How To Avoid Photo Contest Scams

What is a scam?

People use the word 'scam' when they feel ripped off, whether they have been or not. It's sometimes confused with 'unfairness', which can arise when the photographer doesn't grasp the fine print.

A true scam occurs when someone tries to get money from you illegitimately or promises something in return and doesn't deliver.

Photo contest scams generally involve you buying the final product that is supposed to include your photo. It often doesn't. A request for money doesn't necessarily mean it's a scam, however. A minimal entry fee is common when there is a money prize.

Clues that can indicate photo contest scams

Look for any sections in the policy stating that by entering, you understand that they can use your photos on their site and anywhere they see fit without payment to you.

Look for the portion that talks about who holds the copyright. Photo contest scams usually specify that you forfeit all rights to the photos you submit. This means you can never sell the photos, ever.

The general rule is that you never give away your copyright.

Operators of photo contest scams use unwary photographers to gather huge stocks of photos for free that they then can sell to various buyers. This includes calendar producers, book publishers, graphic artists, and for photo CDs. The scammers make all the money with those free photos.

Ensure that you retain your rights unless you receive appropriate compensation. If you will receive a huge dollar prize for a winning photo, it might be worthwhile to give away the copyright. If you're receiving a token payout or a trophy, however, this is not sufficient to cover the price you could likely get if you sold the photo elsewhere.

Take a close look at the web sites that are offering the contests. Are they amateurishly designed? Is there a way to make direct contact with the people running the contest, such as telephone number and street address? Check to make certain they are real contacts.

Web sites that are run by photo contest scam artists might look legitimate, but the information can be fake. The Google page rank could be a good clue. You'll find it in the little green indicator bar that Google includes in their task bar. If you don't have it, you can download the free task bar from Google.

If the site has minimal information and you see no green line, it could mean the site hasn't been around long and might be run by a fly-by-night organization. On the other hand, a well-designed site with a lot of quality content is likely legitimate, regardless of page rank.

By being alert, investigating the organization and the people, and studying their contest policy with a close up lens, you can protect yourself from photo contest scams.