandwagon, you might just wonder why you didn’t start sooner!
International Photographic Competition 2013
> Enter the 2013 IPC Photographic Open Competition <
>> Enter the 2013 IPC Master Artist Competition <<
Download the 2013 International Photographic Competition Rules:
Entries open: April 15, 2013
Entries close: June 28, 2013 (early deadline), July 12, 2013 (late deadline, requires extra fees)
For every photo you take, there’s a competition to enter. Really, there are that many competitions. To help you understand why they are worth your time—and entry fees—see below:
Local Competitions
New to the game? Get your feet wet by competing in your PPA affiliated local guilds’ or associations’ competitions. It will help ease your nerves and feel things out. You also score a round of critiquing, increasing your chances for success at the next level. Check theLoop for more advice on entering local competitions.
State Competitions
Competition critiques at this level are often held live, providing insight into improving your work. It’s the perfect place to start if you don’t have access to a local guild or association. Check theLoop for more advice on entering state competitions.
District Competitions
This is your last chance to gather critiques and advice before the International Photographic Competition (IPC). (You’ll want those critiques and advice. Even if getting your work critiqued scares you, the new perspectives are oh so worth it.)
As a PPA member, you’re assigned a district based on where you live (Southwest, Northcentral, Western, Northeast, Southeast and Asia Pacific). Wow them here and you could earn a Seal of Approval. That’s a big deal.
PPA's International Photographic Competition (IPC*)
And now things are rollin’—you’ve got game, playa! You’re competing with PPA members from across the globe now and this ain’t a competition playground: this level of competition (the IPC) actually involves two judgings.
The first one determines if your images are merit-worthy (yeah, that’s industry-speak to say you made the first cut). If they are, you earn a second judging, which could possibly earn you an additional merit and a spot in the Loan Collection (our way of saying that your work is the “best of the best”). Images that earn a Seal of Approval at the district level are also considered for the Loan Collection, and are published in the annual Loan Collection book AND exhibited at Imaging USA.
Participating in the IPC can help you earn your PPA degree: earn enough merits and you’ll earn a Master of Photography degree in no time. (See why that’s such a big deal around these parts.)
