Entering PPANM’s state competition is a great way to familiarizing yourself with the ins and outs of print competition. However, PPANM is just the beginning. As a member of PPANM you are automatically a member of the Regional, Affiliated, organization called Southwest Professional Photographer’s Association (SWPPA) PPANM encourages everyone to send your prints onto SWPPA for their print competition as well. Please keep in mind that because SWPPA is an affiliated judging prints entered have to follow the rules of entry. There are some common mistakes that we want to help you avoid when entering SWPPA and PPANM.

*At an Affiliated judging, prints that score 80 or above earn a Seal of Approval. If you are a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) then once you send your sealed print(s) onto national you automatically receive a merit that you can apply toward your PPA – Master of Photography degree. PPANM is NOT an affiliated judging.

Hints and Tips for Entering:

1.    Print/Mount thickness: In order to judge and display prints thickness is an important issue. If the board is too thick – no more than 3/8” – It will not fit on the display racks. If it is too thin – less than 1/8” – they have a greater tendency to bow and fall out of the display racks. (Too thin is the most common mistake first timers make when entering prints.)

2. The Print case itself: Due to the fact that most regional and almost all of the national entries are shipped at one point or another, the requirements for your case are important for the protection of your prints. Fiberbilt style shipping cases are the standard for entering print competition. Entries must be submitted in a secure, reusable shipping container.

For more information on purchasing an acceptable print case: