We are pleased to announce the 2022 International Association of Professional Birth Photographers Image Critique Night.
Review Panel
Our 2022 Review Panel is comprised of birth photographers, birth industry leaders, and photography industry leaders. The panel will be providing thorough feedback to individual images that have been submitted for evaluation.
Image Categories / Evaluation Options
For our 2022 Image Critique Night there are two types of critique available for members to choose from. Our review panel have been trained for giving both types of feedback. We understand that each person will be submitting images for critique based on these two styles of feedback. Each member is given one free image submission. For an additional $25 you may submit up to three more images for a total of 4 images submitted.
GENERAL FEEDBACK
General feedback, our judges will be looking for overall image quality in the context of what you would be giving your clients and will include focus on:
- technical skill
- highlights
- shadows
- colour balance
- basic composition
- basic story telling
COMPETITION FEEDBACK
With competition feedback, we understand you might be wanting to take your image and enter it into another competition. This feedback is designed to be harsher and it could feel ‘nit-picky’ however, its the finer details that make the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. We invite you to submit here for thorough feedback based on entering prestigious competitions and better train your eye for what is competition worthy and what is not.
This includes:
- Everything in General Feedback PLUS —
- advanced composition
- advanced use of colour/white balance
- wow factor
- visual communication
- innovation
- emotive and advanced storytelling
- creativity
Please understand that having multiple reviewers on a panel helps eliminate any bias, however it is your responsibly to decide if you want to accept the critique or not. These are simply suggestions and can vary with intention, style, and personal taste. We have sourced the best reviewers in our industry and trained them for the purposes according to our rubric. It has been made available to you so you know exactly what each category of judging will be giving feedback on. Please enter accordingly.
Entry Fees
Each member is entitled to one free entry as a member of IAPBP. For an additional 3 entries it will be $25 USD. This will give you a total of 4 images.
- One Image: $o USD
- Up to 3 additional images: $25 USD
If you would like to enter more than three (3) images, you simply need to fill out another submission form and pay an additional $25/3 additional images submitted.
Conditions of entry:
- Images must be 3000 pixels on the longest side
- PPI 150
- Diptych, triptych and story boards welcome
- Any crop welcome
- Cloning acceptable ( Please consider the rules of entry to the competition you are considering entering so our reviewers can keep this in mind when giving feedback. Some competitions do not allow cloning.)
- Images must be edited by the entrant
- Black and white conversion allowed
- No watermarks
- Use .jpg format only
- Submit in sRGB colourspace only
- Images from any year accepted (Please bear in mind any time constraints from competitions you are considering entering your images in to for competition feedback. Some competitions have time restraints)
- Please have your model release on hand should we need to sight it.
If you have any questions regarding the event or submission process please contact us at: membership@birthphotographers.com.
2022 Critique Night Terms & Conditions
Submission Deadline:
All entries must be submitted and received by Friday, July 29, 2022 at 11:59:59 PM EST.
Membership Requirements:
You must be a current member of the International Association of Professional Birth Photographers, LLC (IAPBP) to be eligible to submit your image(s). Membership will be verified for each submission before the event begins.
Submission Guidelines:
Members may submit as many images as they wish in lots of 3. The categories are: General Feedback and Competition Feedback. Members can submit multiple images in any category with no limit per person. A valid submission consists of a paid submission fee, an image category, an image title, and one birth photograph saved in two ways: (1) a full resolution unwatermarked image for evaluation purposes only. This image will not be shared publicly. Unwatermarked images ensure a fair review process. When the event is complete these full resolution images will be deleted from the IAPBP server and not used in any other way. (2) a full resolution watermarked image. This image may potentially be used in the future for IAPBP marketing purposes. Once your submission and images have been sent, that submission is final and images may not be swapped out or replaced. Images must be in digital format only. All digital files must be in JPG format. The photograph must be a single work of original material taken by the member. Photographers that work in cooperatives are welcome to each enter as many images as they wish separately with images they have personally taken. Each member can submit their own photos for evaluation. The photo entered must have been taken by the member entering it. By entering the event, the participant acknowledges that the submitted photograph is an original work created solely by the member and that the photograph does not infringe on the copyrights of any person or entity.
Entry Fees:
The submission fee for a single image will be $o USD; complimentary to all IAPBP Members. A discount will be applied if you choose to submit multiple entries on one form.
- One Image: $o USD
- Up to 3 additional images: $25 USD
Watermarks:
IAPBP requires that watermarks be present on images presented to the public and media. Small, non-obtrusive watermarks are acceptable. IAPBP reserves the right to ask members to reduce the size of the watermark if we feel it is too large or takes away from the overall image and presentation. Opaque watermarks, instead of large colorful watermarks, tend to work best as they are less likely to distract from the image itself. If we do not receive an edited image upon request within 24 hours the submission will be disqualified. You may re-enter the same image with the adjusted watermark if it is submitted before the end of the competition deadline as stated below.
Model Releases:
You must have permission from those featured in the image to share the image publicly in the form of a model release. The submission form includes a place to upload your model release. Upon request, each member must be prepared to provide a signed release from all persons who appear in the photograph submitted authorizing the photographer and its authorized parties to reproduce, distribute and display the submission in connection with the competition. IAPBP is particularly mindful of having releases when the submission contains nudity. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in removal of your image during the evaluation without refund of the submission fee. If at any time, one or more persons featured in the image requests that the image be removed, even with a signed model release, the image will be removed at the discretion of IAPBP without refund of the submission fee.
Evaluation:
Each image submitted will be evaluated separately by the panel of selected reviewers based on creativity and photographic quality. Members may select one of two options for their image evaluation: General Feedback or Competition Feedback. There is no cost difference between the two.
General Feedback Images will be evaluated for:
- technical skill
- highlights
- shadows
- colour balance
- basic composition
- basic story telling
Competition Feedback Images will be evaluated for:
- Everything in General Feedback PLUS —
- composition
- colour/white balance
- wow factor
- visual communication
- innovation
- emotive storytelling
- creativity
Additional Rules, Terms and Conditions:
All images submitted in to the evaluation event will be presented to the Review Panel. If for any reason the event is not capable of running as planned, The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to remove the images of any member(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the event. If The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers elects to cancel or terminate the event, we will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs and refunds are not applicable. By submitting, members also agree to be bound by these Official Rules; that the feedback of the Review Panel are final and binding with respect to all matters relating to the event; and The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers may use any submitted photograph and each artist’s name, photograph, likeness, etc. in any publicity or advertising relating to the competition or future promotions without compensation or approval (except where prohibited by law). The International Association of Professional Birth Photographers reserves the right to verify the validity and originality of any submission and/or member and to disqualify any member who submits an image that is not in accordance with these official rules or who tampers with the submission process. Void where prohibited.